AFP/Yangon

Myanmar President Thein Sein said yesterday his reformist government would not tolerate religious extremism, following a fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence.
“I would like to warn all political opportunists and religious extremists who try to exploit the noble teachings of these religions and have tried to plant hatred among people of different faiths for their own self-interest: their efforts will not be tolerated,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
Earlier, Myanmar’s Muslim leaders appealed to the president to take swift action to quell religious violence, accusing security forces of standing by as rioters went on a rampage.
“These violent attacks include crimes such as arson and massacres which deserve heavy penalties,” four groups including the Islamic Religious Affairs Council and the Myanmar Muslim National Affairs Organisation wrote in an open letter to the president.
“However, in this situation the authorities neglected to take swift and effective action against the perpetrators who recklessly committed crimes in front of them,” they added.
“Massacres and damages to religious buildings and property are due to the weakness of the responsible authorities to protect and take effective action.”
At least 40 people have been killed and mosques burned in several towns in central Myanmar since a new eruption of sectarian strife on March 20, prompting the government to impose emergency rule and curfews in some areas.
The clashes were apparently triggered by an argument in a gold shop that turned into an escalating riot during which mosques were burned, houses razed and charred bodies left lying in the streets.
But witnesses say much of the violence appears to be well organised.
Security forces fired warning shots on Wednesday to disperse rioters and dozens of people have been detained.
It is the worst sectarian strife since violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the western state of Rakhine last year left at least 180 people dead and more than 110,000 displaced.