credit emg 29.may 2013
Fresh clashes occurred in Lashio, Myanmar’s northeastern Shan state, yesterday after a Muslim man had doused a Buddhist woman with fuel and set her on fire.
Two Islamic religious buildings and shops were set on fire in the clashes, which prompted authorities to impose a curfew.
UPDATE 30.MAY
Nay Win, aged 48, was chasing after Aye Aye Win, 24, trying to douse her with fuel. At that time, the woman was at her petrol shop near the township maternal and child welfare association office by the Union Highway.
Nay Win is the Indian-Chinese man of Islamic faith while Aye Aye Win is the Chinese-Myanmar woman of Buddhist faith.
The woman tried to run but was caught and doused with the fuel by the man, who was later beaten by angry local people from nearby areas.
As soon as the information spread, police arrived at the scene and arrested Nay Win.
At 5pm, about 150 locals had gathered in front of No (1) Police Station, shouting for the handing over of the arsonist to them.
According to the local reporter of the Daily Eleven, the man and woman did not know each other before, and the man living in Kengtung only arrived in Lashio three days ago. He was staying in a hotel, the reporter said.
Aye Aye Win, whose hands, legs and hair were burnt, is receiving treatment at the emergency ward of Lashio People’s Hospital.
An official from Shan State Police Force said: “The incident occurred after a row between Nay Win and Aye Aye Win at the petrol shop. We found two stimulant tablets from the pocket of the man’s trousers. The father of the victim has opened a case at the police station.”
Five relatives of the victim and about 10 Buddhist monks arrived at the police station at 7pm, shouting for taking the arsonist out of the police station and gradually, the number reached about 30. The suspect was sent to Lashio Prison at 7.30pm, the police officer added.
Lashio Police Station has charged Nay Win with arson attack, attempted murder and drug possession.
Angry residents set fire to a mosque near Lashio Myoma market and an Islamic school on Lanmadaw Road around 7 pm. The fire spread to 15 shops near the school and was nearly extinguished by 11 pm, according to local residents.
The authorities managed to handle the mob outside the police station and all over the city around 8:30 pm and section 144 of the Penal Code has been imposed in Lashio since 9:30 pm last night.
This riot occurred on the same day the Union Peacemaking Committee and the Kachin Independence Organization held their first peace talk in Myanmar.
The majority of the population in Lashio is Chinese while few Muslims live in the city. Critics have called for the authorities to investigate which country and organization are involved in the riot and release the report to the public.
Since Thein Sein’s civilian government took office, the first riot started on June 8 2012 in Rakhine State based on Thida Htwe’s death that occurred on May 28, a day after Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Myanmar to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Ten days before Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Myanmar, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton told Myanmar Minister of Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin that US President Barack Obama will release an official announcement for the easing of investment sanctions on Myanmar.
After riots occurred in Meikhtila, Mandalay Region on March 20 this year, the riots had spread to other townships in western Bago Region. These riots occurred after the Latpadaungtaung Investigation Commission released its report on March 12 and around the time President Thein Sein went on a goodwill visit to New Zealand and Australia.
democracy for burma 
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