Seven soldiers in Myanmar were sentenced for their part in the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya Muslim men, according to a Facebook post by the army chief late on Tuesday. 

"Four officers have been purged (from the army) and given a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour. A further three soldiers were purged and given a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour in a criminal prison," the post read.

Myanmar’s military has been accused of violating human rights with impunity for decades, including in its conflicts with rebel groups.

Most recently it has been accused of abuses during what it calls “clearance operations” against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. More than 650,000 Rohingya have left Myanmar for Bangladesh, fleeing what the United Nations calls ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar’s military last week made a rare public admission of killing 10 Rohingya Muslims, whose bodies were found in a mass grave in a village in northern Rakhine.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Myanmar’s military has been accused of violating human rights with impunity for decades, including in its conflicts with rebel groups.

Seven soldiers in Myanmar were sentenced for their part in the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya Muslim men, according to a Facebook post by the army chief late on Tuesday.  "Four officers have been purged (from the army) and given a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour. A further three soldiers were purged and given a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour in a criminal prison," the post read. Myanmar’s military has been accused of violating human rights with impunity for decades, including in its conflicts with rebel groups. Most recently it has been accused of abuses during what it calls “clearance operations” against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. More than 650,000 Rohingya have left Myanmar for Bangladesh, fleeing what the United Nations calls ethnic cleansing. Myanmar’s military last week made a rare public admission of killing 10 Rohingya Muslims, whose bodies were found in a mass grave in a village in northern Rakhine. (With inputs from Agencies)

7 Myanmar soldiers sentenced to 10 years over Rohingya killings: Army

A Myanmar government minister will visit Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said, a rare trip Dhaka hopes will help speed the return home of hundreds of thousands of the neighbouring nation's Muslim minority.

Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, will speak with some of the roughly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims the United Nations and aid groups say fled a military crackdown in their Buddhist-majority country since last August.

"So many people of his country are here and it's their moral obligation to see their conditions," Mohammed Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's refugee relief and rehabilitation commissioner, told Reuters.

"His country may want to show the global leaders that they are sincere to repatriate. Bangladesh expects to resolve the problem soonest, as it is a huge burden for this country, which we cannot bear."

The Myanmar minister confirmed to Reuters last week that he was visiting Bangladesh.

Kalam will accompany Win Myat Aye on the visit to the camps in Kutupalong, where many refugees live in shacks made of bamboo and plastic sheets that are unlikely to withstand heavy rains and storms brought by the monsoon season when it starts in June.

A Bangladesh foreign ministry official said his country wanted to show the visiting minister the challenges it was facing in hosting the refugees in the coastal district of Cox's Bazar, bordering Myanmar.

Win Myat Aye, the minister charged by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi with leading rehabilitation efforts in the country's Rakhine State that the Rohingya call home, is likely to meet Bangladesh's foreign minister on Thursday, said the official, who declined to be identified, citing government policy.

Myanmar has said it has already verified several hundred Rohingya refugees for possible repatriation.

The Rohingya exodus followed reported killings, burnings, looting and rape in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces. Myanmar, which considers most Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, has denied the accusations.

Kalam will accompany Win Myat Aye on the visit to the camps in Kutupalong, where many refugees live

A Myanmar government minister will visit Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said, a rare trip Dhaka hopes will help speed the return home of hundreds of thousands of the neighbouring nation's Muslim minority. Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, will speak with some of the roughly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims the United Nations and aid groups say fled a military crackdown in their Buddhist-majority country since last August. "So many people of his country are here and it's their moral obligation to see their conditions," Mohammed Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's refugee relief and rehabilitation commissioner, told Reuters. "His country may want to show the global leaders that they are sincere to repatriate. Bangladesh expects to resolve the problem soonest, as it is a huge burden for this country, which we cannot bear." The Myanmar minister confirmed to Reuters last week that he was visiting Bangladesh. Kalam will accompany Win Myat Aye on the visit to the camps in Kutupalong, where many refugees live in shacks made of bamboo and plastic sheets that are unlikely to withstand heavy rains and storms brought by the monsoon season when it starts in June. A Bangladesh foreign ministry official said his country wanted to show the visiting minister the challenges it was facing in hosting the refugees in the coastal district of Cox's Bazar, bordering Myanmar. Win Myat Aye, the minister charged by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi with leading rehabilitation efforts in the country's Rakhine State that the Rohingya call home, is likely to meet Bangladesh's foreign minister on Thursday, said the official, who declined to be identified, citing government policy. Myanmar has said it has already verified several hundred Rohingya refugees for possible repatriation. The Rohingya exodus followed reported killings, burnings, looting and rape in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces. Myanmar, which considers most Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, has denied the accusations.

Myanmar minister to visit Rohingya camps as Bangladesh seeks refugees' return

Rohingya refugees living in India are waiting in hope of positive verdict as Supreme Court will take up the Deportation of Rohingya case for final disposal.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra will hear the case.

Last year in August, Central government announced to deport Rohingya refugees who migrated to India after escaping from Myanmar following the&nbsp;violence and discrimination against the community.

According to reports over 40,000 refugees have moved to India and got settled in areas of Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.

The center stated that refugees moving to India would create a threat to the country's security as seeing the rise of terrorism in last&nbsp;decade, illegal migrants living in the country are more prone to recruitment by terrorist organisation.&nbsp;

After the center's case, a batch of petitions was filed by several Rohingya migrants challenging&nbsp;center.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-not-ready-for-return-of-rohingya-refugees-un-official-129093">Also read: Myanmar not ready for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-not-ready-for-return-of-rohingya-refugees-un-official-129093">return</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-not-ready-for-return-of-rohingya-refugees-un-official-129093"> of Rohingya refugees says UN official</a>

Advocate Prashant Bhushan is fighting Rohingya case in the court who has argued that Rohingya migrants should also be allowed to stay in India on the same terms as Sri Lankan refugees live in the country.

There were also reports alleging that Rohingya migrants are being denied services like healthcare and education. 
&nbsp; 
Advocate Tushar Mehta is representing center against the petitioners.

Meanwhile, the Centre has also questioned the credentials of the petitioners seeking to block the deportation saying that the genesis of the PILs threatens to change the country's demography and destabilise it.

More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year.

