Burma's Buddhist mobs sow fear amid widening unrest | World news | The Guardian: "Hundreds of people died in Rakhine state last year when clashes between Buddhists and Muslims drove about 140,000 residents, mostly Muslims, from their homes. Most are still living in refugee camps.
This month, authorities in two areas of Rakhine announced a regulation limiting Muslim families to two children. The policy drew sharp criticism from Muslim leaders, rights groups and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Tuesday a US state department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, said the US opposed coercive policies limiting births, and called on Burma "to eliminate all such policies without delay".
The clashes had seemed confined to the Rakhine region, but in late March, similar Buddhist-led violence swept the town of Meikthila in central Burma, killing at least 43 people. Earlier this month, a court sentenced seven Muslims from Meikthila to prison terms for their role in the violence.
Several other towns in central Burma experienced less deadly violence, mostly involving the torching of Muslim businesses and mosques.
Muslims account for about 4% of Burma's roughly 60 million people. Anti-Muslim sentiment is closely tied to nationalism and the dominant Buddhist religion, so leaders have been reluctant to speak up."
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This month, authorities in two areas of Rakhine announced a regulation limiting Muslim families to two children. The policy drew sharp criticism from Muslim leaders, rights groups and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Tuesday a US state department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, said the US opposed coercive policies limiting births, and called on Burma "to eliminate all such policies without delay".
The clashes had seemed confined to the Rakhine region, but in late March, similar Buddhist-led violence swept the town of Meikthila in central Burma, killing at least 43 people. Earlier this month, a court sentenced seven Muslims from Meikthila to prison terms for their role in the violence.
Several other towns in central Burma experienced less deadly violence, mostly involving the torching of Muslim businesses and mosques.
Muslims account for about 4% of Burma's roughly 60 million people. Anti-Muslim sentiment is closely tied to nationalism and the dominant Buddhist religion, so leaders have been reluctant to speak up."
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