Two More Buddhist Nationalists Arrested for Muslim Neighborhood Raid

By The Irrawaddy 16 May 2017

RANGOON — Two people involved in last week’s confrontation between Buddhist nationalists and Muslims in Rangoon’s Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township handed themselves over to the township’s police station on Monday.

Tin Lin Htike and Tin Htay Aung, who are among the seven nationalists and Buddhist monks charged with incitement to commit violence, were the second pair arrested for involvement in the incident.

Buddhist monks led nationalists into the Muslim neighborhood before midnight on May 9, claiming ethnic Muslim Rohingya were there “illegally,” according to police and residents.

According to witnesses, the nationalists turned hostile toward the Muslim residents when police found no Rohingya in the area.

Police arrested Ko Latt, also known as Tin Htut Zaw, who was involved in the confrontation, and his wife near Kandawgyi Lake on Thursday.

Two Buddhist monks—U Pyinnya Wuntha and U Thuseitta of the Patriotic Monks Union—and another layperson—Myat Phone Moh—are still at large.