Ethnic insurgents in Myanmar killed 19 people, including four members of the security forces, in a major attack near the main border gate with China early on Saturday, a government spokesman said.

The conflict in the north of Myanmar has escalated over the past month and the latest attack marks a further setback for civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stated priority of achieving peace amid a stuttering transition from full military rule.

A spokesman for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), made up of fighters from the Ta’ang or Palaung ethnic group, said the group had attacked a casino run by militiamen and a Myanmar army post on the outskirts of border town Muse, several hundred meters from a river that divides Myanmar’s northern Shan state and China’s Yunnan province.

Myanmar’s military frequently clashes with several groups who say they are fighting for greater autonomy for ethnic minorities in the area, through which much of Myanmar’s foreign trade flows.

Zaw Htay, the main Myanmar government spokesman, said around 100 insurgents attacked at about 5 a.m. using small arms and artillery, and were repelled by armed police and members of a government-backed militia he called “paramilitaries”.

Fifteen civilians, including two women, were killed, and 20 were injured, he said, citing information from police.

One police officer and three militiamen were also killed in the clash, Zaw Htay said. An unknown number of Chinese and Myanmar nationals had fled into China, he added.

“Now the Myanmar military is attacking and following them. They ran away after attacking the civilian targets,” said Zaw Htay. “This is not an ethnic rights movement, this is a terrorist attack.”

L Soe Htan Tu, a spokesman for the government in Muse, confirmed that at least 20 people had been brought to Muse’s main hospital with serious injuries, but said he didn’t know how many were dead.

TNLA spokesman Colonel Tar Aik Kyaw said the attack targeted soldiers and the militiamen who ran the casino, but conceded that civilians could have been caught in cross fire.

“The militia are protecting the casinos – those casinos are the gateway for distributing drugs. Many civilians they go to the casinos and it causes many social problems, so we launched a major assault,” Tar Aik Kyaw said.

The assault was in retaliation for recent attacks on TNLA outposts and for a military push in Kachin state to the north, where an offensive against the Kachin Independence Army, a TNLA ally, has displaced more than 6,000 people in the past month, he said.

Myanmar’s military frequently clashes with several groups

Ethnic insurgents in Myanmar killed 19 people, including four members of the security forces, in a major attack near the main border gate with China early on Saturday, a government spokesman said. The conflict in the north of Myanmar has escalated over the past month and the latest attack marks a further setback for civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s stated priority of achieving peace amid a stuttering transition from full military rule. A spokesman for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), made up of fighters from the Ta’ang or Palaung ethnic group, said the group had attacked a casino run by militiamen and a Myanmar army post on the outskirts of border town Muse, several hundred meters from a river that divides Myanmar’s northern Shan state and China’s Yunnan province. Myanmar’s military frequently clashes with several groups who say they are fighting for greater autonomy for ethnic minorities in the area, through which much of Myanmar’s foreign trade flows. Zaw Htay, the main Myanmar government spokesman, said around 100 insurgents attacked at about 5 a.m. using small arms and artillery, and were repelled by armed police and members of a government-backed militia he called “paramilitaries”. Fifteen civilians, including two women, were killed, and 20 were injured, he said, citing information from police. One police officer and three militiamen were also killed in the clash, Zaw Htay said. An unknown number of Chinese and Myanmar nationals had fled into China, he added. “Now the Myanmar military is attacking and following them. They ran away after attacking the civilian targets,” said Zaw Htay. “This is not an ethnic rights movement, this is a terrorist attack.” L Soe Htan Tu, a spokesman for the government in Muse, confirmed that at least 20 people had been brought to Muse’s main hospital with serious injuries, but said he didn’t know how many were dead. TNLA spokesman Colonel Tar Aik Kyaw said the attack targeted soldiers and the militiamen who ran the casino, but conceded that civilians could have been caught in cross fire. “The militia are protecting the casinos – those casinos are the gateway for distributing drugs. Many civilians they go to the casinos and it causes many social problems, so we launched a major assault,” Tar Aik Kyaw said. The assault was in retaliation for recent attacks on TNLA outposts and for a military push in Kachin state to the north, where an offensive against the Kachin Independence Army, a TNLA ally, has displaced more than 6,000 people in the past month, he said.

Insurgents in Myanmar kill 19 in attack near China border

UN Secretary-General <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-pm-appeals-oic-to-stand-beside-rohingyas-134900">Antonio Guterres said on Thursday</a> several thousand Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps should be relocated in order to save them from floods as they were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon." .

"The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

The UN chiefs <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/violence-against-rohingya-exposed-in-shocking-photos-131241">views come amid reports</a> of Bangladesh planning to relocate the Rohingyas to an island, however, there are no immediate reports of it being ready.

"Higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation," the UN chief added.

Over 700,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since August last year after reports emerged of persecution by the Army.

Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing".

Guterres said the UN is in touch with the Bangladesh government on finding a permanent base for the Rohingyas, even though the outcome of the backroom talks is still not clear.

Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday several thousand Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps should be relocated in order to save them from floods as they were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon." . "The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. The UN chiefs views come amid reports of Bangladesh planning to relocate the Rohingyas to an island, however, there are no immediate reports of it being ready. "Higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation," the UN chief added. Over 700,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since August last year after reports emerged of persecution by the Army. Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing". Guterres said the UN is in touch with the Bangladesh government on finding a permanent base for the Rohingyas, even though the outcome of the backroom talks is still not clear.

Rohingyas should be relocated: UN to Bangladesh

Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj today met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Swaraj arrived in Myanmar yesterday on a two-day visit where she aims to discuss key bilateral and regional issues, including the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Shortly after reaching Myanmar yesterday, Sushma Swaraj called on Myanmar President U Win Myint.&nbsp;

"Neighbourhood First! EAM @SushmaSwaraj met the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi on the 2nd day of her visit to Myanmar. Discussion focused on strengthening our bilateral relations across different sectors," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

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Neighbourhood First! EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> met the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi on the 2nd day of her visit to Myanmar. Discussion focused on strengthening our bilateral relations across different sectors. <a href="https://t.co/p2u9ho2lla">pic.twitter.com/p2u9ho2lla</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/994850338585890816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to reports, Swaraj also met General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp; 
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According to reports, Swaraj also met General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces

Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj today met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Swaraj arrived in Myanmar yesterday on a two-day visit where she aims to discuss key bilateral and regional issues, including the Rohingya refugee crisis. Shortly after reaching Myanmar yesterday, Sushma Swaraj called on Myanmar President U Win Myint. "Neighbourhood First! EAM @SushmaSwaraj met the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi on the 2nd day of her visit to Myanmar. Discussion focused on strengthening our bilateral relations across different sectors," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Neighbourhood First! EAM @SushmaSwaraj met the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi on the 2nd day of her visit to Myanmar. Discussion focused on strengthening our bilateral relations across different sectors. pic.twitter.com/p2u9ho2lla — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 11, 2018 × According to reports, Swaraj also met General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces. (With inputs from PTI)

Sushma Swaraj meets Myanmar State Counsellor Suu Kyi, discusses Rohingya crisis, bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to offer free visas to Myanmar citizens has led to an increase of the travelers by more than 10% in 2017 as compared to 2016.&nbsp

The decision of free visas was announced on September 6, 2017.&nbsp

Addressing a maiden tourism promotional event in Myanmar's Yangon, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Rashi Dubey said that the Myanmar visitors are more likely to visit Bodh Gaya, the famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Bihar.

"Most visitors from Myanmar are going to Bodh Gaya", said Dubey adding that in 2017 more than 50, 000 Myanmar pilgrims visited the annual Bodh Gaya festival adding over 20,000 tourists since the previous year.

About 30,000 Myanmar pilgrims visit the annual Bodh Gaya festival, &nbspbut in 2017 more than 50,000 pilgrims went to India, according to the ministry.&nbsp

There is also an opportunity for India’s northeastern region, which is close to Myanmar, and the land route border crossing is likely to open in two places to allow Myanmar travellers to visit, she said.&nbsp

Myanmar citizens have been traveling to India not only for the purpose of pilgrimages but also for medical tours and holidays in the Himalayas.&nbsp

Increase in tourism from Myanmar would indirectly help in the promotion of north-eastern states as favourable tourism destinations because of their geographical proximity to the former.

In the coming months, land routes border crossing are likely to open between the two countries, which could help increase tourism traffic, Dubey noted.

She said,"This is a good opportunity for the people between the two countries to engage with each other and look at the business opportunities for sending tourists from Myanmar to India or India to Myanmar."

The decision of free visas was announced on September 6, 2017 by PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to offer free visas to Myanmar citizens has led to an increase of the travelers by more than 10% in 2017 as compared to 2016. The decision of free visas was announced on September 6, 2017. Addressing a maiden tourism promotional event in Myanmar's Yangon, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Rashi Dubey said that the Myanmar visitors are more likely to visit Bodh Gaya, the famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Bihar. "Most visitors from Myanmar are going to Bodh Gaya", said Dubey adding that in 2017 more than 50, 000 Myanmar pilgrims visited the annual Bodh Gaya festival adding over 20,000 tourists since the previous year. About 30,000 Myanmar pilgrims visit the annual Bodh Gaya festival, &nbspbut in 2017 more than 50,000 pilgrims went to India, according to the ministry. There is also an opportunity for India’s northeastern region, which is close to Myanmar, and the land route border crossing is likely to open in two places to allow Myanmar travellers to visit, she said. Myanmar citizens have been traveling to India not only for the purpose of pilgrimages but also for medical tours and holidays in the Himalayas. Increase in tourism from Myanmar would indirectly help in the promotion of north-eastern states as favourable tourism destinations because of their geographical proximity to the former. In the coming months, land routes border crossing are likely to open between the two countries, which could help increase tourism traffic, Dubey noted. She said,"This is a good opportunity for the people between the two countries to engage with each other and look at the business opportunities for sending tourists from Myanmar to India or India to Myanmar."

India's free visa police increases Myanmar travelers by 10%

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Myanmar where she will&nbsp;hold discussions on key bilateral and regional issues.

on reaching Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw Thursday, Sushma was received by Ambassador of India and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Later, she also held a meeting with the President of Myanmar,&nbsp;U Win Myint.

The&nbsp;External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted saying, "EAM will hold discussions with Myanmar leadership to further reinforce our bilateral ties".

Swaraj may discuss the situation of the Rakhine state and the displacement of over thousands of Rohingya Muslims from there since August.

Myanmar has a strategic role to play in India's neighbourhood as it shares its border with many northeastern states including Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.&nbsp;

In December last year, India has announced an aid of $ 25 million for the Rakhine state.

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On her arrival in Nay Pyi Taw, EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> was warmly received by Ambassador <a href="https://twitter.com/VikramMisri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VikramMisri</a> and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar U Myint Thu. <a href="https://t.co/QLiv72TT1u">pic.twitter.com/QLiv72TT1u</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/994515322664374272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Neighbourhood first! EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> emplanes for Nay Pyi Taw on a bilateral visit to Myanmar on 10-11 May. EAM will hold discussions with Myanmar leadership to further reinforce our bilateral ties. <a href="https://t.co/BArvYrT2PD">pic.twitter.com/BArvYrT2PD</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/994475335621267456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Swaraj may discuss the situation of the Rakhine state and the displacement of over thousands of Rohingya Muslims from there since August

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Myanmar where she will hold discussions on key bilateral and regional issues. on reaching Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw Thursday, Sushma was received by Ambassador of India and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, she also held a meeting with the President of Myanmar, U Win Myint. The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted saying, "EAM will hold discussions with Myanmar leadership to further reinforce our bilateral ties". Swaraj may discuss the situation of the Rakhine state and the displacement of over thousands of Rohingya Muslims from there since August. Myanmar has a strategic role to play in India's neighbourhood as it shares its border with many northeastern states including Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. In December last year, India has announced an aid of $ 25 million for the Rakhine state. On her arrival in Nay Pyi Taw, EAM @SushmaSwaraj was warmly received by Ambassador @VikramMisri and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar U Myint Thu. pic.twitter.com/QLiv72TT1u — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 10, 2018 × Neighbourhood first! EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Nay Pyi Taw on a bilateral visit to Myanmar on 10-11 May. EAM will hold discussions with Myanmar leadership to further reinforce our bilateral ties. pic.twitter.com/BArvYrT2PD — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 10, 2018 ×

Sushma Swaraj may discuss Rohingya issue on two-day visit to Myanmar

China is resisting a British-led push at the UN Security Council to increase pressure on Myanmar to try those responsible for attacks on the Rohingya, according to a draft statement seen by AFP on Tuesday.