The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Rakhine state, amounts to 'ethnic cleansing'.&nbsp;

Also read: &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-crisis-un-security-council-to-visit-myanmar-bangladesh-this-month--127974">UN Security Council to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh this month</a>

(With inputs from ANI)

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra will hear the case

Rohingya refugees living in India are waiting in hope of positive verdict as Supreme Court will take up the Deportation of Rohingya case for final disposal. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra will hear the case. Last year in August, Central government announced to deport Rohingya refugees who migrated to India after escaping from Myanmar following the violence and discrimination against the community. According to reports over 40,000 refugees have moved to India and got settled in areas of Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. The center stated that refugees moving to India would create a threat to the country's security as seeing the rise of terrorism in last decade, illegal migrants living in the country are more prone to recruitment by terrorist organisation. After the center's case, a batch of petitions was filed by several Rohingya migrants challenging center. Also read: Myanmar not ready for return of Rohingya refugees says UN official Advocate Prashant Bhushan is fighting Rohingya case in the court who has argued that Rohingya migrants should also be allowed to stay in India on the same terms as Sri Lankan refugees live in the country. There were also reports alleging that Rohingya migrants are being denied services like healthcare and education. Advocate Tushar Mehta is representing center against the petitioners. Meanwhile, the Centre has also questioned the credentials of the petitioners seeking to block the deportation saying that the genesis of the PILs threatens to change the country's demography and destabilise it. More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year. The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Rakhine state, amounts to 'ethnic cleansing'. Also read: UN Security Council to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh this month (With inputs from ANI)

Supreme Court verdict on Rohingya case likely today

Myanmar&nbspis not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, said the seniormost United Nations official to visit the country this year, after&nbspMyanmar&nbspwas accused of instigating ethnic cleansing and driving nearly 700,000 Muslims to Bangladesh.

Ursula Mueller, UN's Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, made a six-day visit to&nbspMyanmar&nbspand was allowed a visit to Rakhine State, indicating a tentative shift in&nbspMyanmar's thus-far tough stance towards the UN. She also met army-controlled ministers of defence and border affairs, as well as de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, where Mueller urged 'them to end the violence'.

Mueller also expressed concerns whether returnees would be allowed to return to 'their places of origin.'&nbspMyanmar&nbsphas bulldozed at least 55 villages that were emptied during the violence, Human Rights Watch has said. A total of 362 villages had been partially or completely destroyed since August, according to the New York-based human rights watchdog.

The exodus of Rohingya Muslims followed the Aug. 25 crackdown by the military in the northwestern Rakhine state.&nbspMyanmar&nbspand Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years.&nbspMyanmar&nbspset up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals.

Ursula Mueller, UN's Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, made a six-day visit to Myanmar and was allowed a visit to Rakhine State, indicating a tentative shift in Myanmar's thus-far tough stance towards the UN

Myanmar&nbspis not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, said the seniormost United Nations official to visit the country this year, after&nbspMyanmar&nbspwas accused of instigating ethnic cleansing and driving nearly 700,000 Muslims to Bangladesh. Ursula Mueller, UN's Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, made a six-day visit to&nbspMyanmar&nbspand was allowed a visit to Rakhine State, indicating a tentative shift in&nbspMyanmar's thus-far tough stance towards the UN. She also met army-controlled ministers of defence and border affairs, as well as de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, where Mueller urged 'them to end the violence'. Mueller also expressed concerns whether returnees would be allowed to return to 'their places of origin.'&nbspMyanmar&nbsphas bulldozed at least 55 villages that were emptied during the violence, Human Rights Watch has said. A total of 362 villages had been partially or completely destroyed since August, according to the New York-based human rights watchdog. The exodus of Rohingya Muslims followed the Aug. 25 crackdown by the military in the northwestern Rakhine state.&nbspMyanmar&nbspand Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years.&nbspMyanmar&nbspset up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals.

Myanmar not ready for return of Rohingya refugees: UN official

A Myanmar judge said Wednesday he would decide next week on whether to throw out a case against two Reuters journalists who were arrested while reporting on military abuses against Rohingya Muslims.&nbsp

Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of possessing classified documents under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.

Their plight has triggered global alarm over worsening media freedoms in Myanmar and government efforts to restrict reporting on northern Rakhine state, where troops are accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya minority.

Last week the journalists' lawyers asked the court to drop the case, which is still in a pre-trial hearing phase, saying there was not enough evidence to charge the pair.&nbsp

On Wednesday defence and prosecution teams presented arguments on the motion to a courtroom packed with relatives, media and diplomats.

"I'm going to give a decision on Wednesday, April 11th," said Judge Ye Lwin. 
At the time of their arrest four months ago the reporters were investigating the killing by security forces and ethnic Rakhine locals of 10 unarmed Rohingya Muslim men.

The army later acknowledged that security officers took part in the extrajudicial killings of the men, who were in custody at the time, in Inn Din village and vowed to take action against those responsible.

But it has denied any other abuses against the Rohingya, rejecting allegations from the UN that troops are guilty of ethnic cleansing and possible genocide in a campaign that has expelled 700,000 Rohingya from the country since August.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the first month of the crackdown alone.&nbsp

The journalists, who have been detained since their arrest on December 12, have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Their families say they were set up by two policemen who invited them for dinner and gave them the documents in question before their arrest.

"I haven't done anything wrong. That's why I believe I will be free soon," Kyaw Soe Oo told reporters after the hearing.&nbsp

Sean Bain, who was observing the trial for the International Commission of Jurists, called on the government to order prosecutors to "immediately drop these spurious charges".

"Each adjournment wrongfully extends their detention," he told, adding that "three months of hearings have produced no credible evidence" against the journalists.

Calls for the pair's release have poured in from around the globe, including from former US president Bill Clinton and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The case received another publicity boost last week after British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Clooney announced she would represent the pair.

She was not in court on Wednesday.&nbsp

Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of possessing classified documents under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act

A Myanmar judge said Wednesday he would decide next week on whether to throw out a case against two Reuters journalists who were arrested while reporting on military abuses against Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of possessing classified documents under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Their plight has triggered global alarm over worsening media freedoms in Myanmar and government efforts to restrict reporting on northern Rakhine state, where troops are accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya minority. Last week the journalists' lawyers asked the court to drop the case, which is still in a pre-trial hearing phase, saying there was not enough evidence to charge the pair. On Wednesday defence and prosecution teams presented arguments on the motion to a courtroom packed with relatives, media and diplomats. "I'm going to give a decision on Wednesday, April 11th," said Judge Ye Lwin. At the time of their arrest four months ago the reporters were investigating the killing by security forces and ethnic Rakhine locals of 10 unarmed Rohingya Muslim men. The army later acknowledged that security officers took part in the extrajudicial killings of the men, who were in custody at the time, in Inn Din village and vowed to take action against those responsible. But it has denied any other abuses against the Rohingya, rejecting allegations from the UN that troops are guilty of ethnic cleansing and possible genocide in a campaign that has expelled 700,000 Rohingya from the country since August. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the first month of the crackdown alone. The journalists, who have been detained since their arrest on December 12, have vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Their families say they were set up by two policemen who invited them for dinner and gave them the documents in question before their arrest. "I haven't done anything wrong. That's why I believe I will be free soon," Kyaw Soe Oo told reporters after the hearing. Sean Bain, who was observing the trial for the International Commission of Jurists, called on the government to order prosecutors to "immediately drop these spurious charges". "Each adjournment wrongfully extends their detention," he told, adding that "three months of hearings have produced no credible evidence" against the journalists. Calls for the pair's release have poured in from around the globe, including from former US president Bill Clinton and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The case received another publicity boost last week after British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Clooney announced she would represent the pair. She was not in court on Wednesday.

