Myanmar police arrest Buddhist nationalists for inciting violence against Muslims

Yangon police arrested several Buddhist nationalists Thursday for inciting violence after at least one man was left injured in a confrontation with local Muslims in Myanmar’s largest city.

Police issued arrest warrants for seven people – including two monks – among dozens of hardliners who stormed into Mingalar Taung Nyunt township hunting for “illegal” Rohingya Muslims.

Officers fired warning shots to break up the scuffles in the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident comes as nationalists from Myanmar’s Buddhist majority have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the country’s hard-pressed Muslims.

The Rohingya, a group of more than a million Muslims who live mainly in western Rakhine State, are particularly maligned as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and their movements are heavily restricted.

On Thursday, the nationalists held a press conference defending their actions and demanding the authorities investigate the case. Later that day, nationalist leader Ko Latt, also known as Tin Htut Zaw, who helped organize the hunt for Rohingyas, and his wife were arrested near Kandawgyi Lake on Thursday, according to The Irrawaddy.

At least two people have been arrested out of seven who have been charged with incitement to commit violence, which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison.

”About three lay men were arrested by police this evening,” a local police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“Warrants have been issued to arrest seven people altogether, including two monks: U Thu Seitta and U Pyin Nyar Wuntha,” he added, using an honorific. The two monks are members of the Patriotic Monks Union.

Nationalists in Yangon have held protests, stopped Islamic religious ceremonies, and most recently forced two schools to close temporarily over accusations they were illegally doubling up as mosques in recent months.

Tensions have boiled over since militants attacked police posts in northern Rakhine, sparking a brutal army crackdown that has sent more than 70,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.