Back from a visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Security Council is holding negotiations on a statement that would outline steps to address the crisis from the forced exodus of 700,000 Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar.

Britain last week circulated a draft text that stressed the importance of "credible and transparent investigations" of human rights violations and urged Myanmar to hold those responsible to account.

China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, on Monday put forward an amended statement that dropped all mention of investigations or accountability.

Myanmar has come under international scrutiny since a military campaign launched in August drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes in northern Rakhine state.

China's draft statement stresses "the need to address the root causes of the issue," and calls for investment in Rakhine state to "achieve stability through development."

Diplomats said Britain, backed by France and the United States along with other council members, had rejected the proposed changes by China.

Negotiations were continuing ahead of a council meeting on Myanmar on Monday.

The 15 ambassadors last week met with traumatized refugees living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh and toured burned-out villages in Rakhine state.

The council adopted a statement in November that called on Myanmar to rein in its military, but there has been no resolution -- a stronger measure that China, as one of the veto-wielding permanent members, would likely block.

Crimes against humanity

Myanmar has said the military operation in Rakhine is aimed at rooting out extremists and has rejected accusations from the United Nations, Britain, France and the United States of "ethnic cleansing."

Four human rights groups told a news conference at UN headquarters in New York that the council should immediately ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation for crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

"It's clear that the Myanmar authorities are unable to hold themselves to account," said Param-Preet Singh, associate director for international justice at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Myanmar has refused to allow a UN fact-finding mission set up by the Human Rights Council to enter the country, and has barred UN rights expert Yanghee Lee.

HRW, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights and the Global Center for Responsibility to Protect said the council should put forward a draft resolution on referring Myanmar to the ICC even though China would likely veto such a move.

"The threat of a veto is no excuse for inaction," said Savita Pawnday, the deputy executive director of the Global Centre.

Fortify Rights, which has documented massacres, gang-rape and widespread arson attacks targeting the Rohingya in Rakhine, is calling for a global arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions.

Matthew Smith, the head of Fortify Rights, said his organization had a list of "dozens" of military and civilian officials involved in the attacks that reaches "straight to the top" of the army.&nbsp

The council has urged Myanmar to allow the safe return of the Rohingya and take steps to end decades of discrimination that they have suffered in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, on Monday put forward an amended statement that dropped all mention of investigations or accountability

China is resisting a British-led push at the UN Security Council to increase pressure on Myanmar to try those responsible for attacks on the Rohingya, according to a draft statement seen by AFP on Tuesday. Back from a visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Security Council is holding negotiations on a statement that would outline steps to address the crisis from the forced exodus of 700,000 Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar. Britain last week circulated a draft text that stressed the importance of "credible and transparent investigations" of human rights violations and urged Myanmar to hold those responsible to account. China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, on Monday put forward an amended statement that dropped all mention of investigations or accountability. Myanmar has come under international scrutiny since a military campaign launched in August drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes in northern Rakhine state. China's draft statement stresses "the need to address the root causes of the issue," and calls for investment in Rakhine state to "achieve stability through development." Diplomats said Britain, backed by France and the United States along with other council members, had rejected the proposed changes by China. Negotiations were continuing ahead of a council meeting on Myanmar on Monday. The 15 ambassadors last week met with traumatized refugees living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh and toured burned-out villages in Rakhine state. The council adopted a statement in November that called on Myanmar to rein in its military, but there has been no resolution -- a stronger measure that China, as one of the veto-wielding permanent members, would likely block. Crimes against humanity Myanmar has said the military operation in Rakhine is aimed at rooting out extremists and has rejected accusations from the United Nations, Britain, France and the United States of "ethnic cleansing." Four human rights groups told a news conference at UN headquarters in New York that the council should immediately ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation for crimes against humanity in Myanmar. "It's clear that the Myanmar authorities are unable to hold themselves to account," said Param-Preet Singh, associate director for international justice at Human Rights Watch (HRW). Myanmar has refused to allow a UN fact-finding mission set up by the Human Rights Council to enter the country, and has barred UN rights expert Yanghee Lee. HRW, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights and the Global Center for Responsibility to Protect said the council should put forward a draft resolution on referring Myanmar to the ICC even though China would likely veto such a move. "The threat of a veto is no excuse for inaction," said Savita Pawnday, the deputy executive director of the Global Centre. Fortify Rights, which has documented massacres, gang-rape and widespread arson attacks targeting the Rohingya in Rakhine, is calling for a global arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions. Matthew Smith, the head of Fortify Rights, said his organization had a list of "dozens" of military and civilian officials involved in the attacks that reaches "straight to the top" of the army. The council has urged Myanmar to allow the safe return of the Rohingya and take steps to end decades of discrimination that they have suffered in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

China resists push at UN for Myanmar probe of Rohingya attacks

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year.

"What we`ve got to do on the council is to think how best to turn that into something operational, so that the evidence gets collected and given either to the Burmese authorities or to some sort of international mechanism," Britain`s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told Reuters, as the Security Council wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday.

Britain`s Pierce told reporters that an investigation needs evidentiary standards to achieve accountability.

"There are two ways of doing that basically, one is an International Criminal Court referral, the second would be the Burmese government do that themselves," Pierce said.

The Myanmar mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pierce’s suggestion.&nbsp;

Myanmar`s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged investigations if credible evidence was provided and military chief Min Aung Hlaing vowed "harsh action" over sexual violence during separate meetings with Security Council envoys in the country`s capital Naypyitaw on Monday, diplomats said.&nbsp;

But Suu Kyi`s civilian government has little control over the Myanmar military.&nbsp;

Members of the UN Security Council travelled to Myanmar`s Rakhine state, where the United Nations and rights groups say nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August.

Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson. Rohingya insurgent attacks on Rakhine security posts led to the military operation that Myanmar deemed a legitimate response.

In Rakhine, data from the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) has shown hundreds of villages once inhabited by the Rohingya have now been burned down. Many such villages could be seen from the Myanmar military helicopters that carried the UN&nbsp; envoys to northern Rakhine.

Security Council envoys were shown a reception centre Myanmar has built for repatriating Rohingya, aiming to accept a total of 150 people a day, and a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees. The envoys passed two bulldozed villages near the camp.&nbsp;

Investigations and Options 
 
Last November, the Myanmar`s military released a report denying all accusations of rape and killings by security forces.

But the US government is conducting an intensive examination of allegations of atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar`s military officials for crimes against humanity, US officials have told Reuters.&nbsp;

Meanwhile the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity, but Suu Kyi`s government has expressed "serious concern" over the move.

Bangladesh is a member of the ICC but Myanmar is not, so if the ICC rules that it does not have jurisdiction, the U.N. Security Council could then choose to refer the situation in Myanmar to the court.&nbsp;

In December, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Myanmar must allow an "independent, transparent and credible investigation into what has happened."

One way the Security Council could help Myanmar could be to mandate a UN investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidence, just as it did in Iraq last year when it investigated acts by Islamic State that may be war crimes.

The United Nations General Assembly could alternatively create an international inquiry into the most serious crimes committed against the Rohingya, similar to what the UN has done in Syria.&nbsp;

Russia`s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy was wary of Security Council involvement though because Myanmar said it was willing to tackle the issue. Any Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by either Russia or China, an ally of Myanmar.&nbsp;

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year. "What we`ve got to do on the council is to think how best to turn that into something operational, so that the evidence gets collected and given either to the Burmese authorities or to some sort of international mechanism," Britain`s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told Reuters, as the Security Council wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday. Britain`s Pierce told reporters that an investigation needs evidentiary standards to achieve accountability. "There are two ways of doing that basically, one is an International Criminal Court referral, the second would be the Burmese government do that themselves," Pierce said. The Myanmar mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pierce’s suggestion. Myanmar`s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged investigations if credible evidence was provided and military chief Min Aung Hlaing vowed "harsh action" over sexual violence during separate meetings with Security Council envoys in the country`s capital Naypyitaw on Monday, diplomats said. But Suu Kyi`s civilian government has little control over the Myanmar military. Members of the UN Security Council travelled to Myanmar`s Rakhine state, where the United Nations and rights groups say nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August. Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson. Rohingya insurgent attacks on Rakhine security posts led to the military operation that Myanmar deemed a legitimate response. In Rakhine, data from the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) has shown hundreds of villages once inhabited by the Rohingya have now been burned down. Many such villages could be seen from the Myanmar military helicopters that carried the UN envoys to northern Rakhine. Security Council envoys were shown a reception centre Myanmar has built for repatriating Rohingya, aiming to accept a total of 150 people a day, and a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees. The envoys passed two bulldozed villages near the camp. Investigations and Options Last November, the Myanmar`s military released a report denying all accusations of rape and killings by security forces. But the US government is conducting an intensive examination of allegations of atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar`s military officials for crimes against humanity, US officials have told Reuters. Meanwhile the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity, but Suu Kyi`s government has expressed "serious concern" over the move. Bangladesh is a member of the ICC but Myanmar is not, so if the ICC rules that it does not have jurisdiction, the U.N. Security Council could then choose to refer the situation in Myanmar to the court. In December, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Myanmar must allow an "independent, transparent and credible investigation into what has happened." One way the Security Council could help Myanmar could be to mandate a UN investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidence, just as it did in Iraq last year when it investigated acts by Islamic State that may be war crimes. The United Nations General Assembly could alternatively create an international inquiry into the most serious crimes committed against the Rohingya, similar to what the UN has done in Syria. Russia`s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy was wary of Security Council involvement though because Myanmar said it was willing to tackle the issue. Any Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by either Russia or China, an ally of Myanmar.

UN could help Myanmar gather evidence of crimes against Rohingya: British Envoy

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked India, China, Russia and Japan to collectively resolve the Rohingya crises.

She said she expects the countries to play a major role in resolving the crises.

Bangladesh PM raised the issue on her meet with UNSC delegation President Gustavo Meza-Cuadra.

She also urged the international community to continue putting up strong pressure on the Myanmar government to take back their Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh.&nbsp

"Myanmar should act in accordance with the agreement they have signed with Bangladesh (regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas)," she said.

A Bangladesh media reports "Myanmar says its neighbour has only handed back 8,000 repatriation forms so far, many of them incomplete, delaying the return process."

According to the UN records, about 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape the violence and atrocities that prevails in Myanmar against the minorities.

The Rohingya deportation from Myanmar started since August 25, 2017 after the army launched a military crackdown on the minority community.

Myanmar does not consider Rohingya as an ethnic group and maintains that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country.

The UN has described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide.

The majority community in Myanmar, Buddhist, however, rejects the charge of ethnic cleansing. The Buddhists maintain that the security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 to retaliate the Rohingya militant attacks. 
&nbsp

She also urged the international community to continue putting up strong pressure on the Myanmar government to take back their Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked India, China, Russia and Japan to collectively resolve the Rohingya crises. She said she expects the countries to play a major role in resolving the crises. Bangladesh PM raised the issue on her meet with UNSC delegation President Gustavo Meza-Cuadra. She also urged the international community to continue putting up strong pressure on the Myanmar government to take back their Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh. "Myanmar should act in accordance with the agreement they have signed with Bangladesh (regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas)," she said. A Bangladesh media reports "Myanmar says its neighbour has only handed back 8,000 repatriation forms so far, many of them incomplete, delaying the return process." According to the UN records, about 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape the violence and atrocities that prevails in Myanmar against the minorities. The Rohingya deportation from Myanmar started since August 25, 2017 after the army launched a military crackdown on the minority community. Myanmar does not consider Rohingya as an ethnic group and maintains that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. The UN has described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide. The majority community in Myanmar, Buddhist, however, rejects the charge of ethnic cleansing. The Buddhists maintain that the security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 to retaliate the Rohingya militant attacks.