Myanmar judge to rule next week on dropping journalists' case

The government of Aung San Suu Kyi is opening the economy and growth is rebounding in Myanmar, though the possibility of broader Western sanctions over the Rohingya refugee crisis is nevertheless giving some foreign investors pause, according to a senior IMF official.

Shanaka Jay Peiris, the International Monetary Fund`s (IMF) mission chief to Myanmar, said in a recent interview that initial data reviewed by the IMF indicated that some foreign investors were delaying final approval of projects until there was clarity about how the situation may unfold.

"The numbers we have for FDI (foreign direct investment) aren't showing it yet ... but foreign investment approvals are slowing down, so there is some indicator that going forward FDI may be weaker," Peiris told Reuters following the publication last week of the IMF's latest review of Myanmar's economy.

"Since August, investors are taking a pause. It isn't a surprise," he said. He said it was unclear which projects were being delayed and added that more data was necessary to better understand whether the "pause" was temporary or not.

However, leading indicators such as FDI project amounts approved by Myanmar's government for the first 10 months of fiscal 2017/18 from April show "a marked slowdown" since September 2017, according to the IMF.

For now, FDI inflows for 2017/18 still look to be a "solid number," Peiris added.

While it is too soon to know what it could mean for the overall economy, Peiris said: "We have to see whether project approvals were temporarily lower or will be a trend, as well as whether actual FDI inflows will fall by much. The magnitude would also matter."

"We are not operating under the assumption that there are going to be broad economic sanctions," he added, downplaying the risk of a decline.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said, "Especially in Myanmar, because of the Rakhine issue, tourism has come down, investments and FDI have come down too," adding that the authorities were working hard to ensure macroeconomic stability.

The report by the IMF, which follows annual consultations with the government, followed a November visit to Myanmar, the first since nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown condemned by the international community.

The World Bank announced on Oct. 13 it was delaying the release of $200 million in budget support for Myanmar in response to the "forced displacement of the Rohingya."

Both the United States and Canada imposed sanctions against a general in Myanmar's military for his role in the crackdown against the Muslim Rohingya. The European Union said in February it was preparing sanctions against military leaders to hold them accountable for their role in the crisis.

The Trump administration's aid chief, Mark Green, said last month he will visit Myanmar soon for talks with the government and see for himself conditions of the Rohingya refugees.

Targeted sanctions&nbsp;

Peiris said the IMF believed that any more Western sanctions would likely target individuals in the military and not the economy.&nbsp;

"If the sanctions are limited to the military personnel, which has been the case to now, we believe it will be less of an impact" on the economy," Peiris said. "If it is broader, it would be more worrying."

Overall, the IMF sees economic growth picking up toward an estimated potential rate of about 7-7.5 per cent after lower-than-expected growth of 5.9 per cent in 2016/17.

The United States remains concerned about the plight of the Rohingya, a Treasury official told Reuters, declining to comment on the status of sanctions investigations. Another US&nbsp;official said the Trump administration was reviewing all options on Myanmar.

When asked by Reuters how concerned the government was about more sanctions, the Myanmar spokesman said such actions would affect "the whole country" because Myanmar was no longer a military dictatorship but instead run by "a democratic government elected by the people."

"They shouldn't do the economic sanctions," the government spokesman said. "If the investments are affected, then it affects the people."&nbsp;

Opening up

The IMF visit came shortly before Myanmar introduced regulations to bring the country's banks closer to international standards and force them to recover mostly open-ended "overdraft loans" that make up the bulk of their lending.

Myanmar's central bank deputy governor, Soe Thein, told Reuters in November that private banks had been given more time to clear most of their loan books.

Private banks account for more than half of banking system assets and the largest six private banks hold around 80 per cent of private bank assets, according to the IMF.

The new rules compel banks to open their books to the central bank, and Peiris said initial data raised concerns about the need for more bank capital.

"It is more fragile than what has been published, so banks will have to raise capital and recognize losses," he said.

"The question is whether owners are willing to put up the money and if they can't, will they try to find partners? How that will evolve is hard to tell but they will need more capital," he said. The Fund would have a better perspective of the situation during its next visit later this year, he said.

"We and the central bank do have a sense that it is a significant issue," he added.

Asked whether the government agreed with the IMF assessment on the banks, the Myanmar government spokesman said reforms were important to building economic stability.

"It is necessary to be careful," he said, "We cannot afford to make any mistakes." 
&nbsp;

Overall, the IMF sees economic growth picking up toward an estimated potential rate of about 7-7.5 per cent

