junta. In July 1988, as resentment towards Ne Win’s rule simmered, attacks on Muslims occurred in Pyay and Taunggyi, with claims that the junta at the time had orchestrated them to divert attention from protests breaking out across the country. There had been similar claims following anti-Chinese riots in the late 1960s and 1970s that coincided with soaring inflation and growing public disquiet. There seemed to be a logic to the claims: splitting communities perceived to be united in their opposition to the military allowed the focus of anger to be redirected horizontally, rather than towards
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