Bangladesh PM urges India, China, Japan, Russia to help in resolving Rohingya crises

Myanmar's military has assured the United Nations of "harsh" action against perpetrators of sexual violence, state media reported on Tuesday, as UN&nbspenvoys travelled to Rakhine State where the military conducted a widely criticised crackdown.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Rakhine State to Bangladesh to flee a military crackdown launched in August that the United Nations and others denounced as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".

Many of the refugees arriving in Bangladesh recounted incidents of killings and rape but Myanmar largely rejected those reports as well as the accusation of ethnic cleansing.

It said its forces were engaged in a legitimate security campaign in response to a string of Rohingya insurgents attacks on the security forces.

The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border, and government leaders in Dhaka.

In Myanmar, they met separately with Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing.

"Sexual violence (is) considered as despicable acts," the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling the envoys.

The military was "taking harsh and stronger actions against such offenders", he said.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, in her meeting with the envoys, pledged to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended.

During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, noted Myanmar's difficulties in transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military.

Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment.

'Cooperation needed'

Tuesday is the final day of a four-day visit to the region by the UN&nbspSecurity Council team.

The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all".

Earlier on Monday, the council envoys met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens".

Hasina said the refugees should return "under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured".

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow.

Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border

Myanmar's military has assured the United Nations of "harsh" action against perpetrators of sexual violence, state media reported on Tuesday, as UN&nbspenvoys travelled to Rakhine State where the military conducted a widely criticised crackdown. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Rakhine State to Bangladesh to flee a military crackdown launched in August that the United Nations and others denounced as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing". Many of the refugees arriving in Bangladesh recounted incidents of killings and rape but Myanmar largely rejected those reports as well as the accusation of ethnic cleansing. It said its forces were engaged in a legitimate security campaign in response to a string of Rohingya insurgents attacks on the security forces. The Security Council envoys arrived in Myanmar on Monday after visiting refugee camps on the Bangladesh side of the border, and government leaders in Dhaka. In Myanmar, they met separately with Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. "Sexual violence (is) considered as despicable acts," the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling the envoys. The military was "taking harsh and stronger actions against such offenders", he said. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, in her meeting with the envoys, pledged to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended. During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, noted Myanmar's difficulties in transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity. Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military. Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment. 'Cooperation needed' Tuesday is the final day of a four-day visit to the region by the UN&nbspSecurity Council team. The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all". Earlier on Monday, the council envoys met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens". Hasina said the refugees should return "under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured". Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow. Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Myanmar military assures UN of 'harsh' action on sexual assault

The United Nations Security Council members, who met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during their mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, will today visit Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee crisis.

The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who have fled across the border to escape violence.

The delegation of diplomats from the council's 15 member countries arrived yesterday in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, holding meetings with Suu Kyi as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Min Aung Hlaing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The council mission also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives in the capital of Myanmar.&nbsp

"Ambassadors also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives. The council members will today fly to Rakhine state, the epicentre of the mass displacement crisis, which has been caused by a recurring cycle of clashes between mainly Buddhist residents in the state, and Rohingya Muslims who have also lived there for decades," the spokesperson said.

In Rakhine, the delegation is expected to meet local government representatives and civil society.&nbsp

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 671,000 Rohingya refugees have fled targeted violence and serious human rights violations in Myanmar since last August.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy on Myanmar, to strengthen the world body's efforts to assist Myanmar's peace and reconciliation process.&nbsp

The UN spokesperson added that over the weekend, the Council delegation visited Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, where they listened to testimony from refugees at the Kutupalong Camp. Before departing for Myanmar early on Monday, the delegation met with Hasina in Dhaka.

The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas

The United Nations Security Council members, who met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during their mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, will today visit Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee crisis. The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who have fled across the border to escape violence. The delegation of diplomats from the council's 15 member countries arrived yesterday in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, holding meetings with Suu Kyi as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Min Aung Hlaing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The council mission also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives in the capital of Myanmar. "Ambassadors also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives. The council members will today fly to Rakhine state, the epicentre of the mass displacement crisis, which has been caused by a recurring cycle of clashes between mainly Buddhist residents in the state, and Rohingya Muslims who have also lived there for decades," the spokesperson said. In Rakhine, the delegation is expected to meet local government representatives and civil society. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 671,000 Rohingya refugees have fled targeted violence and serious human rights violations in Myanmar since last August. Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy on Myanmar, to strengthen the world body's efforts to assist Myanmar's peace and reconciliation process. The UN spokesperson added that over the weekend, the Council delegation visited Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, where they listened to testimony from refugees at the Kutupalong Camp. Before departing for Myanmar early on Monday, the delegation met with Hasina in Dhaka.

UNSC members to visit Rakhine state today

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-accord-trump-hints-at-real-agreement-with-iran-133873">Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran</a>

Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-postpones-steel-tariff-decision-for-canada-eu-mexico-133863">Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico</a>

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday.

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Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">refugee</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870"> crisis</a>

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting.

<a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">US</a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal"> to scrap </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">deal</a>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks. Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico US President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday. Dominican Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state. UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over refugee crisis Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting. Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh made emotional pleas to the UN&nbspSecurity Council on Sunday for help to return safely to their homes in neighboring Myanmar and for justice over the reason they fled - accusations of killings, rapes and arson.

During a visit to an unclaimed strip of territory between the two states dubbed no-man's land, several tearful women and girls threw themselves at British UN&nbspAmbassador Karen Pierce as they recounted what had happened to them.

"It shows the scale of the challenge as we try as a Security Council to find some way through that enables these poor people to go home," Pierce said. "The sad thing is there's nothing we can do right today that will make their distress any less."

The Security Council envoys - who will travel to Myanmar on Monday and meet with its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi - also visited a dry and dusty Kutupalong refugee camp that housed many of the nearly 700,000 Rohingya who fled Myanmar's Rakhine state.

"It's quite overwhelming. Obviously the scale of this camp is unlike anything I've ever seen," said deputy US&nbspAmbassador to the United Nations Kelley Currie. "It is going to be a disaster when the rains come."

United Nations officials and aid groups have voiced concern that the coming monsoon season will worsen the humanitarian situation. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are living in temporary shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulins at Kutupalong, many on steep hills and in low-lying areas likely to be flooded.

Myanmar's Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who visited the camps in Bangladesh earlier this month, expressed concern about "very poor conditions."

Justice demand

The refugee crisis exploded about eight months ago when the Myanmar military launched a crackdown over Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts. The United States, Britain, United Nations and others described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the minority mainly Muslim Rohingya, a charge Myanmar denies.

Hundreds of refugees lined a road in Kutupalong camp on Sunday with signs that read "we demand justice" and "protected return to protected homeland."

"We are standing here to demand justice as they (Myanmar military) have killed our men and tortured our women so much, so we are compelled to seek justice for those abuses," Rohingya refugee Sajida Begum told Reuters.

Several female refugees who met with council envoys accused Myanmar troops of gang-raping them, attacking their young children and killing their husbands. Myanmar has said that its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents.

"This is very complicated issue, and it's related with history, with ethnicity, with religions," Chinese deputy UN&nbspAmbassador Wu Haitao told reporters, in response to a question about whether China and Russia were preventing the council from considering a resolution on Myanmar.

"There is no easy answer but if we all work together I think we can find a way," he said.

However, while the Security Council is united on travelling to the region, diplomats said they expect Myanmar ally China and Russia - both veto-wielding powers on the council - to resist any push for stronger council action, such as sanctions or a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court.

"We don't have any magic solution in the Security Council," deputy Russian UN&nbspAmbassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters in response to a question about whether the council would consider itself responsible for failing to address the crisis.

"The issue is still for us to promote bilateral ways to resolve this issue. We will try to convince both governments ... to engage in constructive negotiations, discussion," he said.

The council adopted a formal statement in November - a move that requires consensus by the 15-member body - that asked Myanmar to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all."

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to many basic services such as healthcare and education. They are considered illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

The refugee crisis exploded about eight months ago when the Myanmar military launched a crackdown over Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh made emotional pleas to the UN&nbspSecurity Council on Sunday for help to return safely to their homes in neighboring Myanmar and for justice over the reason they fled - accusations of killings, rapes and arson. During a visit to an unclaimed strip of territory between the two states dubbed no-man's land, several tearful women and girls threw themselves at British UN&nbspAmbassador Karen Pierce as they recounted what had happened to them. "It shows the scale of the challenge as we try as a Security Council to find some way through that enables these poor people to go home," Pierce said. "The sad thing is there's nothing we can do right today that will make their distress any less." The Security Council envoys - who will travel to Myanmar on Monday and meet with its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi - also visited a dry and dusty Kutupalong refugee camp that housed many of the nearly 700,000 Rohingya who fled Myanmar's Rakhine state. "It's quite overwhelming. Obviously the scale of this camp is unlike anything I've ever seen," said deputy US&nbspAmbassador to the United Nations Kelley Currie. "It is going to be a disaster when the rains come." United Nations officials and aid groups have voiced concern that the coming monsoon season will worsen the humanitarian situation. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are living in temporary shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulins at Kutupalong, many on steep hills and in low-lying areas likely to be flooded. Myanmar's Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who visited the camps in Bangladesh earlier this month, expressed concern about "very poor conditions." Justice demand The refugee crisis exploded about eight months ago when the Myanmar military launched a crackdown over Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts. The United States, Britain, United Nations and others described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the minority mainly Muslim Rohingya, a charge Myanmar denies. Hundreds of refugees lined a road in Kutupalong camp on Sunday with signs that read "we demand justice" and "protected return to protected homeland." "We are standing here to demand justice as they (Myanmar military) have killed our men and tortured our women so much, so we are compelled to seek justice for those abuses," Rohingya refugee Sajida Begum told Reuters. Several female refugees who met with council envoys accused Myanmar troops of gang-raping them, attacking their young children and killing their husbands. Myanmar has said that its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents. "This is very complicated issue, and it's related with history, with ethnicity, with religions," Chinese deputy UN&nbspAmbassador Wu Haitao told reporters, in response to a question about whether China and Russia were preventing the council from considering a resolution on Myanmar. "There is no easy answer but if we all work together I think we can find a way," he said. However, while the Security Council is united on travelling to the region, diplomats said they expect Myanmar ally China and Russia - both veto-wielding powers on the council - to resist any push for stronger council action, such as sanctions or a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court. "We don't have any magic solution in the Security Council," deputy Russian UN&nbspAmbassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters in response to a question about whether the council would consider itself responsible for failing to address the crisis. "The issue is still for us to promote bilateral ways to resolve this issue. We will try to convince both governments ... to engage in constructive negotiations, discussion," he said. The council adopted a formal statement in November - a move that requires consensus by the 15-member body - that asked Myanmar to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all." Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to many basic services such as healthcare and education. They are considered illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

Rohingya refugees tearfully plead for UN Security Council help

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to press Myanmar to take back hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a military crackdown to take refuge in her country.

Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday.

“They should put more pressure on the Myanmar government so that they take their citizens back to their country. That’s what we want,” Hasina told reporters.

The visit by the Security Council envoys, to see the aftermath of a military operation in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, puts a global spotlight on the crisis which the United Nations and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar denies the accusation, saying the military was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation.

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked the crackdown that, according to the UN&nbspand rights groups, sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Hasina said the refugees should return “under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured”.

“They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role,” she added.

When asked if UN&nbspsupervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: “Not exactly, well, that the UN&nbspwill decide”.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who is leading rehabilitation efforts in Rakhine, declined to comment.