The government of Aung San Suu Kyi is opening the economy and growth is rebounding in Myanmar, though the possibility of broader Western sanctions over the Rohingya refugee crisis is nevertheless giving some foreign investors pause, according to a senior IMF official. Shanaka Jay Peiris, the International Monetary Fund`s (IMF) mission chief to Myanmar, said in a recent interview that initial data reviewed by the IMF indicated that some foreign investors were delaying final approval of projects until there was clarity about how the situation may unfold. "The numbers we have for FDI (foreign direct investment) aren't showing it yet ... but foreign investment approvals are slowing down, so there is some indicator that going forward FDI may be weaker," Peiris told Reuters following the publication last week of the IMF's latest review of Myanmar's economy. "Since August, investors are taking a pause. It isn't a surprise," he said. He said it was unclear which projects were being delayed and added that more data was necessary to better understand whether the "pause" was temporary or not. However, leading indicators such as FDI project amounts approved by Myanmar's government for the first 10 months of fiscal 2017/18 from April show "a marked slowdown" since September 2017, according to the IMF. For now, FDI inflows for 2017/18 still look to be a "solid number," Peiris added. While it is too soon to know what it could mean for the overall economy, Peiris said: "We have to see whether project approvals were temporarily lower or will be a trend, as well as whether actual FDI inflows will fall by much. The magnitude would also matter." "We are not operating under the assumption that there are going to be broad economic sanctions," he added, downplaying the risk of a decline. Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said, "Especially in Myanmar, because of the Rakhine issue, tourism has come down, investments and FDI have come down too," adding that the authorities were working hard to ensure macroeconomic stability. The report by the IMF, which follows annual consultations with the government, followed a November visit to Myanmar, the first since nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown condemned by the international community. The World Bank announced on Oct. 13 it was delaying the release of $200 million in budget support for Myanmar in response to the "forced displacement of the Rohingya." Both the United States and Canada imposed sanctions against a general in Myanmar's military for his role in the crackdown against the Muslim Rohingya. The European Union said in February it was preparing sanctions against military leaders to hold them accountable for their role in the crisis. The Trump administration's aid chief, Mark Green, said last month he will visit Myanmar soon for talks with the government and see for himself conditions of the Rohingya refugees. Targeted sanctions Peiris said the IMF believed that any more Western sanctions would likely target individuals in the military and not the economy. "If the sanctions are limited to the military personnel, which has been the case to now, we believe it will be less of an impact" on the economy," Peiris said. "If it is broader, it would be more worrying." Overall, the IMF sees economic growth picking up toward an estimated potential rate of about 7-7.5 per cent after lower-than-expected growth of 5.9 per cent in 2016/17. The United States remains concerned about the plight of the Rohingya, a Treasury official told Reuters, declining to comment on the status of sanctions investigations. Another US official said the Trump administration was reviewing all options on Myanmar. When asked by Reuters how concerned the government was about more sanctions, the Myanmar spokesman said such actions would affect "the whole country" because Myanmar was no longer a military dictatorship but instead run by "a democratic government elected by the people." "They shouldn't do the economic sanctions," the government spokesman said. "If the investments are affected, then it affects the people." Opening up The IMF visit came shortly before Myanmar introduced regulations to bring the country's banks closer to international standards and force them to recover mostly open-ended "overdraft loans" that make up the bulk of their lending. Myanmar's central bank deputy governor, Soe Thein, told Reuters in November that private banks had been given more time to clear most of their loan books. Private banks account for more than half of banking system assets and the largest six private banks hold around 80 per cent of private bank assets, according to the IMF. The new rules compel banks to open their books to the central bank, and Peiris said initial data raised concerns about the need for more bank capital. "It is more fragile than what has been published, so banks will have to raise capital and recognize losses," he said. "The question is whether owners are willing to put up the money and if they can't, will they try to find partners? How that will evolve is hard to tell but they will need more capital," he said. The Fund would have a better perspective of the situation during its next visit later this year, he said. "We and the central bank do have a sense that it is a significant issue," he added. Asked whether the government agreed with the IMF assessment on the banks, the Myanmar government spokesman said reforms were important to building economic stability. "It is necessary to be careful," he said, "We cannot afford to make any mistakes."

Despite Myanmar economy rebound, investors wary of Rohingya sanctions risk: IMF

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is likely to visit Myanmar and Bangladesh later this month to take stock of the ongoing Rohingya crisis.

The Myanmar government has welcomed UNSC's visit and is in the process of finalising the details of the visit.

The Council's will aim at visiting the tension-gripped Rakhine state. UN officials will also visit Bangladesh's Cox Bazaar where a majority of Rohingya refugees have taken shelter.

The UN described the Rohingyas fleeing -- triggered by widespread attacks -- as "ethnic cleansing."

UNSC has been grappling with internal divisions in its stance on the crisis due to which the council has not been able to take any decisive action. UNSC officials will also visit Iraq this month.

The Council will aim at visiting the tension-gripped Rakhine state

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is likely to visit Myanmar and Bangladesh later this month to take stock of the ongoing Rohingya crisis. The Myanmar government has welcomed UNSC's visit and is in the process of finalising the details of the visit. The Council's will aim at visiting the tension-gripped Rakhine state. UN officials will also visit Bangladesh's Cox Bazaar where a majority of Rohingya refugees have taken shelter. The UN described the Rohingyas fleeing -- triggered by widespread attacks -- as "ethnic cleansing." UNSC has been grappling with internal divisions in its stance on the crisis due to which the council has not been able to take any decisive action. UNSC officials will also visit Iraq this month.

Rohingya crisis: UN Security Council to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh this month

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An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed 12 civilians, including seven children, in the costal city of Hodeidah on Monday, medics and a witness said.

Bharat Bandh protests: Death tolls rises to 6 as violence sweeps across India Four persons were killed and several others, including policemen, sustained injuries in violent protests in Madhya Pradesh during the nationwide bandh called today by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Bharat Bandh protest: Heart of Delhi comes to standstill, arteries blocked Traffic came to a standstill in the National capital's Connaught place during the "Bharat bandh" protest on Monday. Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh to get married by the year-end? There has been a lot of&nbspspeculation&nbsparound Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh's wedding for the past few months. Latest news reports suggest that the two will be tying the knot by&nbspthe end of the year. Myanmar lures Bangladesh Buddhists to take over Rohingya land: Officials Myanmar authorities have lured dozens of mainly Buddhist Bangladeshi tribal families to cross the border and resettle on land abandoned by fleeing Muslim Rohingya, officials said Monday. Saudi-led air strike kills 12 civilians, including seven children An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed 12 civilians, including seven children, in the costal city of Hodeidah on Monday, medics and a witness said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Myanmar authorities have lured dozens of mainly Buddhist Bangladeshi tribal families to cross the border and resettle on land abandoned by fleeing Muslim Rohingya, officials said Monday.

About 50 families from remote hill and forest areas on the Bangladesh side, attracted by offers of free land and food, have moved to Rakhine state in mainly Buddhist Myanmar - the scene of a brutal army crackdown which prompted hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee.

The families from the ethnic Marma and Mro tribes have left their homes in the Bandarban hill district, local councillor Muing Swi Thwee told.&nbsp

He said 22 families departed from their villages in the Sangu forest reserve last month.&nbsp

The families, mainly Buddhist but with some Christians, were being "lured by Myanmar" to Rakhine where they were given free land, citizenship and free food for five years, Muing Swi Thwee said.

"They are going there to fill up the land vacated by the Rohingya who have left Burma (Myanmar). They are extremely poor."

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine for camps in mainly Muslim Bangladesh since Myanmar last August launched a crackdown which US and UN officials have described as ethnic cleansing.

An agreement to repatriate Rohingya has yet to see a single refugee returned. Rohingya leaders have said the refugees will not return unless they are allowed back to their villages, many of which have been torched by security forces, rather than to supposedly temporary resettlement camps.

