Burma 'continuing rights abuses against ethnic minority' despite democratic reforms: HRW

Rangoon, Aug 2 (ANI): The government in Myanmar (Burma) continues to practice rights abuses, as it stood by as security forces raped and murdered members of a long-persecuted ethnic minority, despite being hailed around the world for its recent democratic reforms, a New York-based human rights organization has claimed.

The report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) claimed that after troops opened fire and attacked the Rohingya Muslims, the authorities then unleashed a campaign of further violence and mass round-ups.

The organisation claimed that least 80 people were killed and many more injured after clashes broke out in June between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Burma's western Rakhine state.

"What is remarkable is that if the atrocities that we saw had happened before the government reform process had started, the international reaction would have been swift and strong," The Independent quoted HRW's Phil Robertson, as saying.

"But the international community appears to be blinded by a romantic narrative of sweeping change in Burma, signing new trade deals and lifting sanctions even while the abuses continue," Robertson added.

The organisation also pointed out that official tally of those killed appeared to have been "grossly underestimated".

According to the paper, Muslims of western Burma have for decades suffered persecution.

Considered "outsiders" by many Burmese despite the fact they have lived in the country for centuries, in 1982 they were stripped of their citizenship rights by the then military ruler Ne Win. (ANI)