Kuwait’s UN&nbspAmbassador Mansour al-Otaibi, one of the envoys, told Hasina the Security Council wanted to “send a clear strong message ... that we’re determined to end this humanitarian crisis”.&nbsp

The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season. Many live in bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills in the southeast Bangladesh district of Cox’s Bazar.

Difficulties

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow.&nbsp

“We know there are difficulties in the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of the refugees but it is important ... to create the appropriate conditions for the refugees to go back freely and voluntarily to their home of origin,” said al-Otaibi.&nbsp

The envoys are due to travel to Rakhine State on Tuesday.&nbsp

The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no “further excessive use of military force” and to allow “freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all”.

They will seek to push the Myanmar government to implement those requests, diplomats said.&nbsp

Hasina also called on Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission headed by former UN&nbspSecretary-General Kofi Annan, which was appointed by Suu Kyi in 2016 to investigate how to solve Rakhine’s long-standing tensions.Among the commission’s recommendations was a review of a Myanmar law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless. &nbsp

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to press Myanmar to take back hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a military crackdown to take refuge in her country. Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday. “They should put more pressure on the Myanmar government so that they take their citizens back to their country. That’s what we want,” Hasina told reporters. The visit by the Security Council envoys, to see the aftermath of a military operation in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, puts a global spotlight on the crisis which the United Nations and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar denies the accusation, saying the military was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked the crackdown that, according to the UN&nbspand rights groups, sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Hasina said the refugees should return “under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured”. “They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role,” she added. When asked if UN&nbspsupervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: “Not exactly, well, that the UN&nbspwill decide”. Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who is leading rehabilitation efforts in Rakhine, declined to comment. Kuwait’s UN&nbspAmbassador Mansour al-Otaibi, one of the envoys, told Hasina the Security Council wanted to “send a clear strong message ... that we’re determined to end this humanitarian crisis”. The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season. Many live in bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills in the southeast Bangladesh district of Cox’s Bazar. Difficulties Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow. “We know there are difficulties in the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of the refugees but it is important ... to create the appropriate conditions for the refugees to go back freely and voluntarily to their home of origin,” said al-Otaibi. The envoys are due to travel to Rakhine State on Tuesday. The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no “further excessive use of military force” and to allow “freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all”. They will seek to push the Myanmar government to implement those requests, diplomats said. Hasina also called on Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission headed by former UN&nbspSecretary-General Kofi Annan, which was appointed by Suu Kyi in 2016 to investigate how to solve Rakhine’s long-standing tensions.Among the commission’s recommendations was a review of a Myanmar law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Bangladesh PM urges UN Security Council to press Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation

Firefighters in Myanmar scrambled to put out a fire in a massive garbage dump on the edge of its largest city, Yangon, as foul-smelling smoke from the burning trash that injured dozens extended into its second week on Saturday.

The fire has generated a haze blanketing parts of Myanmar's commercial hub and raised concerns about public health. It has spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon's northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar.

Some 600 firefighters and members of security forces have been fighting the blaze since April 21. Authorities have imported fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand and tried to create artificial rain to contain the spread of the flames in the peak of the hot season.

While authorities have brought the fire under control, deputy director of Myanmar Fire Service Department Win Naing told Reuters it was difficult to estimate when it would be extinguished. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined, Win Naing said.

Twenty-six people have been hospitalised, many suffering smoke inhalation. Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday.

Myanmar media have criticised the government's slow response in tackling what Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein called a "national problem".

It also highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon, a city of more than five million people without a long-term waste management solution. The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city's daily trash of more than 2,500 tons.

"We have been throwing trash for ages that way. Old trash produces methane and it causes fires," Phyo Min Thein told reporters.

Firefighters described challenges battling the flames and smoke under scorching heat without adequate protective equipment.

"We can't even see each other due to the smoke," said Zaw Naing Myint, a fire station leader who was hospitalised for smoke inhalation. Zaw Naing Myint broke down in tears as he described climbing trash "piled up like mountains".

Among the worst affected were residents of Hlaing Thar Yar, one of Yangon's poorest neighbourhoods. Tens of thousands of people live in shanty towns there built from bamboo and plastic sheets and lack access to electricity, running water and drainage systems.

"I feel terrible because I can't breathe and my feet were swollen and still swelling a bit," said 65-year-old Tin Ohn, a Hlaing Thar Yar resident who suffers diabetes and was also hospitalised for smoke inhalation.

Twenty-six people have been hospitalised, many suffering smoke inhalation

Firefighters in Myanmar scrambled to put out a fire in a massive garbage dump on the edge of its largest city, Yangon, as foul-smelling smoke from the burning trash that injured dozens extended into its second week on Saturday. The fire has generated a haze blanketing parts of Myanmar's commercial hub and raised concerns about public health. It has spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon's northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar. Some 600 firefighters and members of security forces have been fighting the blaze since April 21. Authorities have imported fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand and tried to create artificial rain to contain the spread of the flames in the peak of the hot season. While authorities have brought the fire under control, deputy director of Myanmar Fire Service Department Win Naing told Reuters it was difficult to estimate when it would be extinguished. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined, Win Naing said. Twenty-six people have been hospitalised, many suffering smoke inhalation. Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday. Myanmar media have criticised the government's slow response in tackling what Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein called a "national problem". It also highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon, a city of more than five million people without a long-term waste management solution. The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city's daily trash of more than 2,500 tons. "We have been throwing trash for ages that way. Old trash produces methane and it causes fires," Phyo Min Thein told reporters. Firefighters described challenges battling the flames and smoke under scorching heat without adequate protective equipment. "We can't even see each other due to the smoke," said Zaw Naing Myint, a fire station leader who was hospitalised for smoke inhalation. Zaw Naing Myint broke down in tears as he described climbing trash "piled up like mountains". Among the worst affected were residents of Hlaing Thar Yar, one of Yangon's poorest neighbourhoods. Tens of thousands of people live in shanty towns there built from bamboo and plastic sheets and lack access to electricity, running water and drainage systems. "I feel terrible because I can't breathe and my feet were swollen and still swelling a bit," said 65-year-old Tin Ohn, a Hlaing Thar Yar resident who suffers diabetes and was also hospitalised for smoke inhalation.

Dozens hospitalised as Myanmar battles week-long landfill fire

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a&nbsp;massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week.

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The fire broke out on the outskirts of Myanmar's largest city Yangon. The foul smell from the burning garbage has since then affected over dozens.&nbsp;

About 600 firefighters and members of security forces in the country are striving hard to put out the fire since April 21.

The firefighters are facing challenges in battling the flames and smoke under the burning heat.They also lack proper protective equipment.

The authorities also resorted to artificial rain after importing fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand.

The flames have spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon’s northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar.

While the authorities have managed to bring the fire under control but they are still struggling to extinguish it completely.

The problem highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon city of Myanmar. With over five million population the city lacks proper long-term waste management solution.&nbsp;

The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city’s daily trash of more than 2,500 tons.

Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper in Myanmar reported on Saturday.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

 
 
(With inputs from Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week

About twenty-six people have been hospitalised with several suffering smoke inhalation in Myanmar due to a massive fire that broke in a garbage dump last week. × The fire broke out on the outskirts of Myanmar's largest city Yangon. The foul smell from the burning garbage has since then affected over dozens. About 600 firefighters and members of security forces in the country are striving hard to put out the fire since April 21. The firefighters are facing challenges in battling the flames and smoke under the burning heat.They also lack proper protective equipment. The authorities also resorted to artificial rain after importing fire suppression bio-foam from neighbouring Thailand. The flames have spread across nearly a third of the 300-acre landfill in Yangon’s northern township of Hlaing Thar Yar. While the authorities have managed to bring the fire under control but they are still struggling to extinguish it completely. The problem highlights the growing waste problem in Yangon city of Myanmar. With over five million population the city lacks proper long-term waste management solution. The 17-year-old landfill takes about half of the city’s daily trash of more than 2,500 tons. Myanmar has sought medical help from the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, state-run newspaper in Myanmar reported on Saturday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. (With inputs from Reuters)

Dozens suffer in Myanmar in week-long landfill fire

Referring to the potential threat that is surrounding the Rohingyas ahead of the monsoon and cyclone seasons, the United Nations said on Saturday that lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as the approaching seasons threaten their makeshift camps in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The UN records states that about 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in order to escape violence in their country's Rakhine State.

The Rohingya deportation from Myanmar started since August 25, 2017 after the army launched a military crackdown on the minority community.

Myanmar does not consider Rohingya as an ethnic group and maintains that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country.

To keep a check on the potential threat that looms over the Rohingya refugees, the United Nations migration agency -- the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) -- has appealed for urgent financial support to prepare the area in southern Bangladesh against floods and landslides.

"We cannot wait for funding to come in after the emergency is over and possibly preventable tragedies have occurred. We need to be able to act now if lives are to be saved,"&nbsp;said John McCue, IOM's Senior Operations Coordinator in Cox's Bazar.

The IOM, the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency are working together with the Bangladesh government and others to manage the scale of the response in Cox's Bazar – the world's biggest refugee settlement.

Only nine per cent of a $ 951 million joint agency response plan has been secured. Of that, $ 182 million allocated to provide Cox's Bazar with assistance through December 2018 is facing a shortfall of almost $ 151 million.

The UN has described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide.

The majority community in Myanmar, Buddhist, however, rejects the charge of ethnic cleansing, saying its security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

Referring to the potential threat that is surrounding the Rohingyas ahead of the monsoon and cyclone seasons, the United Nations said on Saturday that lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as the approaching seasons threaten their makeshift camps in Bangladesh

Referring to the potential threat that is surrounding the Rohingyas ahead of the monsoon and cyclone seasons, the United Nations said on Saturday that lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as the approaching seasons threaten their makeshift camps in Bangladesh. The UN records states that about 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in order to escape violence in their country's Rakhine State. The Rohingya deportation from Myanmar started since August 25, 2017 after the army launched a military crackdown on the minority community. Myanmar does not consider Rohingya as an ethnic group and maintains that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. To keep a check on the potential threat that looms over the Rohingya refugees, the United Nations migration agency -- the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) -- has appealed for urgent financial support to prepare the area in southern Bangladesh against floods and landslides. "We cannot wait for funding to come in after the emergency is over and possibly preventable tragedies have occurred. We need to be able to act now if lives are to be saved," said John McCue, IOM's Senior Operations Coordinator in Cox's Bazar. The IOM, the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency are working together with the Bangladesh government and others to manage the scale of the response in Cox's Bazar – the world's biggest refugee settlement. Only nine per cent of a $ 951 million joint agency response plan has been secured. Of that, $ 182 million allocated to provide Cox's Bazar with assistance through December 2018 is facing a shortfall of almost $ 151 million. The UN has described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide. The majority community in Myanmar, Buddhist, however, rejects the charge of ethnic cleansing, saying its security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks. (With inputs from PTI)

UN urges urgent financial support for Rohingya refugees to tackle cyclone, monsoon

The UN has said that lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as monsoon and cyclone seasons threaten their makeshift camps in Bangladesh.

According to the UN estimates, nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown.

Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country.

The United Nations migration agency -- the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) -- appealed for urgent financial support to prepare the area in southern Bangladesh against floods and landslides.

Without new funding, tens of thousands of people in the camps, fleeing violence triggered in Myanmar last August, will be at risk, the IOM said.

"We cannot wait for funding to come in after the emergency is over and possibly preventable tragedies have occurred," said John McCue, IOM's Senior Operations Coordinator in Cox's Bazar.

"We need to be able to act now if lives are to be saved," he said.

Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes&nbsp25,000 of whom are said to be at the highest risk of landslides.

Without aid, numerous refugees will have to remain in these hazardous locations and hundreds of thousands of others will also be at risk if roads become impassible, blocking access to aid supplies and medical services.

"Tarp stocks are also rapidly running out and the IOM, which oversees shelter distribution, reports that by mid-May supplies will fall below critical levels," McCue said.

He said that without more funding, neither new shelters nor replacements would be available to those who lost homes during storms.

He also pointed out that other risks included safe water supply systems, which if collapsed could put hundreds of thousands of refugees in jeopardy of waterborne diseases.