Two government officials in the region confirmed the migration, saying up to 55 tribal families had left for Myanmar.&nbsp

"They are being lured by some people in Myanmar in return for free homes, free food for five-seven years. Some families have shifted there after being attracted by these offers," Jahangir Alam, a government district administrator, told.&nbsp

He said some of the tribal groups have family in Rakhine and these relatives are being used to woo the Bangladeshi tribals.

"These people have religious and linguistic similarities with Myanmar. Some of their ancestors have settled there in the past," he said.&nbsp

Al Kaiser, another government official, said a tribal man was killed and several family members were injured in a mine blast when they were crossing into Myanmar from the town of Ali Kadam.

Officials said they suspect political motives behind the migration.

"We think perhaps they (Myanmar) want to make some news using these people, that Buddhists are being tortured and repressed in Bangladesh and that's why they have left the country," said one official on condition of anonymity.

A Bangladeshi security officer told AFP that Myanmar had resettled thousands of Buddhists in Rakhine by using a resettlement scheme which offers free food, homes, cows and cash.

Muing Swi Thwee said more than 100 tribal families had left his area for Myanmar in the past three years.

Observers say Myanmar authorities are carrying out methodical social engineering schemes in northern Rakhine in the absence of many of the Rohingya.

A series of development projects, either government and army-sponsored or privately funded, are transforming the area, which the military sees as the frontline of its fight against encroaching Islam.

About 50 families from remote hill and forest areas on the Bangladesh side have moved to Rakhine state in mainly Buddhist Myanmar

Myanmar authorities have lured dozens of mainly Buddhist Bangladeshi tribal families to cross the border and resettle on land abandoned by fleeing Muslim Rohingya, officials said Monday. About 50 families from remote hill and forest areas on the Bangladesh side, attracted by offers of free land and food, have moved to Rakhine state in mainly Buddhist Myanmar - the scene of a brutal army crackdown which prompted hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee. The families from the ethnic Marma and Mro tribes have left their homes in the Bandarban hill district, local councillor Muing Swi Thwee told. He said 22 families departed from their villages in the Sangu forest reserve last month. The families, mainly Buddhist but with some Christians, were being "lured by Myanmar" to Rakhine where they were given free land, citizenship and free food for five years, Muing Swi Thwee said. "They are going there to fill up the land vacated by the Rohingya who have left Burma (Myanmar). They are extremely poor." Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine for camps in mainly Muslim Bangladesh since Myanmar last August launched a crackdown which US and UN officials have described as ethnic cleansing. An agreement to repatriate Rohingya has yet to see a single refugee returned. Rohingya leaders have said the refugees will not return unless they are allowed back to their villages, many of which have been torched by security forces, rather than to supposedly temporary resettlement camps. Two government officials in the region confirmed the migration, saying up to 55 tribal families had left for Myanmar. "They are being lured by some people in Myanmar in return for free homes, free food for five-seven years. Some families have shifted there after being attracted by these offers," Jahangir Alam, a government district administrator, told. He said some of the tribal groups have family in Rakhine and these relatives are being used to woo the Bangladeshi tribals. "These people have religious and linguistic similarities with Myanmar. Some of their ancestors have settled there in the past," he said. Al Kaiser, another government official, said a tribal man was killed and several family members were injured in a mine blast when they were crossing into Myanmar from the town of Ali Kadam. Officials said they suspect political motives behind the migration. "We think perhaps they (Myanmar) want to make some news using these people, that Buddhists are being tortured and repressed in Bangladesh and that's why they have left the country," said one official on condition of anonymity. A Bangladeshi security officer told AFP that Myanmar had resettled thousands of Buddhists in Rakhine by using a resettlement scheme which offers free food, homes, cows and cash. Muing Swi Thwee said more than 100 tribal families had left his area for Myanmar in the past three years. Observers say Myanmar authorities are carrying out methodical social engineering schemes in northern Rakhine in the absence of many of the Rohingya. A series of development projects, either government and army-sponsored or privately funded, are transforming the area, which the military sees as the frontline of its fight against encroaching Islam.

Myanmar lures Bangladesh Buddhists to take over Rohingya land: Officials

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Sunday for her people to remain united, saying the Southeast Asian country faces "challenges" at home and abroad, as she marked two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote.

In a televised speech, Suu Kyi made only a passing reference to the crisis in Rakhine state, where her government 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 Nobel Peace Prize laureate has also struggled to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power in 2016, and is struggling to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and continued fighting with ethnic armed groups.

In the televised address, Suu Kyi urged people to be united. "The world's focus in on Rakhine right now, but we also need to peacefully develop the country."

"We are facing challenges from inside and outside of the country, as we are struggling to develop politics, society and economy," she said.

She also urged people to "respect the intentions and vision of the international community." She did not elaborate.

The civilian government led by Suu Kyi has no control over the military, which launched the crackdown in Rakhine in response to insurgent attacks on security forces in August.

The United States and United Nations have described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Suu Kyi also talked about her number one priority - to end decades of fighting between ethnic rebels and the military, which has kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war since independence in 1948.

"While building peace and stability is the most important requirement for our country, we need the strength of unity," she said.

Two ethnic armed groups in Myanmar signed a ceasefire with the government in February as Suu Kyi sought to revive the stuttering peace process. The Buddhist-majority country has seen the worst fighting with rebels in years since she took office.

Myanmar on Friday swore in a close ally of Suu Kyi as the country's new president after the outgoing president retired. Analysts said the move was unlikely to affect a delicate balance of power between Suu Kyi and the military.

In a televised speech, Suu Kyi made only a passing reference to the crisis in Rakhine state, where her government faces mounting international condemnation for a military operation against Rohingya Muslims

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Sunday for her people to remain united, saying the Southeast Asian country faces "challenges" at home and abroad, as she marked two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote. In a televised speech, Suu Kyi made only a passing reference to the crisis in Rakhine state, where her government 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 Nobel Peace Prize laureate has also struggled to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power in 2016, and is struggling to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and continued fighting with ethnic armed groups. In the televised address, Suu Kyi urged people to be united. "The world's focus in on Rakhine right now, but we also need to peacefully develop the country." "We are facing challenges from inside and outside of the country, as we are struggling to develop politics, society and economy," she said. She also urged people to "respect the intentions and vision of the international community." She did not elaborate. The civilian government led by Suu Kyi has no control over the military, which launched the crackdown in Rakhine in response to insurgent attacks on security forces in August. The United States and United Nations have described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Suu Kyi also talked about her number one priority - to end decades of fighting between ethnic rebels and the military, which has kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war since independence in 1948. "While building peace and stability is the most important requirement for our country, we need the strength of unity," she said. Two ethnic armed groups in Myanmar signed a ceasefire with the government in February as Suu Kyi sought to revive the stuttering peace process. The Buddhist-majority country has seen the worst fighting with rebels in years since she took office. Myanmar on Friday swore in a close ally of Suu Kyi as the country's new president after the outgoing president retired. Analysts said the move was unlikely to affect a delicate balance of power between Suu Kyi and the military.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi urges nation to stay united amid 'challenges'

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible.

