During the nationwide blackout last night that also affected other parts of Myanmar, two individuals in Sittwe thought it would be fun to cry ‘wolf’, or in their case, ‘Bengali’.
“At 8:30 pm, while the power was out, two people on a motorcycle shouted that Bengalis had entered the city. About 100 people came out of their houses to see what was going on”, said U Khin Kyaw, the deputy chief of the Rakhine State Police, reports 7Day Daily.
“The police also examined the area, but no one found anything. We had to explain to the crowd that nothing was wrong. They dispersed around 9:45 pm.”
Residents of Rakhine state are already anxious over a series of deadly clashes in the northern part of the region that has resulted in multiple casualties and placed that part of the state under military lockdown. Sittwe is located approximately 90 km from the town of Maung Daw, where most of the fighting is taking place.
“They were shouting that Bengalis had invaded us. Residents got worried, and since there was no electricity, we all went in a group”, explained a local.
The term ‘Bengali’ could also refer to Myanmar Muslims who live in Rakhine and self-identify as Rohingya. In the past, the government has referred to them as Bengalis under the implication that they are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
However, earlier this year, the Ministry of Information instructed state media not to use “Rohingya” or “Bengalis” and to use “Muslims in Rakhine State” to refer to the state’s Muslim residents.
We suggest that whoever caused all this unnecessary ruckus set off some leftover Thadingyut fireworks the next time they’re feeling antsy.