Only nine per cent of a USD 951 million joint agency response plan has been secured. Of that, USD 182 million allocated to provide Cox's Bazar with assistance through December 2018 is facing a shortfall of almost USD 151 million.

Aid staff on the ground are working to improve shelters, secure key access roads and have emergency response services ready should the worst happens, "but the harsh truth is that we cannot keep doing that if we do not have the funds," McCue said.

The IOM, the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency are working alongside the Bangladesh government and others to manage the scale of the response in Cox's Bazar&nbspthe world's biggest refugee settlement.

"If significant funding is not secured in the next few weeks to keep operations running, there is a high likelihood that many children, women and men may die, when they could have otherwise been saved," McCue said.

The Security Council members are making their way to the region.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the overall population of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is currently estimated to be over one million.

New refugees are still arriving, with some 8,000 new arrivals since January 2018, he said.

The latest round of food distribution reached over 470,000 people and humanitarian partners on the ground also conduct protection monitoring missions to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, Dujarric said.

To date, the joint response plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, launched in mid-March, is only nine per cent funded.

It requests USD 951 million to help respond to the needs of some 1.3 million people, both Rohingya refugees and vulnerable members of the host community, until December 2018.

The UN described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar, however, rejects the charge, saying its security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks.

 
&nbsp

Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes 25,000 of whom are said to be at the highest risk of landslides

The UN has said that lives of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees hang in the balance as monsoon and cyclone seasons threaten their makeshift camps in Bangladesh. According to the UN estimates, nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown. Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. The United Nations migration agency -- the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) -- appealed for urgent financial support to prepare the area in southern Bangladesh against floods and landslides. Without new funding, tens of thousands of people in the camps, fleeing violence triggered in Myanmar last August, will be at risk, the IOM said. "We cannot wait for funding to come in after the emergency is over and possibly preventable tragedies have occurred," said John McCue, IOM's Senior Operations Coordinator in Cox's Bazar. "We need to be able to act now if lives are to be saved," he said. Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes&nbsp25,000 of whom are said to be at the highest risk of landslides. Without aid, numerous refugees will have to remain in these hazardous locations and hundreds of thousands of others will also be at risk if roads become impassible, blocking access to aid supplies and medical services. "Tarp stocks are also rapidly running out and the IOM, which oversees shelter distribution, reports that by mid-May supplies will fall below critical levels," McCue said. He said that without more funding, neither new shelters nor replacements would be available to those who lost homes during storms. He also pointed out that other risks included safe water supply systems, which if collapsed could put hundreds of thousands of refugees in jeopardy of waterborne diseases. Only nine per cent of a USD 951 million joint agency response plan has been secured. Of that, USD 182 million allocated to provide Cox's Bazar with assistance through December 2018 is facing a shortfall of almost USD 151 million. Aid staff on the ground are working to improve shelters, secure key access roads and have emergency response services ready should the worst happens, "but the harsh truth is that we cannot keep doing that if we do not have the funds," McCue said. The IOM, the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency are working alongside the Bangladesh government and others to manage the scale of the response in Cox's Bazar&nbspthe world's biggest refugee settlement. "If significant funding is not secured in the next few weeks to keep operations running, there is a high likelihood that many children, women and men may die, when they could have otherwise been saved," McCue said. The Security Council members are making their way to the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the overall population of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is currently estimated to be over one million. New refugees are still arriving, with some 8,000 new arrivals since January 2018, he said. The latest round of food distribution reached over 470,000 people and humanitarian partners on the ground also conduct protection monitoring missions to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, Dujarric said. To date, the joint response plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, launched in mid-March, is only nine per cent funded. It requests USD 951 million to help respond to the needs of some 1.3 million people, both Rohingya refugees and vulnerable members of the host community, until December 2018. The UN described the atrocities by the Myanmar military on Rohingya refugees as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing while the rights groups called it a genocide. Buddhist-majority Myanmar, however, rejects the charge, saying its security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation on August 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks.

Monsoon threatens tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees: UN

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy to Myanmar.

Until her appointment, Burgener was the Ambassador of Switzerland to Germany since 2015. Burgener has over 25 years of experience in diplomacy having served in various high-level government positions in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.&nbsp;

From 2009 to 2015, she served as Ambassador to Thailand and led efforts to mediate between the two sides in the violence that erupted in Thailand in 2010.&nbsp;

Burgener has also served as Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law, with the rank of Ambassador, and Head of the International Law, Human Rights, and International Humanitarian Law Division in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2009.

Previously, veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar had served as the special adviser to the secretary-general on Myanmar, under Ban Ki-moon's tenure.&nbsp;

The announcement of Burgener's appointment comes as the Security Council sends a mission to Iraq, Bangladesh, and Myanmar from April 26 to May 2.&nbsp;

Peru, President of the Security Council for the month of April, Kuwait, and the United States of America will co-lead the visit to Iraq.&nbsp;

Peru, Kuwait and the United Kingdom will co-lead the visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar.&nbsp;

Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric had told reporters that the UN hopes the visits will help "refocus the attention of the international community on the plight of the Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh and the continuous need to fund the humanitarian operations.?

Since August 2017, nearly 700,000 minority Muslim Rohingyas have fled violence in Myanmar across the border into Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, joining several hundred thousand more that were already settled there in overcrowded camps.&nbsp;

Guterres has said about 150,000 Rohingya refugees, who fled from Myanmar into crowded camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar are living in flood-prone areas and must be relocated ahead of the coming rainy season.&nbsp;

Previously, veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar had served as the special adviser to the secretary-general on Myanmar, under Ban Ki-moon's tenure

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy to Myanmar. Until her appointment, Burgener was the Ambassador of Switzerland to Germany since 2015. Burgener has over 25 years of experience in diplomacy having served in various high-level government positions in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. From 2009 to 2015, she served as Ambassador to Thailand and led efforts to mediate between the two sides in the violence that erupted in Thailand in 2010. Burgener has also served as Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law, with the rank of Ambassador, and Head of the International Law, Human Rights, and International Humanitarian Law Division in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2009. Previously, veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar had served as the special adviser to the secretary-general on Myanmar, under Ban Ki-moon's tenure. The announcement of Burgener's appointment comes as the Security Council sends a mission to Iraq, Bangladesh, and Myanmar from April 26 to May 2. Peru, President of the Security Council for the month of April, Kuwait, and the United States of America will co-lead the visit to Iraq. Peru, Kuwait and the United Kingdom will co-lead the visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric had told reporters that the UN hopes the visits will help "refocus the attention of the international community on the plight of the Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh and the continuous need to fund the humanitarian operations.? Since August 2017, nearly 700,000 minority Muslim Rohingyas have fled violence in Myanmar across the border into Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, joining several hundred thousand more that were already settled there in overcrowded camps. Guterres has said about 150,000 Rohingya refugees, who fled from Myanmar into crowded camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar are living in flood-prone areas and must be relocated ahead of the coming rainy season.

UN chief appoints Christine Burgener of Switzerland as special envoy to Myanmar

The hapless, homeless Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have another challenge at hand, protecting themselves from a drug trap. An exclusive DNA report brings to light how the poor and traumatised ethnic minority is fast falling prey to drug mafia.&nbsp;

Several Rohingya families were enlisted by the international drug mafia as they fled from Myanmar into the neighbouring nation. For many Rohingyas, agreeing to carry drugs can aptly be described as a desperate move to get out of Myanmar.&nbsp;

Rashid Alam sneaked into Bangladesh in September 2017 and was living at a refugee camp at Teknaf, Cox Bazar. In December, he was caught with 3,5000 Yaba tablets. He told the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) that he fell into the hands of touts who promised to bring his family and relatives safely out of Myanmar and provide them with a job in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

30-year-old Alam hails from of Dongkhali, and like many belonging to the ethnic group, he harbours hope of meeting his family someday.

The report suggests many women, men and teenagers have become drug mules for the international drug mafia. It is easy to lure them as they live in despicable conditions in refugees camps spread across Cox Bazar. All they have to do is carry the 'madness drug' over the border to India or distribute it within Bangladesh.

Over 11.5 lakh Rohingyas are estimated to live in Bangladesh, close to the Myanmar border. While a new settlement is built almost every day to accommodate them, a fresh group of refugees pour in from Myanmar almost every day.&nbsp;

The huts, spread over kilometres, are concentrated at two major camps at Kutupalong and Balukhali. Nearly four to five people share a hut which has room for just one person. The refugees take turns to sleep.

The food and other essential aid provided to the refugees from various NGOs and the United Nations High Commissioner is barely adequate for the swelling numbers.

In such a situation, the refugees become an easy prey and fall for the touts luring them with a promise of sending them to their motherland or securing employment in other countries.&nbsp;

"The smuggling of Yaba tablets has increased manifold since last year," Colonel Gazi Md Ahsanuzzaman, acting regional commander of south-east region of BGB told DNA.&nbsp;

"Yaba pills worth Taka 1.25 crore are smuggled per day in Bangladesh earlier it was limited to few lakhs," said Ahsanuzzaman.&nbsp;

The tablets are smuggled from the no-man's land near Gumdhum village in Bangladesh, where the border is plain and porous, and from there to Teknaf.

Last month, BGB seized yaba tablets worth Taka 52 crore from a Rohingya woman. "They carry it in their shoes. Now everybody is suspicious of the Rohingyas. The basic instinct of a person is to work. we cannot keep them idle," said Brigadier General SM Rakibullah, regional director of BGB (Cox Bazar).

In Rakibullah's words, there seems to be no permanent solution to this humanitarian crisis. "They cannot be contained for long. There will be a spill-over, and more will be recruited by the drug mafia," he noted.

As many as 1,49,99,570 Yaba tablets were seized last year. This year 52,97,234 tablets have already been seized till March. Each tablet costs between 450-500 taka.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Several Rohingya families were enlisted by the international drug mafia as they fled from Myanmar

The hapless, homeless Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have another challenge at hand, protecting themselves from a drug trap. An exclusive DNA report brings to light how the poor and traumatised ethnic minority is fast falling prey to drug mafia. Several Rohingya families were enlisted by the international drug mafia as they fled from Myanmar into the neighbouring nation. For many Rohingyas, agreeing to carry drugs can aptly be described as a desperate move to get out of Myanmar. Rashid Alam sneaked into Bangladesh in September 2017 and was living at a refugee camp at Teknaf, Cox Bazar. In December, he was caught with 3,5000 Yaba tablets. He told the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) that he fell into the hands of touts who promised to bring his family and relatives safely out of Myanmar and provide them with a job in Bangladesh. 30-year-old Alam hails from of Dongkhali, and like many belonging to the ethnic group, he harbours hope of meeting his family someday. The report suggests many women, men and teenagers have become drug mules for the international drug mafia. It is easy to lure them as they live in despicable conditions in refugees camps spread across Cox Bazar. All they have to do is carry the 'madness drug' over the border to India or distribute it within Bangladesh. Over 11.5 lakh Rohingyas are estimated to live in Bangladesh, close to the Myanmar border. While a new settlement is built almost every day to accommodate them, a fresh group of refugees pour in from Myanmar almost every day. The huts, spread over kilometres, are concentrated at two major camps at Kutupalong and Balukhali. Nearly four to five people share a hut which has room for just one person. The refugees take turns to sleep. The food and other essential aid provided to the refugees from various NGOs and the United Nations High Commissioner is barely adequate for the swelling numbers. In such a situation, the refugees become an easy prey and fall for the touts luring them with a promise of sending them to their motherland or securing employment in other countries. "The smuggling of Yaba tablets has increased manifold since last year," Colonel Gazi Md Ahsanuzzaman, acting regional commander of south-east region of BGB told DNA. "Yaba pills worth Taka 1.25 crore are smuggled per day in Bangladesh earlier it was limited to few lakhs," said Ahsanuzzaman. The tablets are smuggled from the no-man's land near Gumdhum village in Bangladesh, where the border is plain and porous, and from there to Teknaf. Last month, BGB seized yaba tablets worth Taka 52 crore from a Rohingya woman. "They carry it in their shoes. Now everybody is suspicious of the Rohingyas. The basic instinct of a person is to work. we cannot keep them idle," said Brigadier General SM Rakibullah, regional director of BGB (Cox Bazar). In Rakibullah's words, there seems to be no permanent solution to this humanitarian crisis. "They cannot be contained for long. There will be a spill-over, and more will be recruited by the drug mafia," he noted. As many as 1,49,99,570 Yaba tablets were seized last year. This year 52,97,234 tablets have already been seized till March. Each tablet costs between 450-500 taka.