In her meeting with World Health Organisation-South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh at the Gono Bhaban here this week, Hasina said Rohingyas were given shelter in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.

She added that it was time that Myanmar should speed up the repatriation process and that the Bangladesh government had completed the biometric registration of the refugees.

"The (Bangladesh) government gave identity cards to Rohingyas so that they could be identified easily and the Myanmar government could take them back," Hasina was quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh as saying.

Hasina further said that Bangladesh was in touch with other countries on the Rohingya issue such as India, China, Thailand and Myanmar.

Praising Bangladesh's efforts on the Rohingya issue, Poonam said that the WHO could collaborate with the country to provide immunisation and medical facilities to the refugees.

Stressing on health and sanitation issues in the Rohingya camps, Poonam added that such issues will be a challenge to tackle them and it had to be done soon before the monsoon season comes in.

Expressing concern over the health condition, sanitation and waterborne diseases of the Rohingyas in the upcoming monsoon, Poonam said it would be a challenging job to tackle the issue.

She urged the government to continue its immunisation activities.Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar.

They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year.

There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible. In her meeting with World Health Organisation-South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh at the Gono Bhaban here this week, Hasina said Rohingyas were given shelter in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds. She added that it was time that Myanmar should speed up the repatriation process and that the Bangladesh government had completed the biometric registration of the refugees. "The (Bangladesh) government gave identity cards to Rohingyas so that they could be identified easily and the Myanmar government could take them back," Hasina was quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh as saying. Hasina further said that Bangladesh was in touch with other countries on the Rohingya issue such as India, China, Thailand and Myanmar. Praising Bangladesh's efforts on the Rohingya issue, Poonam said that the WHO could collaborate with the country to provide immunisation and medical facilities to the refugees. Stressing on health and sanitation issues in the Rohingya camps, Poonam added that such issues will be a challenge to tackle them and it had to be done soon before the monsoon season comes in. Expressing concern over the health condition, sanitation and waterborne diseases of the Rohingyas in the upcoming monsoon, Poonam said it would be a challenging job to tackle the issue. She urged the government to continue its immunisation activities.Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year. There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'.

Bangladesh calls for global pressure on Myanmar to repatriate Rohingyas

Myanmar's new president promised to amend the country's army-written constitution in an inaugural speech Friday, challenging a charter that bans Aung San Suu Kyi from top office and gives the military major powers.

Win Myint, a 66-year-old former political prisoner and staunch ally of Suu Kyi, was elected president on Wednesday after his predecessor suddenly resigned.

Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who championed Myanmar's emergence from junta rule by sweeping 2015 elections, is constitutionally barred from the presidency because she was married to a foreigner.

To circumvent that snag, her party created a new position for her called state counsellor - allowing Suu Kyi to rule "above" the president.

That makes it vital for her to have a reliable proxy in office, especially as she manages the delicate power-sharing arrangement with the military, which ruled the country for almost half a century and remains enormously influential.

In his first address to parliament, the famously straight-talking Win Myint said he would focus on the rule of law, national reconciliation and "amending the constitution to build a democratic federal union".

The three issues are touchstones of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

But talk of amendments to Myanmar's 2008 constitution is likely to raise hackles among Myanmar's still-powerful generals.

The army has ceded some power to the civilian administration but retains 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and total control of security affairs under the charter.

Win Myint also said he would work to "protect human rights", a thorny subject in a country accused of ethnic cleansing by the UN against its Rohingya Muslim population.

A violent military crackdown has forced some 700,000 Rohingya - a long-persecuted stateless minority - over the border into Bangladesh since August.

The army insists the campaign was a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks against border-guard police posts.

Win Myint is part of Suu Kyi's inner circle - the pair campaigned together during the 1988 democracy protests against the then-junta, a movement that was violently suppressed.

For his role Win Myint, alongside many others, was taken, political prisoner.

Suu Kyi is still widely regarded as a pro-democracy heroine in Myanmar even though her reputation lies in tatters globally for failing to speak up on behalf of the country's Rohingya Muslims.

Win Myint, a 66-year-old former political prisoner, was elected president on Wednesday after his predecessor suddenly resigned

Myanmar's new president promised to amend the country's army-written constitution in an inaugural speech Friday, challenging a charter that bans Aung San Suu Kyi from top office and gives the military major powers. Win Myint, a 66-year-old former political prisoner and staunch ally of Suu Kyi, was elected president on Wednesday after his predecessor suddenly resigned. Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who championed Myanmar's emergence from junta rule by sweeping 2015 elections, is constitutionally barred from the presidency because she was married to a foreigner. To circumvent that snag, her party created a new position for her called state counsellor - allowing Suu Kyi to rule "above" the president. That makes it vital for her to have a reliable proxy in office, especially as she manages the delicate power-sharing arrangement with the military, which ruled the country for almost half a century and remains enormously influential. In his first address to parliament, the famously straight-talking Win Myint said he would focus on the rule of law, national reconciliation and "amending the constitution to build a democratic federal union". The three issues are touchstones of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. But talk of amendments to Myanmar's 2008 constitution is likely to raise hackles among Myanmar's still-powerful generals. The army has ceded some power to the civilian administration but retains 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and total control of security affairs under the charter. Win Myint also said he would work to "protect human rights", a thorny subject in a country accused of ethnic cleansing by the UN against its Rohingya Muslim population. A violent military crackdown has forced some 700,000 Rohingya - a long-persecuted stateless minority - over the border into Bangladesh since August. The army insists the campaign was a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks against border-guard police posts. Win Myint is part of Suu Kyi's inner circle - the pair campaigned together during the 1988 democracy protests against the then-junta, a movement that was violently suppressed. For his role Win Myint, alongside many others, was taken, political prisoner. Suu Kyi is still widely regarded as a pro-democracy heroine in Myanmar even though her reputation lies in tatters globally for failing to speak up on behalf of the country's Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar president pledges to amend army-scripted constitution

A Bangladesh official said Thursday that Myanmar had approved several hundred Rohingya from a list of thousands to return to their homeland, but provided no indication of when the long-delayed process would begin.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/who-appeals-for-contributions-for-health-services-to-rohingya-refugees-127032">WHO appeals for contributions for health services to Rohingya refugees</a>

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed in November to repatriate three-quarters of a million Rohingya but the deal has stalled indefinitely, with each side blaming the other for a lack of preparation.

