Human rights groups decry Myanmar ethnic strife

October 29, 2012 - Human rights groups urged an end to sectarian violence in western Myanmar on Saturday, with one releasing satellite photos of what it said was an entire section of a town apparently burned to the ground by a marauding mob. A government spokesman for the region affected by almost a week of ethnic strife said the area was calm on Saturday with no new clashes between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. Human rights organizations insisted, however, that Myanmar's government act more strongly to end the spasms of killing and destruction in the area. Human Rights Watch said the Rohingya ``are under vicious attack'' and in urgent need of government protection. It released satellite photos showing extensive destruction in a predominantly Rohingya area of one of the townships where violence was reported this past week. Myanmar state television reported Friday night that 67 people died, 95 were injured and 2,818 houses were burned down from Sunday through Thursday in seven of Rakhine's townships. The casualty figures have not been broken down by ethnic group. Human Rights Watch said the Rohingya had suffered the brunt of the violence. It said the true death toll may be higher, based on witness accounts and the government's history of minimizing news that might reflect badly on it.