Myanmar’s outgoing government today lifted a state of emergency in conflict-hit Rakhine. Rahkine is deeply scarred by communal violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims that began in 2012.
In a surprise move today, outgoing President Thein Sein announced the removal of the emergency order, which had been in place since unrest left scores dead and tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims confined to displacement camps. Tens of thousands have fled persecution and poverty for neighbouring countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.