Myanmar has so far approved fewer than 600 names from a list of more than 8,000 refugees provided by Bangladesh. The impoverished South Asian nation is housing nearly a million Rohingya in squalid camps along its southeastern border with Myanmar.

Mohammad Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's top official overseeing the repatriation deal, said Myanmar had given no details about when or if the controversial process was expected to begin.

"No date has been fixed yet," he told reporters. Asked when the process would begin, Kalam said he had "no idea".

The controversial agreement was supposed to start in January but missed the deadline and has dragged since.

It has attracted a firestorm of criticism from rights groups concerned that the persecuted Muslim minority will not be safe in Myanmar.

Under the agreement, refugees given the green light to return must do so voluntarily but many displaced in Bangladesh have rejected the prospect of returning to Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state.

Rohingya have been persecuted in Rakhine for generations and fear the cycle of violence that has driven them into Bangladesh could repeat.

Kalam said Bangladesh would send another list of around 10,000 refugees to Myanmar in coming weeks for verification. Officials from each country are due to meet in April to discuss the process, he added.

But there is scepticism in Bangladesh, and elsewhere, that repatriation will succeed.&nbsp

Myanmar has long marginalised the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and the key infrastructure required for the huge endeavour is yet to be constructed.

Bangladesh and Myanmar had agreed to complete the huge process by November.&nbsp

This month a top Bangladesh cabinet minister, AMA Muhith, said it was unlikely the refugees would ever return, accusing Myanmar of deliberately obstructing the process.

A Bangladesh official said Thursday that Myanmar had approved several hundred Rohingya from a list of thousands to return to their homeland, but provided no indication of when the long-delayed process would begin

A Bangladesh official said Thursday that Myanmar had approved several hundred Rohingya from a list of thousands to return to their homeland, but provided no indication of when the long-delayed process would begin. Also read: WHO appeals for contributions for health services to Rohingya refugees Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed in November to repatriate three-quarters of a million Rohingya but the deal has stalled indefinitely, with each side blaming the other for a lack of preparation. Myanmar has so far approved fewer than 600 names from a list of more than 8,000 refugees provided by Bangladesh. The impoverished South Asian nation is housing nearly a million Rohingya in squalid camps along its southeastern border with Myanmar. Mohammad Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's top official overseeing the repatriation deal, said Myanmar had given no details about when or if the controversial process was expected to begin. "No date has been fixed yet," he told reporters. Asked when the process would begin, Kalam said he had "no idea". The controversial agreement was supposed to start in January but missed the deadline and has dragged since. It has attracted a firestorm of criticism from rights groups concerned that the persecuted Muslim minority will not be safe in Myanmar. Under the agreement, refugees given the green light to return must do so voluntarily but many displaced in Bangladesh have rejected the prospect of returning to Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state. Rohingya have been persecuted in Rakhine for generations and fear the cycle of violence that has driven them into Bangladesh could repeat. Kalam said Bangladesh would send another list of around 10,000 refugees to Myanmar in coming weeks for verification. Officials from each country are due to meet in April to discuss the process, he added. But there is scepticism in Bangladesh, and elsewhere, that repatriation will succeed. Myanmar has long marginalised the Rohingya as illegal immigrants and the key infrastructure required for the huge endeavour is yet to be constructed. Bangladesh and Myanmar had agreed to complete the huge process by November. This month a top Bangladesh cabinet minister, AMA Muhith, said it was unlikely the refugees would ever return, accusing Myanmar of deliberately obstructing the process.

Myanmar clears some Rohingya for return but no date on horizon

Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has joined the legal team representing two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar, who are accused of possessing secret government papers, her office said on Thursday.

A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

The journalists had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in western Myanmar's Rakhine state during an army crackdown that began in August, which has sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.

Lawyers for the two reporters on Wednesday asked the court to throw out the case, saying there was insufficient evidence to support charges against the pair.

"Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news. I have reviewed the case file and it is clear beyond doubt that the two journalists are innocent and should be released immediately," Amal Clooney was quoted as saying in a statement released by her office.

"The outcome of this case will tell us a lot about Myanmar's commitment to the rule of law and freedom of speech," said Clooney, who is married to actor George Clooney.

Zaw Htay, spokesman for Myanmar's civilian government, declined to comment.

Government officials have previously denied the arrests represent an attack on press freedom, which rights advocates say is under growing threat in the Southeast Asian country.

Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, Hau Do Suan, said last month that the Reuters journalists were not arrested for reporting a story, but were accused of "illegally possessing confidential government documents".

Gail Gove, chief counsel of Reuters, said retaining Clooney would strengthen the company's international legal expertise and broaden efforts to secure the release of the reporters.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been in custody since their arrest on Dec. 12.

The pair have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some rolled up papers at a restaurant in northern Yangon by two policemen they had not met before, having been invited to meet the officers for dinner.

The district court in northern Yangon will hear arguments from prosecutors and defence lawyers on the motion to dismiss the case on April 4.

A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has joined the legal team representing two Reuters reporters jailed in Myanmar, who are accused of possessing secret government papers, her office said on Thursday. A court in Yangon has been holding preliminary hearings since January to decide whether Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will be charged under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The journalists had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in western Myanmar's Rakhine state during an army crackdown that began in August, which has sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. Lawyers for the two reporters on Wednesday asked the court to throw out the case, saying there was insufficient evidence to support charges against the pair. "Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news. I have reviewed the case file and it is clear beyond doubt that the two journalists are innocent and should be released immediately," Amal Clooney was quoted as saying in a statement released by her office. "The outcome of this case will tell us a lot about Myanmar's commitment to the rule of law and freedom of speech," said Clooney, who is married to actor George Clooney. Zaw Htay, spokesman for Myanmar's civilian government, declined to comment. Government officials have previously denied the arrests represent an attack on press freedom, which rights advocates say is under growing threat in the Southeast Asian country. Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, Hau Do Suan, said last month that the Reuters journalists were not arrested for reporting a story, but were accused of "illegally possessing confidential government documents". Gail Gove, chief counsel of Reuters, said retaining Clooney would strengthen the company's international legal expertise and broaden efforts to secure the release of the reporters. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been in custody since their arrest on Dec. 12. The pair have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some rolled up papers at a restaurant in northern Yangon by two policemen they had not met before, having been invited to meet the officers for dinner. The district court in northern Yangon will hear arguments from prosecutors and defence lawyers on the motion to dismiss the case on April 4.

