…As 7 Buddhists killed in clashes with police in Myanmar’s Rakhine state – Reports***
Seven children died of food poisoning after eating sea turtle, officials in Madagascar said on Wednesday.
The children, between a few months and 4 years old, were from the same family in the north of the island off the East African coast.
“Seven children died on Jan.8 and 9, including two infants after breastfeeding whose mothers had eaten the turtle meat,” Said Borohany, a medical inspector, said.
Sea turtles are a protected species in Madagascar, but people still eat them.
Between November and March, the animals feed on toxic algae that lines the seabed, and the toxins can be found in their flesh.
“This kind of case occurs every year at this time,” said Manitra Rakotoarivony, Director of Health Promotion at the Health Ministry.
“Yet we go down to these areas to explain that locals should not eat this meat,” he added.
In the meantime, Myanmar police opened fire on a crowd, killing seven ethnic Rakhine Buddhists as they tried to seize a government office, in unrest that left seven dead in a state already scored by violence and bitter divisions, media reported on Wednesday.
Channel News Asia media outlet reported that the incident took place early on Wednesday, when over 5,000 Buddhists gathered to take part in a demonstration with nationalist slogans,.
During the demonstration, clashes erupted with protesters throwing stones at police, which left more than 20 officers injured.
The police responded by opening fire, which resulted in casualties.
The clashes between Buddhist nationalists and police took place a day after the country’s government signed an agreement with Bangladesh on the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees.
The Arakanese Buddhists also known as the Rakhine people are an ethnic majority in the Rakhine state, which is close to the Burmese.
The Buddhist since 1948 have from time to time demand independence from Myanmar and occasionally engage in clashes with Rohingyas, urging the latter to flee to Bangladesh.