Homeless Rohingya refugees falling into drug trap: Report

A group of 76 Rohingyas, which was rescued from Indonesian waters on Friday, was at the sea for nearly nine days. According to reports, a Rohingya Muslim man, among the rescued, claimed that the group kept drifting in a wooden boat for nine days after leaving Myanmar.

The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar. As many as 8 children, 25 women and 43 men were brought ashore on Friday afternoon in Aceh province of Sumatra in Indonesia.&nbsp

This was the third such attempt in a month by the Rohingyas to escape Myanmar by the sea.

According to the local authorities, many from the rescued group suffered dehydration and exhaustion and required medical attention. &nbsp

A man called Fariq Muhammad shared that he had paid a sum equivalent to around $150 to secure&nbspa place on the boat.&nbsp

Myanmar's Rakhine state grapples with a violent military crackdown that triggered an exodus of nearly 700,000 refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh.&nbsp

The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar

A group of 76 Rohingyas, which was rescued from Indonesian waters on Friday, was at the sea for nearly nine days. According to reports, a Rohingya Muslim man, among the rescued, claimed that the group kept drifting in a wooden boat for nine days after leaving Myanmar. The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar. As many as 8 children, 25 women and 43 men were brought ashore on Friday afternoon in Aceh province of Sumatra in Indonesia. This was the third such attempt in a month by the Rohingyas to escape Myanmar by the sea. According to the local authorities, many from the rescued group suffered dehydration and exhaustion and required medical attention. A man called Fariq Muhammad shared that he had paid a sum equivalent to around $150 to secure&nbspa place on the boat. Myanmar's Rakhine state grapples with a violent military crackdown that triggered an exodus of nearly 700,000 refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Rohingya refugees rescued after drifting at sea for over a week

A Myanmar minister expressed concerns on Thursday about "very poor conditions" in Rohingya refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, and said repatriation of the Muslim minority should start as soon as possible due to the coming monsoon season.

The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh.&nbsp

Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. The United States and the UN&nbsphave described the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies.&nbsp

"Seeing is believing and we saw all the people in the camps are in very poor condition," Myanmar`s Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told reporters in the country's main city, Yangon, after his two-day visit to camps near Cox's Bazar.

"Our main thing is to start the repatriation process as soon as possible because the monsoon is very near and we are very worried for those who fled to Bangladesh," he said.&nbsp

Myanmar said on Saturday it had repatriated the first Rohingya family. The Bangladeshi government and the United Nations refugee agency, however, said they had no knowledge of any such repatriation.&nbsp

After months of fraught talks, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years. Myanmar set up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border to house the first arrivals.&nbsp

But a senior UN&nbspofficial who recently visited Myanmar said the country was not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Win Myat Aye said Rohingya returnees would be entitled to apply for National Verification Cards (NVCs), which are part of the government`s ongoing effort to register mostly stateless Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship.&nbsp

He said those NVC holders would be in turn be able to apply for citizenship in Buddhist-majority Myanmar within five months after they were "scrutinized according to the law".&nbsp

"Those who are entitled to become citizens will become citizens," he told Reuters, without elaborating.&nbsp

Myanmar's panel of international advisers on Rohingya issues has warned the coming monsoon season could bring "enormous deaths" as refugee camps in Bangladesh are not built to withstand the storms.

 
&nbsp

The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh

A Myanmar minister expressed concerns on Thursday about "very poor conditions" in Rohingya refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, and said repatriation of the Muslim minority should start as soon as possible due to the coming monsoon season. The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh. Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. The United States and the UN&nbsphave described the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies. "Seeing is believing and we saw all the people in the camps are in very poor condition," Myanmar`s Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told reporters in the country's main city, Yangon, after his two-day visit to camps near Cox's Bazar. "Our main thing is to start the repatriation process as soon as possible because the monsoon is very near and we are very worried for those who fled to Bangladesh," he said. Myanmar said on Saturday it had repatriated the first Rohingya family. The Bangladeshi government and the United Nations refugee agency, however, said they had no knowledge of any such repatriation. After months of fraught talks, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years. Myanmar set up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border to house the first arrivals. But a senior UN&nbspofficial who recently visited Myanmar said the country was not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Win Myat Aye said Rohingya returnees would be entitled to apply for National Verification Cards (NVCs), which are part of the government`s ongoing effort to register mostly stateless Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. He said those NVC holders would be in turn be able to apply for citizenship in Buddhist-majority Myanmar within five months after they were "scrutinized according to the law". "Those who are entitled to become citizens will become citizens," he told Reuters, without elaborating. Myanmar's panel of international advisers on Rohingya issues has warned the coming monsoon season could bring "enormous deaths" as refugee camps in Bangladesh are not built to withstand the storms.

Myanmar minister says conditions in Rohingya refugee camps 'very poor'

Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing has told military personnel in the country that they must obey the law, citing as an example the sentencing of seven soldiers for a massacre of Rohingya Muslim men that was the subject of a Reuters investigation.

In a speech at a military school in the country's north, Min Aung Hlaing told soldiers they "must abide by the military codes of conduct and international laws and conventions", according to a translation posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

"No one is above the law. Actions will be taken if someone breaks the law. The problems in Inn Din village ... were solved in line with the Geneva Convention and legal action was taken against military officers and other ranks who failed to respect the law," said Min Aung Hlaing, in his first direct comment on the killings.

Seven soldiers were sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour this month for taking part in the massacre of 10 Rohingya men in the village of Inn Din, in northwestern Rakhine state, last September.

The massacre was being investigated by two Reuters journalists - Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28 - who were arrested in December and remain in custody accused of violating the country's Official Secrets Act.

The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation into the killings independently and that it was unrelated to the Reuters reporters, who they said were accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers.

The Rohingya men were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist civilian neighbours and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murders in February.

The killings were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August.&nbsp

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar as a result, according to United Nations agencies. The UN&nbspand the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation that Myanmar denies.

Min Aung Hlaing, one of the most powerful people in a country where the constitution requires the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi to share power with the military, reiterated in his speech the army's position that the Rakhine operation was a legitimate counteroffensive against "Bengali terrorists".

Seven soldiers were sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour this month for taking part in the massacre of 10 Rohingya men in the village of Inn Din

Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing has told military personnel in the country that they must obey the law, citing as an example the sentencing of seven soldiers for a massacre of Rohingya Muslim men that was the subject of a Reuters investigation. In a speech at a military school in the country's north, Min Aung Hlaing told soldiers they "must abide by the military codes of conduct and international laws and conventions", according to a translation posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday. "No one is above the law. Actions will be taken if someone breaks the law. The problems in Inn Din village ... were solved in line with the Geneva Convention and legal action was taken against military officers and other ranks who failed to respect the law," said Min Aung Hlaing, in his first direct comment on the killings. Seven soldiers were sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour this month for taking part in the massacre of 10 Rohingya men in the village of Inn Din, in northwestern Rakhine state, last September. The massacre was being investigated by two Reuters journalists - Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28 - who were arrested in December and remain in custody accused of violating the country's Official Secrets Act. The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation into the killings independently and that it was unrelated to the Reuters reporters, who they said were accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers. The Rohingya men were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist civilian neighbours and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murders in February. The killings were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar as a result, according to United Nations agencies. The UN&nbspand the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation that Myanmar denies. Min Aung Hlaing, one of the most powerful people in a country where the constitution requires the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi to share power with the military, reiterated in his speech the army's position that the Rakhine operation was a legitimate counteroffensive against "Bengali terrorists".

Citing Rohingya massacre, Myanmar army chief urges soldiers to obey law

When a Rohingya refugee boat capsized on the Bangladesh coastline, photographer Damir Sagolj rushed to the scene and saw locals collecting the drowned and arranging their bodies next to the road.&nbsp;

In the torrential night-time rain, the sheets that covered them clung to the bodies.&nbsp;

"You couldn't see how many were under the sheets, but what I could see was that most were children," Sagolj said.&nbsp;

The photo he captured was one of a series awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography on Monday, described by the judging committee as "shocking photographs that exposed the world to the violence Rohingya refugees faced in fleeing Myanmar."&nbsp;

The latest crackdown by authorities and Buddhist civilians against the Rohingya population in Myanmar’s Rakhine state created a mass exodus of over 600,000 Rohingya children, women and men who fled their homes at the end of 2017.&nbsp;

The refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale, and senior United Nations officials have described the violence against the Muslim Rohingya population as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."&nbsp;

Myanmar has denied ethnic cleansing or systematic human rights abuses, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August.

Reuters has covered the plight of the Rohingya since 2012, but in 2017 it became clear that the scale of this exodus was far larger than previous migrations.&nbsp;

For the next several months, a team of photographers, including Sagolj, Cathal McNaughton, Danish Siddiqui, Soe Zeya Tun, Adnan Abidi, Mohammad Ponir Hossain, and Hannah McKay, working under the direction of Asia Pictures Editor Ahmad Masood, documented the journeys of refugees by sea on rickety fishing boats and over land through barbed wire and along other routes.&nbsp;

They also visited refugee camps to tell the stories of the new lives the Rohingya built and the scars they brought with them.

While the size of camps expanded, one thing that never changed was the stories the refugees brought with them.&nbsp;

"The same horror stories of killings and rape and massacres that we were hearing when the first refugees started crossing in August and September, the exact same – if not worse – stories were being told three months after that," Sagolj said.&nbsp;

Even as the team captured images of the refugees at their most vulnerable – mourning mothers, scarred children, survivors of violent attacks – the journalists found that the refugees were surprisingly open. The photographers experienced almost no resistance from refugees as they photographed the refugees and asked about their experiences.&nbsp;

"I had the impression that these people want everybody to know what happens to them," Sagolj said. "They all really wanted their story to be told."&nbsp;

In 2017 it became clear that the scale of this exodus was far larger than previous migrations

When a Rohingya refugee boat capsized on the Bangladesh coastline, photographer Damir Sagolj rushed to the scene and saw locals collecting the drowned and arranging their bodies next to the road. In the torrential night-time rain, the sheets that covered them clung to the bodies. "You couldn't see how many were under the sheets, but what I could see was that most were children," Sagolj said. The photo he captured was one of a series awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography on Monday, described by the judging committee as "shocking photographs that exposed the world to the violence Rohingya refugees faced in fleeing Myanmar." The latest crackdown by authorities and Buddhist civilians against the Rohingya population in Myanmar’s Rakhine state created a mass exodus of over 600,000 Rohingya children, women and men who fled their homes at the end of 2017. The refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale, and senior United Nations officials have described the violence against the Muslim Rohingya population as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." Myanmar has denied ethnic cleansing or systematic human rights abuses, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August. Reuters has covered the plight of the Rohingya since 2012, but in 2017 it became clear that the scale of this exodus was far larger than previous migrations. For the next several months, a team of photographers, including Sagolj, Cathal McNaughton, Danish Siddiqui, Soe Zeya Tun, Adnan Abidi, Mohammad Ponir Hossain, and Hannah McKay, working under the direction of Asia Pictures Editor Ahmad Masood, documented the journeys of refugees by sea on rickety fishing boats and over land through barbed wire and along other routes. They also visited refugee camps to tell the stories of the new lives the Rohingya built and the scars they brought with them. While the size of camps expanded, one thing that never changed was the stories the refugees brought with them. "The same horror stories of killings and rape and massacres that we were hearing when the first refugees started crossing in August and September, the exact same – if not worse – stories were being told three months after that," Sagolj said. Even as the team captured images of the refugees at their most vulnerable – mourning mothers, scarred children, survivors of violent attacks – the journalists found that the refugees were surprisingly open. The photographers experienced almost no resistance from refugees as they photographed the refugees and asked about their experiences. "I had the impression that these people want everybody to know what happens to them," Sagolj said. "They all really wanted their story to be told."

