What’s Fueling the Buddhist-Muslim Clashes in Myanmar
A man looks at buildings on fire during riots at Oakkan village, 60 miles north of Yangon April 30, 2013. Rioters attacked a mosque and Muslim businesses in central Myanmar on Tuesday, police said. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Stringer)
In Myanmar, history may soon be made and history is also repeating itself, in a deadly way.
There is every expectation that Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein will be invited to the White House this month.
If it happens, it will be historic: the first state visit by a Burmese leader since 1966.
But amid the anticipation is deep concern over a sharp spike in communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims.
It started a few months ago in western Myanmar, also known as Burma, but has spread to the central part of the country.
The last spasm of violence took place just 60 miles north of Yangon.
The attacks have killed hundreds of Burmese and displaced nearly 100,000.
Most of the victims have been minority Muslims.
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