Human rights groups across the world are increasingly concerned over the escalating violence in Myanmar following Tuesday's sectarian clashes where Buddhist mobs including monks burned mosques, schools and killed a Muslim man in the country formally known as Burma.
Tuesday's incident is only the latest in a wave of anti-Muslim movements in this South Asian Buddhist nation.
Jim Della-Giacoma, Asia program director for the International Crisis Group based in Brussels, said that the ongoing violence threatens the stability and harmony of the country, according to McClATCHY.
"The situation is of great concern," added Jim Della-Giacoma."If not resolved, this violence has the potential to threaten the country's transition and its stability."
Speaking on the sectarian clashes in the Buddhist country, the New York based Rights Group, Human Rights Watch Asia Advocacy Director John Sifton, told the news portal that the ongoing hate crimes from members of the democratic movement could discourage countries like the U.S. to help Burma in its bid for a smooth political transition.
"To see even members of the democratic movement . . . extol reactionary anti-Muslim abuses, it makes people want to turn away from (Myanmar) and help it move through its transition towards democracy," said John Sifton.
"It's a big deal," added John Sifton.
The violence on Tuesday is said to have happened in response to an alleged torching of a Buddhist woman by a Muslim man.
"There is no indication that (the violence) is going to stop. It is spreading, but it's spreading beyond what we all have expected," said T. Kumar, Amnesty International's director of international advocacy.
"That's why international pressure is extremely important."
Following Tuesday's incident, a number of security personnel have been deployed in the town of Lashio where the incident took place, according to the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Wai Lin.
Five security groups have been deployed, which include township administrative officers, police officers, the army and monks," said Lin.
