Renewed riot in western Myanmar state leaves over 30,000 homeless

The renewed communal riot in Myanmar's western Rakhine state over the past week has left 32,231 people homeless, state TV reported Wednesday night. The update death toll went up to 89 and the number of the injured being 136 as of Oct. 30 from Oct. 21, a press statement of the President's Office was quoted as saying. During the week-long fresh riot, 5,351 houses were burnt down in arson fire, it said. The statement warned that the communal riot was found to involve arms which threatened the security forces undertaking law enforcement duties, saying that some evidences were seized over the armed involvement of the rioters linking with political organizations, peace groups, domestic and foreign organizations who are manipulating behind the riot. Individuals and organizations in this connection are under investigation, the statement said. The statement called for cooperation in peaceful settlement of the issue. The riot, which spread from Minbya to as many as nine areas covering Mrauk U, Kyauk Phyu, Myaebon, Yathedaung, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Yanbye and Thandwe, has been reportedly put under control on Oct. 27 and the situation there is returning to normal. The authorities had claimed that legal actions have been taken against 1,058 persons involved in thecommunal violence from June 8 to Oct. 26 which undermined the stability of the Rakhine state. Rakhine state has been declared since June 10 a state of emergency along with imposition of duskto-dawn curfew in six prior townships -- Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Sittway, Thandwe, Kyaukphyu and Yanbye. The curfew was extended to Kyauktaw on Aug. 8 and then to Minbya and Mrauk U on Oct. 22 bringing the total number of townships under curfew to nine so far. Meanwhile, Myanmar President's Office had issued a statement on Oct. 25 warning that manipulators behind recent Rakhine sectarian conflict will be exposed and legal action will be taken against them.