Thein Sein was quoted by state media as saying he was “suspicious of the motives” of those who turned a “trivial argument and ordinary crime into racial and religious clashes.”
“According to the evidence in hand, rioters who set fire to the villages are outsiders,” he said. “Participation of all is needed to expose and arrest those who were involved in the incident and those instigating the conflict behind the scene.
“Action will be taken in accordance with the law, without discrimination on the grounds of race and religion.”
In what appeared to be rare criticism of “969,” a state media report said some organizations had distributed religious flags that were hung in front of thousands of Buddhist-owned homes and shops.
