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| Bengali-Muslim rioters (including children) in Arakan. |
05 October 2013: Chin Christian Pastor
Mya Thein, from Kyaukphyu, has been treated for his knife injuries at a clinic
after being attacked in Shwe-hlay Bengali-Muslim village, Arakan (now Rakhine) State.
The pastor said a mob of Muslims including children and women struck him
with bamboo sticks and knives, and threw stones at him while passing through
the village on a motorcycle-taxi.
He said he had escaped with driver Ko
Yan Naing as the mob stormed their taxi (motorcycle) near the Shwe-hlay Police
Station. In a video interview, he said:
"I
was aware of the violence but when I asked the security officer at Shwe-hlay
bridge, I was told that it was safe to travel."
The incident happened while he was on
his way to attend a Christian meeting to be held in Thandwe, about 20 miles
from Shwe-hlay. He said he didn't get any protection and help from the security
officers and police forces although they saw him being attacked.
"I am just wondering who gave the authority to attack people like
this," the pastor said.
Similarly, 40-year-old Thaung Shwe said
in the Irrawaddy that he was attacked last Tuesday by a group of Muslims
including some women while crossing Shweli village. At least five Muslims have
been reported killed and dozens injured in recent sectarian violence which
broke out between Buddhists and Muslims last Saturday in Arakan State.
(Yan Naing the Yakhine-Buddhist
cycle-taxi-man whose lungs were punctured by the Muslim knives and Muslim sharpened-bamboo-spears
is now dying in Thandwe hospital.)
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| Injured Chin Christian pastor Mya Thein at Thandwe Hospital. |
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| Cycle-Taxi-man Yan Naing at Thandwe Hospital. |
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| Thandwe Township Map |
