The United States on 19 June praised the
Myanmar government’s response to recent deadly riots and clashes in
Rakhine State, Reuters reported.
The US did so despite criticism by rights group Amnesty International that the Myanmar government is still arresting Rohingyas.
The vote of confidence from Washington
will be a welcome relief to President U Thein Sein after mob violence in
Rakhine State threatened to derail the country's move towards
democracy.
"This is something we would not have
seen in the past. The government is trying to help everybody who needs
it whether that is Rakhine Buddhists or Muslims," Michael Thurston, the
U.S. embassy's charge d' affaires in Myanmar, told Reuters in his office
in Yangon.
After days of clashes between Rohingyas
and Rakhine nationals, President U Thein Sein on June 10 declared a
state of emergency in Rakhine state, sent security reinforcements,
imposed a curfew and made a televised address to the nation.
The U.S. embassy's charge d' affaires said this time, the government was quick to ask for international help.
"The response this time is far and away
better than Cyclone Nargis," he continued. "It's not just myself that
thinks this. Most of my colleagues agree that this has been a very
different and better response."
At present, the Red Cross and WFP as
well as internal social organizations are rendering aids in Rakhine
State. Moreover, the death toll has reached more than 80, stated in the
AFP news quoting an official of the Myanmar government on 21 June.
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