Religious Conflict Between Myanmar Workers In Penang Leads To A String Of Brutal Murders
Ethnic and religious tension between Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar has led to 20 brutal murders in Penang. Police fears further conflict is at risk.
By Mei Mei Chu — 18 Sep 2014, 12:26 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Police are worried that a communal clash between Muslims and Buddhists from Myanmar is brewing in Penang
Police are worried religious and ethnic tensions between the two groups in Myanmar have bubbled to surface in the state with deadly consequences. Most of the victims were Buddhists.
malaysiaedition.net
Twenty people have been savagely murdered in Penang this year. The latest was a double-murder of two men who were killed and dumped in an oil plant plantation.
Twenty people savagely murdered in Penang this year are believed to be victims of communal clashes between Muslims and Buddhists from Myanmar.
themalaymailonline.com
Police said the latest was the double-murder of two men in their 30s who had their throats slit and their bodies dumped in an oil palm plantation in Kampung Manggis in Bukit Mertajam on Monday.
yahoo.comThe flashpoint of this violence is Seberang Prai where six men, mostly factory workers between age 20 and 40, were found with their throats slit
Police sources said the victims, mostly factory workers, were brutally killed and were found with their throats slit. A source said: “Six people were been killed in central Seberang Prai in three separate cases while the remains of two other victims were discovered in southern Seberang Prai in the last four months.
malaysiaedition.net
“The remaining cases were reported in northern Seberang Prai while several other cases have also been occurred on the island." The source said the victims, all men, aged between 20 and 40 were abducted from their homes and murdered elsewhere.
themalaymailonline.com
Most of the victims were found without documents and their remains were identified by colleagues and friends.
themalaymailonline.com
The reason for the killings are unclear but police suspect Rohingya Muslims from the western Rakhine state in Myanmar are responsible. Most of the victims were Buddhist.
The reason for the killings are not immediately clear, with both groups blaming each other for the bitter tension.
themalaymailonline.com
The flashpoint of this violence is Seberang Prai where Rohingya Muslims from the western Rakhine state are the main suspects in the killings.
yahoo.comState deputy police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan says a special task force investigating the deaths are probing if religious disputes are involved
State deputy police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said a special task force has been set up by police to investigate the deaths. “We are probing if religious disputes are involved,” he said.
themalaymailonline.com
Police have been unable to prevent the violence due to communication problems with both communities
They have been unable to head off the violence due to communication problems with both communities.
malaysiaedition.net
No arrests have been made in connection with the murders which began early this year, and police believe further conflict is at risk
No one has been arrested in connection with the murders which began in January, although several weapons, mainly knives have been seized.
themalaymailonline.com
Police believe the assailants had targeted their victims through their workplace colleagues and had also obtained information on them from members of their community who have been here for years.
themalaymailonline.com
Investigations have shown further conflict is at risk and police have asked employers of the victims for leads.
yahoo.com