Three person sentenced to 14 years over religious riot in Meiktila

Three Muslims who were involved in a religious riot that occurred last March 20 were sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. The owner of a gold shop including his wife and an employee were named as the culprit in beating a Buddhist client in a dispute over a gold hairpin in the Meiktila in central Myanmar, said news report from AFP.

According to report from the state-run Mirror newspaper, the Buddhist customer suffered grave physical injury and theft with the intention of getting killed in the process by the accused.

Many believed that this is the first toughest sentence ever handed down by authorities in connection with the couple of violence that occurred in the region.

Several unrest followed through after this incident between Buddhist and Muslim killing 43 people, mosques as well as Muslim houses was put on fire.

Radical monks are blamed for such violence saying that these acts are well organized and planned, the report said.

President Thein Sein issued a statement last March 28 saying that whoever is responsible for this disturbances and violence will be punished and faces the consequences. He also attributed these conflicts to religious extremists and political opportunists. Original source: http://www.betweenonline.com/2013/04/12/three-person-sentenced-to-14-years-over-religious-riot-in-meiktila/