A human rights group has released satellite images of what appears to be the destruction of a coastal Burmese district riven by ethnic unrest.

Human Rights Watch says the images show that more than 800 buildings and houseboats were burned to the ground in Kyaukpyu, in western Rakhine state.

It says the victims were mostly Muslim Rohingyas, targeted by non-Muslims.

Akyab, Arakan State: More than 360 people have been killed and more than 3500 homes destroyed in the renewed clashed – Rohingyas and Rakhines- in Arakan State on October 21, according to a lawyer from Akyab.

Summary of main findings: A total of 811 destroyed building structures were identified on the eastern edge of Kyaukpyu
city, likely caused by arson attacks occurring less than 24 hours earlier on 24 October 2012. This area of near total
destruction measures 14.4ha in area and included both normal buildings (633) as well as 178 house boats and floating
barges adjacent on the water. There are no indications of building damages immediately to the west and east of this
zone of destruction.

Full report: www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/2012_Burma_Satimage.pdf

Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim population is indigenous to the land despite being classified as illegal migrants, an activist tells Press TV.

More than 100 Rohingya Muslims have been killed in a recent wave of sectarian violence in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine.

The deadly violence peaked on Tuesday night, but people have been killed every day this week, said Hla Thein, the vice chairman of the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD).