'Elders' urge Myanmar to address religious strife

They said it was "remarkable" how far the country had come in just two years.

But newfound freedoms of expression have also exposed deep-seated hatred in the predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million, initially against ethnic minority Muslims known as Rohingyas, and then to Muslims in general, leading to some of the worst sectarian violence the country has seen in decades.

At least 240 people have been killed and other 140,000 forced to flee their homes, most of them Muslims.

Steady progress

UNITED NATIONS (AP)—A group of Western and Asian governments are lauding Myanmar's progress toward democracy but warning outbreaks of communal violence could undermine the reforms.

Foreign ministers meeting Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly said in a statement that Myanmar urgently needs to address the political and economic grievances of the Rohingyas, including the question of their citizenship.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/elders-urge-myanmar-to-address-religious-strife-2/