Authorities have imposed a curfew in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, following nights of deadly communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims. Two people have been killed and 14 injured since rioting erupted Tuesday, Col. Aung Kyaw Moe, Mandalay Region's Border Affairs and Security Minister, told CNN Friday. The rioting began when a mob attacked a tea shop owned by a Muslim man accused of raping a Buddhist woman, and continued the following night. Citing officials, the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that eight separate conflicts took place in the region on Tuesday and Wednesday night, involving gangs of as many as 450 people, some armed with weapons including swords, firearms, knives, rods and "incendiary materials."
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Two people are dead after violent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar
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Radical Buddhist monks appeared to play a role in inciting mobs, says rights researcher
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Myanmar has had numerous outbursts of anti-Muslim violence in recent years
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The violence threatens the country's fledgling transition from decades of military rule
Buddhist
Buddhist
One of the victims was Muslim and one @placeholder, officials said.
Buddhist
Buddhist
Myanmar is a predominantly @placeholder country, with Muslims estimated to account for about 5% of the population.
Muslim
"The authorities haven't done nearly enough to stem the rising tide of anti-Muslim sentiment, and in some cases the government is contributing to its growth, lending public support to extremists and inflammatory draft legislation while failing to protect at-risk @placeholder communities."
Myanmar
Myanmar
Myanmar
Myanmar
However, one positive sign was that activists in @placeholder were beginning to stand up against online hate speech and racial violence, he said.
Mandalay
In the case of the @placeholder unrest, he said, "we clearly saw that this conflict started from online incitements."