France Calls on Myanmar to Protect Muslims

“France attaches great importance to a peaceful and concerted resolution to ethnic questions in Burma, in order to achieve national reconciliation,”? Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Vincent Floreani said in a statement.

The ministry called for the status of Muslims in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state “to be clarified with regard to right to nationality and for them to enjoy, whatever their status, full respect for human rights.”?

“There are reports of worrying acts of violence by security forces against civilians. We call on the Burmese authorities to protect all civilian populations, without discrimination, and to investigate possible abuses,”? Floreani said.

Fighting in western Rakhine state has killed 80 people since June, with six reportedly killed on Sunday, although authorities say the situation has been generally calm in recent weeks.

The violence initially broke out in June following the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman and the subsequent lynching of 10 Muslims by a crowd of angry Buddhists. The bloodshed has cast a shadow over widely praised reforms by President Thein Sein, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament.

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“France attaches great importance to a peaceful and concerted resolution to ethnic questions in Burma, in order to achieve national reconciliation,”? Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Vincent Floreani said in a statement. The ministry called for the status of Muslims in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state “to be clarified with regard to right to nationality and for them to enjoy, whatever their status, full respect for human rights.”? “There are reports of worrying acts of violence by security forces against civilians. We call on the Burmese authorities to protect all civilian populations, without discrimination, and to investigate possible abuses,”? Floreani said. Fighting in western Rakhine state has killed 80 people since June, with six reportedly killed on Sunday, although authorities say the situation has been generally calm in recent weeks. The violence initially broke out in June following the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman and the subsequent lynching of 10 Muslims by a crowd of angry Buddhists. The bloodshed has cast a shadow over widely praised reforms by President Thein Sein, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament. The End