Violence against Rohingyas exposed in 'shocking photos'

Myanmar's new president said on Tuesday over 8,000 prisoners will be freed in an amnesty, a move the government said would bring about humanitarian support amid the country's political reforms after decades of military rule.

The presidential pardon, signed by newly-elected President Win Myint, said the move was aimed to bring peace as part of celebrations of the Myanmar new year. It did not specify when the amnesty would take place.

"To bring peace and pleasure to people's heart, and for the sake of humanitarian support, 8,490 prisoners from respective prisons will be given the pardon," the Presidential Office said in a statement.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has made ending near-perpetual civil war to bring national reconciliation her top priority. Her ruling National League for Democracy took office in 2016 amid sky-high expectations of greater freedoms after nearly half a century of military rule.

Two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar were not included in the amnesty, according to Min Tun Soe, spokesman of Myanmar Prisons Department, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether the pair will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Over 6,000 prisoners who were sentenced under drug-related charges would be included in the pardon, according to a Facebook post by government spokesman Zaw Htay.

Nearly 2,000 members of Myanmar's military and police force, who were jailed under the Military Act or Police Disciplinary Act, would be freed, Zaw Htay wrote. He did not elaborate.

He said a total of 36 prisoners on a rights watchdog list, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners' (AAPP), were also included in the amnesty.

Hundreds of political prisoners have been released from Myanmar's jails in amnesties in recent years, including dozens freed in April 2016, days after Nobel laureate Suu Kyi's party took power following nearly 50 years of military rule.

Myanmar's constitution obliges Suu Kyi's civilian government to share power with the powerful military, which controls key cabinet posts including law and order and security.

"We submitted a list of 44 political prisoners and now 36 are released...This amnesty is very good news and we welcome and support it," said AAPP's Myanmar representative Aung Myo Kyaw.

"But there should not be a single political prisoner in a democratic country," he said. "It will be better if remaining political prisoners and also those who are still facing charges were pardoned."

Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest, has said that releasing the remaining political prisoners was a top priority.

Prior to Tuesday's pardon, there were 240 political activists jailed or awaiting trial in Myanmar, according to AAPP.

Suu Kyi has struggled to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and the stuttering peace process. Her government also faces mounting international condemnation for a military operation against Rohingya Muslims that has sent nearly 700,000 members of the minority community fleeing to Bangladesh.

The government said the move would bring about humanitarian support amid the country's political reforms after decades of military rule

Myanmar's new president said on Tuesday over 8,000 prisoners will be freed in an amnesty, a move the government said would bring about humanitarian support amid the country's political reforms after decades of military rule. The presidential pardon, signed by newly-elected President Win Myint, said the move was aimed to bring peace as part of celebrations of the Myanmar new year. It did not specify when the amnesty would take place. "To bring peace and pleasure to people's heart, and for the sake of humanitarian support, 8,490 prisoners from respective prisons will be given the pardon," the Presidential Office said in a statement. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has made ending near-perpetual civil war to bring national reconciliation her top priority. Her ruling National League for Democracy took office in 2016 amid sky-high expectations of greater freedoms after nearly half a century of military rule. Two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar were not included in the amnesty, according to Min Tun Soe, spokesman of Myanmar Prisons Department, citing ongoing legal proceedings. A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether the pair will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. Over 6,000 prisoners who were sentenced under drug-related charges would be included in the pardon, according to a Facebook post by government spokesman Zaw Htay. Nearly 2,000 members of Myanmar's military and police force, who were jailed under the Military Act or Police Disciplinary Act, would be freed, Zaw Htay wrote. He did not elaborate. He said a total of 36 prisoners on a rights watchdog list, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners' (AAPP), were also included in the amnesty. Hundreds of political prisoners have been released from Myanmar's jails in amnesties in recent years, including dozens freed in April 2016, days after Nobel laureate Suu Kyi's party took power following nearly 50 years of military rule. Myanmar's constitution obliges Suu Kyi's civilian government to share power with the powerful military, which controls key cabinet posts including law and order and security. "We submitted a list of 44 political prisoners and now 36 are released...This amnesty is very good news and we welcome and support it," said AAPP's Myanmar representative Aung Myo Kyaw. "But there should not be a single political prisoner in a democratic country," he said. "It will be better if remaining political prisoners and also those who are still facing charges were pardoned." Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest, has said that releasing the remaining political prisoners was a top priority. Prior to Tuesday's pardon, there were 240 political activists jailed or awaiting trial in Myanmar, according to AAPP. Suu Kyi has struggled to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and the stuttering peace process. Her government also faces mounting international condemnation for a military operation against Rohingya Muslims that has sent nearly 700,000 members of the minority community fleeing to Bangladesh.

Myanmar to free over 8,000 prisoners in new-year amnesty

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return.

Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale. The United States and the United Nations have described the Myanmar military operation as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has denied nearly all allegations, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar set up two reception centers and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals.

"Five members of a Muslim family...came to the Taungpyoletwea reception center in Rakhine state this morning," the Myanmar government said in a statement late on Saturday.

The family members were scrutinized by immigration and health ministry officials and the social welfare, relief and resettlement ministry provided them with "materials such as rice, mosquito netting, blankets, t-shirt, longyis (Burmese sarong) and kitchen utensils," said the government in the statement.

It added that the family members who "are in line with the rules" were issued the National Verification Cards (NVCs) upon entering Myanmar.

NVCs are part of the government's ongoing effort to register Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. The card has been widely rejected by Rohingya community leaders, who say they treat life-long residents like new immigrants.

Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as "Bengalis".

Last week, the most senior UN&nbspofficial to visit Myanmar this year, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, said the conditions in Myanmar were not conducive to the return of the refugees.

She cited a continued lack of access to health services, concerns among the Rohingya about protection and continued displacements. She also described conditions in camps for internally-displaced people from previous bouts of violence as "deplorable".

Several boats with Rohingya from parts of the violence-torn Rakhine state have left Myanmar in recent months. The latest confirmed departure took place on Thursday.

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return. Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale. The United States and the United Nations have described the Myanmar military operation as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has denied nearly all allegations, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar set up two reception centers and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals. "Five members of a Muslim family...came to the Taungpyoletwea reception center in Rakhine state this morning," the Myanmar government said in a statement late on Saturday. The family members were scrutinized by immigration and health ministry officials and the social welfare, relief and resettlement ministry provided them with "materials such as rice, mosquito netting, blankets, t-shirt, longyis (Burmese sarong) and kitchen utensils," said the government in the statement. It added that the family members who "are in line with the rules" were issued the National Verification Cards (NVCs) upon entering Myanmar. NVCs are part of the government's ongoing effort to register Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. The card has been widely rejected by Rohingya community leaders, who say they treat life-long residents like new immigrants. Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as "Bengalis". Last week, the most senior UN&nbspofficial to visit Myanmar this year, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, said the conditions in Myanmar were not conducive to the return of the refugees. She cited a continued lack of access to health services, concerns among the Rohingya about protection and continued displacements. She also described conditions in camps for internally-displaced people from previous bouts of violence as "deplorable". Several boats with Rohingya from parts of the violence-torn Rakhine state have left Myanmar in recent months. The latest confirmed departure took place on Thursday.

Myanmar repatriates first Rohingya refugee family: Government

The UN&nbsprefugee agency called a Myanmar minister's visit to Bangladesh to meet Muslim Rohingya refugees a confidence-building measure, but said conditions in Myanmar were not ready for their return.

Myanmar Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who heads rehabilitation efforts in Myanmar's troubled western Rakhine state, told about 50 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday that getting the repatriation process moving was top priority.

But the UN&nbspHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday Myanmar was not prepared.

"Conditions in Myanmar are not yet conducive for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees," it said in a statement, adding that the responsibility remains with the government to create such conditions.

According to UN&nbspofficials, nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh from Rakhine to escape a military crackdown since August, amid reports of murder, rape and arson by Myanmar troops and Buddhist vigilantes which the United Nations has likened to "ethnic cleansing".

Buddhist-majority Myanmar rejects the charge, saying its security forces launched a legitimate counter-insurgency operation on Aug. 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks.

The refugees are living in cramped camps in the port of Cox's Bazar and Bangladesh is keen for them to return home soon, especially with the oncoming monsoons expected to cause major devastation at the camps.

The UNHCR called on Myanmar to provide the agency unhindered access in Rakhine to assess the situation and monitor the return and reintegration of refugees if and when they voluntarily return.

Acknowledging the mistrust and fear of the Rohingya of Myanmar, Win Myat Aye told the group of refugees on Wednesday to set aside the past and to prepare to go back, promising new villages would be built with hospitals and schools.

But some refugees have said they are worried about going back, fearing persecution.

'Conditions in Myanmar are not yet conducive for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees,' it said in a statement, adding that the responsibility remains with the government to create such conditions

The UN&nbsprefugee agency called a Myanmar minister's visit to Bangladesh to meet Muslim Rohingya refugees a confidence-building measure, but said conditions in Myanmar were not ready for their return. Myanmar Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who heads rehabilitation efforts in Myanmar's troubled western Rakhine state, told about 50 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday that getting the repatriation process moving was top priority. But the UN&nbspHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday Myanmar was not prepared. "Conditions in Myanmar are not yet conducive for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees," it said in a statement, adding that the responsibility remains with the government to create such conditions. According to UN&nbspofficials, nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh from Rakhine to escape a military crackdown since August, amid reports of murder, rape and arson by Myanmar troops and Buddhist vigilantes which the United Nations has likened to "ethnic cleansing". Buddhist-majority Myanmar rejects the charge, saying its security forces launched a legitimate counter-insurgency operation on Aug. 25 in response to Rohingya militant attacks. The refugees are living in cramped camps in the port of Cox's Bazar and Bangladesh is keen for them to return home soon, especially with the oncoming monsoons expected to cause major devastation at the camps. The UNHCR called on Myanmar to provide the agency unhindered access in Rakhine to assess the situation and monitor the return and reintegration of refugees if and when they voluntarily return. Acknowledging the mistrust and fear of the Rohingya of Myanmar, Win Myat Aye told the group of refugees on Wednesday to set aside the past and to prepare to go back, promising new villages would be built with hospitals and schools. But some refugees have said they are worried about going back, fearing persecution.

Myanmar not ready for return of Rohingya Muslims, says UNHCR

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-73-per-cent-this-fiscal-76-per-cent-in-2019-20-asian-development-bank-129728'">Indian economy to grow at 7.3 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-73-per-cent-this-fiscal-76-per-cent-in-2019-20-asian-development-bank-129728'">per cent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-73-per-cent-this-fiscal-76-per-cent-in-2019-20-asian-development-bank-129728'"> this fiscal, 7.6 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-73-per-cent-this-fiscal-76-per-cent-in-2019-20-asian-development-bank-129728'">per cent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/indian-economy-to-grow-at-73-per-cent-this-fiscal-76-per-cent-in-2019-20-asian-development-bank-129728'"> in 2019-20: Asian Development Bank</a>

Manila-based Asian Development Bank(ADB) today projected India's economic growth to pick up to 7.3 per cent this fiscal.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/facebook-needs-to-do-more-to-stop-hate-speech-in-myanmar-says-zuckerberg-to-us-lawmakers-129710">Facebook needs to do more to stop hate speech in Myanmar,' says Zuckerberg to US lawmakers</a>

Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-bjp-lawmakers-to-fast-tomorrow-over-parliament-washout-129708">PM Modi, BJP lawmakers to fast tomorrow over Parliament 'washout'</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with BJP lawmakers will be observing a day-long fast on Thursday in Delhi against the recent Parliment washout by the opposition parties.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2018-jadeja-hits-second-last-ball-six-to-give-chennai-its-2nd-win-129701">IPL 2018: Jadeja hits second last ball six to give Chennai its 2nd win</a>

Ravindra Jadeja hit a six at the second last ball of the match to give Chennai its second win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-roma-crush-barcelona-enter-semi-final-129717">Champions League: Roma crush Barcelona, enter </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-roma-crush-barcelona-enter-semi-final-129717">semi-final</a>

AS Roma made a historic comeback in the Champions League encounter against Barcelona dumping the former champions with an impressive 3-0 scoreline.

