Riot in Pyinmana, Mandalay Division

DVB ( July 21,2003 )

It is reported that a riot broke out on the 19th of July at Pyinmana, Mandalay Division in central Burma after a quarrel between a shopkeeper and a customer.

The riot started when Daw Thet Yi, the owner of a Muslim restaurant near Letha Buddhist monastery refused to sell rice to a Buddhist monk and a quarrel ensued between them. Later, a crowd swarmed around the stall and a melee broke out and some people were wounded.

A riot police force nearby arrived and broke up the riot and Daw Thet Yi and a couple of people were arrested by the authorities, said a local resident as follows:

A local resident : A monk went to buy rice for his guests. The kalas (Indians) wouldn’t sell rice to him. They threatened the monk and the monk became angry and a riot broke out. There were more Burmese[Burmans]; around or more than one thousand people. It occurred right in front of the monastery and there were 30-40 monks. The Burmese beat up the Indians. They also threw stones at the mosque. People were not badly wounded. Some people got wounds on their heads and the like. Indians ran away after they were chased by the Burmans. They destroyed the houses and shops of Indians. The security force fired their guns three or four times in the air…

DVB : What is the situation in Pyinmana like now?

A local resident : The woman and some others were arrested and she is being detained in the police station, I heard. There are no other arrests. They dare not arrest the monks for political reasons. They are quite blameless. Local people started the riot for the offence done to the monks.

Most of the people in Pyinmana think that the riot could have its root in people’s grudges against the authority originating from the Dipeyin incident.