President Lifts Emergency Rule in Myanmar

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/world/asia/president-lifts-emergency-rule-in-myanmar.html

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YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s president on Saturday lifted a state of emergency in the central part of the country that was put in place after Buddhist-led mobs went on a rampage in March, killing dozens of Muslims and burning down their shops and homes. Many of the victims were teachers and students from an Islamic school.

The decision to lift the emergency order in Meiktila, Mahlaing, Wundwin and Thazi several months ahead of schedule was an indication that “peace and stability” had been restored, said the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar.

The move came as President Thein Sein was wrapping up a European tour that was aimed in part at cleaning up the image of a country plagued by religious violence. Mr. Thein Sein told France 24 television that allegations of “ethnic cleansing” in the state of Rakhine were not true and were part of a “smear campaign” by outsiders.

The unrest in Meiktila was set off by a quarrel at a gold shop owned by a Muslim on March 20, but escalated after a group of Muslims burned a monk to death.

Enraged, mobs of Buddhists destroyed 12 of the city’s 13 mosques and burned down hundreds of homes before marching to an Islamic school, where they killed 36 teachers and students. The violence, which left 44 people dead, went unchecked until a state of emergency was declared March 22. A curfew was imposed, and the assembly of more than five people was prohibited.

“Lifting the emergency order is an important step, but the critical question is, what is the government’s plan to foster reconciliation between Buddhist and Muslim communities in these areas?” said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch, noting that 7,000 displaced people were still afraid to return to their homes. “Just hoping for the best is not much of a plan.”