Indian economy to grow at 7.3 per cent this fiscal, 7.6 per cent in 2019-20: Asian Development Bank Manila-based Asian Development Bank(ADB) today projected India's economic growth to pick up to 7.3 per cent this fiscal. Facebook needs to do more to stop hate speech in Myanmar,' says Zuckerberg to US lawmakers Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday. PM Modi, BJP lawmakers to fast tomorrow over Parliament 'washout' Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with BJP lawmakers will be observing a day-long fast on Thursday in Delhi against the recent Parliment washout by the opposition parties. IPL 2018: Jadeja hits second last ball six to give Chennai its 2nd win Ravindra Jadeja hit a six at the second last ball of the match to give Chennai its second win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. Champions League: Roma crush Barcelona, enter semi-final AS Roma made a historic comeback in the Champions League encounter against Barcelona dumping the former champions with an impressive 3-0 scoreline.

WION Morning News Brief,  April 11, 2018

The United Nations refugee agency is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh laying out a framework for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, an agency spokesman said on Wednesday.

The MoU is aimed at establishing cooperation between the UN agency and Bangladesh "on the safe, voluntary, and dignified returns of refugees in line with international standards, if and when the conditions are conducive to returns," said UN&nbspHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Andrej Mahecic.

Mahecic and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque said the MoU will be signed on Friday morning in Geneva.

Another Bangladeshi official involved in the discussions said the MoU is likely to lay out that the UNHCR will vet all refugees being repatriated to ensure that the process is 100 percent voluntary.

"The whole return process will be operated as per the UNHCR, so there will be no force put on the refugee to go back," said the source.

Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military crackdown and crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state since August. The refugees are living in cramped camps at Cox's Bazar, and Bangladesh is keen to urge the refugees to return home soon, especially with the oncoming monsoons expected to cause major devastation at the camps.

The official, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to discuss matters with the media, said the UNHCR is expected to run a few transit sites along the border that will house refugees before they are transferred to temporary resettlement shelters in Rakhine State.&nbsp

The official added that the UN&nbspbody is expected to arrange sufficient funds to run the repatriation programme and that both the parties would conduct promotional activities urging people to return to Myanmar.

A Myanmar minister told Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday that their repatriation was a priority, in the first visit by a top Myanmar official since last year's exodus.

The bilateral MoU would be an early step in the process work on a deal involving Bangladesh, Myanmar and the UNHCR is ongoing. That tripartite deal would aim to provide guarantees around the resettlement and safety of those that agree to be repatriated, along with assurances that officials of the UNHCR will be allowed to regularly inspect these sites.

The MoU will be signed on Friday morning in Geneva

The United Nations refugee agency is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh laying out a framework for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, an agency spokesman said on Wednesday. The MoU is aimed at establishing cooperation between the UN agency and Bangladesh "on the safe, voluntary, and dignified returns of refugees in line with international standards, if and when the conditions are conducive to returns," said UN&nbspHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Andrej Mahecic. Mahecic and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque said the MoU will be signed on Friday morning in Geneva. Another Bangladeshi official involved in the discussions said the MoU is likely to lay out that the UNHCR will vet all refugees being repatriated to ensure that the process is 100 percent voluntary. "The whole return process will be operated as per the UNHCR, so there will be no force put on the refugee to go back," said the source. Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military crackdown and crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state since August. The refugees are living in cramped camps at Cox's Bazar, and Bangladesh is keen to urge the refugees to return home soon, especially with the oncoming monsoons expected to cause major devastation at the camps. The official, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to discuss matters with the media, said the UNHCR is expected to run a few transit sites along the border that will house refugees before they are transferred to temporary resettlement shelters in Rakhine State. The official added that the UN&nbspbody is expected to arrange sufficient funds to run the repatriation programme and that both the parties would conduct promotional activities urging people to return to Myanmar. A Myanmar minister told Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday that their repatriation was a priority, in the first visit by a top Myanmar official since last year's exodus. The bilateral MoU would be an early step in the process work on a deal involving Bangladesh, Myanmar and the UNHCR is ongoing. That tripartite deal would aim to provide guarantees around the resettlement and safety of those that agree to be repatriated, along with assurances that officials of the UNHCR will be allowed to regularly inspect these sites.

Bangladesh, UNHCR to ink preliminary plan on Rohingya repatriation

Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday.

The Facebook chief while apologising for the leak said his company will work harder to block hate messages on the social media site, calling the Myanmar situation a "terrible tragedy".

"What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee.

Several thousand Rohingyas have fled Myanmar, according to the UN at least 650, 5000 ethnic Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh in order to save themselves from the Myanmar Army which has allegedly been carrying out mass persecution against them.

"It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," the Facebook chief said, adding," As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media."&nbsp;

The UN including the US has termed the deteriorating state of the Rohingyas in Myanmar a case of "ethnic cleansing" with several other nations openly condemning the military regime which has been unable to stop the exodus to Bangladesh with the Rohingyas fearing mass persecution in the country.

"It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," &nbsp;Zuckerberg said.

He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem.

United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar said last month that Facebook had been a source of anti-Rohingya propaganda

Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday. The Facebook chief while apologising for the leak said his company will work harder to block hate messages on the social media site, calling the Myanmar situation a "terrible tragedy". "What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee. Several thousand Rohingyas have fled Myanmar, according to the UN at least 650, 5000 ethnic Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh in order to save themselves from the Myanmar Army which has allegedly been carrying out mass persecution against them. "It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," the Facebook chief said, adding," As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media." The UN including the US has termed the deteriorating state of the Rohingyas in Myanmar a case of "ethnic cleansing" with several other nations openly condemning the military regime which has been unable to stop the exodus to Bangladesh with the Rohingyas fearing mass persecution in the country. "It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," Zuckerberg said. He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem.

'Facebook needs to do more to stop hate speech in Myanmar,' says Zuckerberg to US lawmakers

Myanmar civil society groups on Wednesday welcomed a commitment by Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to increase efforts to curb messages inciting violence, but urged the social media giant to deploy more resources in the Southeast Asian country.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg said on Tuesday his company would step up efforts to block hate messages in Myanmar as he faced questioning by the US&nbsp;Congress about electoral interference and hate speech on the platform.

Facebook has been accused by human rights advocates of not doing enough to weed out hate messages on its social-media network in Myanmar, where it has become a near-ubiquitous communications tool following the opening up of the economy.&nbsp;

"This is a historic commitment from Facebook to a 24-hour review time, and one we have been begging for," said Yangon-based social media analyst Victoire Rio, of Zuckerberg's commitment to remove posts that may spur violence.&nbsp;

"It is still unclear how they intend to demonstrate that they are meeting these targets...We will continue to monitor them," said Rio, who was involved in an email exchange between Zuckerberg and several Myanmar civil society groups on Facebook's effectiveness in detecting and curbing hate speech.&nbsp;

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state and crossed into Bangladesh since insurgent attacks sparked a security crackdown last August.

The United Nations and the United States described the situation as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies.&nbsp;

"What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee.

United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar said last month that Facebook had been a source of anti-Rohingya propaganda.

Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN&nbsp;Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said in March that social media had played a "determining role" in Myanmar.

"It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly of course a part of that. As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media," he said.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg said Facebook was hiring dozens of more Burmese-language speakers to remove threatening content.

"It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," he said, adding that Facebook was also asking civil society groups to help it identify figures who should be banned from the network.

He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem.

But Jes Petersen, chief executive of Yangon-based Phandeeyar, which helped Facebook translate its Burmese-language community standards, said Zuckerberg's commitment would not be enough for a country with nearly 30 million users.&nbsp;

"It is not even close. It will be interesting to see how Facebook meet their 24-hour commitment here - but a mammoth expansion of Burmese-speaking staff is going to be needed."

Zuckerberg said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar

Myanmar civil society groups on Wednesday welcomed a commitment by Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to increase efforts to curb messages inciting violence, but urged the social media giant to deploy more resources in the Southeast Asian country. Zuckerberg said on Tuesday his company would step up efforts to block hate messages in Myanmar as he faced questioning by the US Congress about electoral interference and hate speech on the platform. Facebook has been accused by human rights advocates of not doing enough to weed out hate messages on its social-media network in Myanmar, where it has become a near-ubiquitous communications tool following the opening up of the economy. "This is a historic commitment from Facebook to a 24-hour review time, and one we have been begging for," said Yangon-based social media analyst Victoire Rio, of Zuckerberg's commitment to remove posts that may spur violence. "It is still unclear how they intend to demonstrate that they are meeting these targets...We will continue to monitor them," said Rio, who was involved in an email exchange between Zuckerberg and several Myanmar civil society groups on Facebook's effectiveness in detecting and curbing hate speech. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state and crossed into Bangladesh since insurgent attacks sparked a security crackdown last August. The United Nations and the United States described the situation as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies. "What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee. United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar said last month that Facebook had been a source of anti-Rohingya propaganda. Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said in March that social media had played a "determining role" in Myanmar. "It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly of course a part of that. As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media," he said. Zuckerberg said Facebook was hiring dozens of more Burmese-language speakers to remove threatening content. "It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," he said, adding that Facebook was also asking civil society groups to help it identify figures who should be banned from the network. He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem. But Jes Petersen, chief executive of Yangon-based Phandeeyar, which helped Facebook translate its Burmese-language community standards, said Zuckerberg's commitment would not be enough for a country with nearly 30 million users. "It is not even close. It will be interesting to see how Facebook meet their 24-hour commitment here - but a mammoth expansion of Burmese-speaking staff is going to be needed."

Myanmar activists welcome Zuckerberg's vows to block hate speech on Facebook

Seven Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to “10 years in prison with hard labor in a remote area” for participating in a massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in northwestern Rakhine state last September, the army said on Tuesday.

The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labour for "contributing and participating in murder".

The sentencing of the seven soldiers comes after an internal investigation by Tatmadaw or the Myanmar military recently revealed that the bodies of 10 Rohingya men were found buried in a mass grave in Inn Din, a village located in the strife-torn Rakhine State.

The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation independently and that it is unrelated to the Reuters reporters who are accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers.

The Rohingya men from the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbors and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murder in February.

The murders were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August. The United Nations and the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation which Myanmar denies.

“Four officers were denounced and permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area. Three soldiers of other rank were demoted to the rank of ‘private’, permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area,” read the military statement.

It added that legal proceedings against the police personnel and civilians “involved in the crime” are still underway.

On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 militants who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military had said.

The military’s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses published in the February story.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labor for 'contributing and participating in murder'

Seven Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to “10 years in prison with hard labor in a remote area” for participating in a massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in northwestern Rakhine state last September, the army said on Tuesday. The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labour for "contributing and participating in murder". The sentencing of the seven soldiers comes after an internal investigation by Tatmadaw or the Myanmar military recently revealed that the bodies of 10 Rohingya men were found buried in a mass grave in Inn Din, a village located in the strife-torn Rakhine State. The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation independently and that it is unrelated to the Reuters reporters who are accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers. The Rohingya men from the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbors and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murder in February. The murders were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August. The United Nations and the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation which Myanmar denies. “Four officers were denounced and permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area. Three soldiers of other rank were demoted to the rank of ‘private’, permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area,” read the military statement. It added that legal proceedings against the police personnel and civilians “involved in the crime” are still underway. On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 militants who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military had said. The military’s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses published in the February story. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses. (With inputs from Reuters)

7 Myanmar soldiers sentenced to 10 years in prison for Rohingya massacre

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