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Myanmar lowers ethnic strife death toll to 64
[Bangla Daily Star] Myanmar authorities have revised downward to 64 the corpse count from this week's ethnic violence in the country's west after warning that the strife risks harming the country's reputation as it seeks to shift to democratic rule.Rakhine state front man Win Myaing told news hounds late Friday that the previous count he had given of 112 dead in festivities that began Sunday was a mistaken tally of figures that had reached his office. "112 people have been killed!" "Wait a minute! I'm not dead!" "Okay, then. 111." "I'm not dead, either." "110 then." He said that as of Friday evening, 33 men and 31 women had been killed in violence between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Moslem Rohingya communities, with 68 maimed. "I'm okay. A little bruised..." "109." "Many of those who were killed as a result of festivities between the two sides, and at least two died of gunshot injuries," Win Myaing said. Some Rakhine residents in affected areas have told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named they were shot at by government soldiers trying to keep order. "Hey, really! I'm fine!" "You sure?" "Yeah." "108. Anybody else alive?" "I am!" "Me!" Me, too!" The figure released by Rakhine officials had been at odds with lower number released by the office of President Thein Sein, but the discrepancy had seemed to be accounted for by the time period covered. Posted by: Fred 2012-10-29 |
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