Rights lawyer Amal Clooney to represent reporters held in Myanmar

Myanmar elected its new president on Wednesday. Aung San Suu Kyi's loyalist Win Myint was elected by the country's parliament.&nbsp;

A fresh presidential election was necessitated after Myanmar's civilian president Htin Kyaw resigned due to ill health last week. Kyaw was expected to be replaced by Myint, a close ally of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Win Myint has had a tight grip on the parliament and his critics accuse him of stifling democratic debate, including from within the caucus of Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party.&nbsp;

The president is the head of state and government in Myanmar, and under the constitution has far-reaching powers. However, Htin Kyaw's role was more ceremonial because Suu Kyi has been Myanmar's de facto leader since April 2016.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

A fresh presidential election was necessitated after Myanmar's civilian president Htin Kyaw resigned due to ill health

Myanmar elected its new president on Wednesday. Aung San Suu Kyi's loyalist Win Myint was elected by the country's parliament. A fresh presidential election was necessitated after Myanmar's civilian president Htin Kyaw resigned due to ill health last week. Kyaw was expected to be replaced by Myint, a close ally of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Win Myint has had a tight grip on the parliament and his critics accuse him of stifling democratic debate, including from within the caucus of Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The president is the head of state and government in Myanmar, and under the constitution has far-reaching powers. However, Htin Kyaw's role was more ceremonial because Suu Kyi has been Myanmar's de facto leader since April 2016. (With inputs from Reuters)

Myanmar elects Win Myint as new civilian president

Spokesman of Myanmar`s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) U Myo Nyunt has rebuffed reports of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi retiring in the near future.

"There are reports that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would retire. I didn`t say that. I said she would be able to retire soon if party members worked hard. It is what she always says. But it doesn`t mean she will retire soon," the spokesman was quoted as saying by a Burmese news portal.&nbsp;

As per local media reports, NLD chief Suu Kyi told members of her party`s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Saturday that she would like to step down if possible.&nbsp;

Nyunt said that the meeting with CEC members was a social gathering that did not involve discussions on political matters.&nbsp;

Another NLD lawmaker U Nay Myo Tun said that the 73-year-old had said, "she was old and would like to retire as a way of giving her party members friendly encouragement to work harder."

Recently, Suu Kyi cancelled a public speech and question-and-answer session in Sydney, citing ill health.&nbsp;

Says the spokesman of Myanmar`s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) U Myo Nyunt

Spokesman of Myanmar`s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) U Myo Nyunt has rebuffed reports of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi retiring in the near future. "There are reports that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would retire. I didn`t say that. I said she would be able to retire soon if party members worked hard. It is what she always says. But it doesn`t mean she will retire soon," the spokesman was quoted as saying by a Burmese news portal. As per local media reports, NLD chief Suu Kyi told members of her party`s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Saturday that she would like to step down if possible. Nyunt said that the meeting with CEC members was a social gathering that did not involve discussions on political matters. Another NLD lawmaker U Nay Myo Tun said that the 73-year-old had said, "she was old and would like to retire as a way of giving her party members friendly encouragement to work harder." Recently, Suu Kyi cancelled a public speech and question-and-answer session in Sydney, citing ill health.

Aung San Suu Kyi not retiring anytime soon

Two Reuters reporters appeared in a Myanmar court for the 11th time on Wednesday, which marked 100 days since they were arrested in December and accused of possessing secret government papers.

A Yangon court is holding preliminary hearings to decide whether reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will face charges under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

&ldquo;They have been detained in Myanmar since December 12 simply for doing their jobs as journalists,&rdquo; Reuters President and Editor-in-Chief Stephen J Adler said in a statement.

&ldquo;Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are exemplary individuals and outstanding reporters who are dedicated to their families and their craft. They should be in the newsroom, not in prison. We call on the authorities in Myanmar to release them as soon as possible and allow them to return to their families and their jobs.&rdquo;

Government spokespeople have declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing court proceedings.

The journalists have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some rolled up papers after being invited to a restaurant by two officers they had not met before.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had been investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in western Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine state during a military crackdown in August.

The crackdown, which the United Nations has said was ethnic cleansing, has sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.

After the arrests of the reporters, the military admitted its soldiers took part in the killing.

Senior United Nations officials, western nations and press freedom advocates have called for the release of the journalists.

On Wednesday, diplomats from countries including the United States, Canada, Sweden and the European Union were attending the court hearing in Myanmar&rsquo;s largest city, Yangon.

The Danish embassy, which has closely monitored the case, said the pair had spent &ldquo;100 days behind bars for ensuring the public&rsquo;s right to information&rdquo;.

&ldquo;The embassy of Denmark in Myanmar strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to drop all charges against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and to release them immediately,&rdquo; the embassy said before the hearing.

The two reporters, accused of possessing secret government papers, were arrested in December

Two Reuters reporters appeared in a Myanmar court for the 11th time on Wednesday, which marked 100 days since they were arrested in December and accused of possessing secret government papers. A Yangon court is holding preliminary hearings to decide whether reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will face charges under the colonial-era Officials Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. “They have been detained in Myanmar since December 12 simply for doing their jobs as journalists,” Reuters President and Editor-in-Chief Stephen J Adler said in a statement. “Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are exemplary individuals and outstanding reporters who are dedicated to their families and their craft. They should be in the newsroom, not in prison. We call on the authorities in Myanmar to release them as soon as possible and allow them to return to their families and their jobs.” Government spokespeople have declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing court proceedings. The journalists have told relatives they were arrested almost immediately after being handed some rolled up papers after being invited to a restaurant by two officers they had not met before. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had been investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state during a military crackdown in August. The crackdown, which the United Nations has said was ethnic cleansing, has sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. After the arrests of the reporters, the military admitted its soldiers took part in the killing. Senior United Nations officials, western nations and press freedom advocates have called for the release of the journalists. On Wednesday, diplomats from countries including the United States, Canada, Sweden and the European Union were attending the court hearing in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon. The Danish embassy, which has closely monitored the case, said the pair had spent “100 days behind bars for ensuring the public’s right to information”. “The embassy of Denmark in Myanmar strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to drop all charges against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and to release them immediately,” the embassy said before the hearing.

Reuters reporters in court 100 days after their arrest in Myanmar

Myanmar&#39;s President Htin Kyaw resigned suddenly on Wednesday leaving the country&#39;s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi without a close confidant and political ally as she faces rising international opprobrium over the Rakhine crisis.

The president is an old school friend of Suu Kyi, serving as her proxy in an office she was barred from occupying according to Myanmar&#39;s military-drafted constitution.

His role was largely ceremonial given Suu Kyi had awarded herself the title State Counsellor and called the shots within her civilian administration.&nbsp;

But he was nonetheless the country&#39;s head of state and a key domestic ally for Suu Kyi within her party.

Speculation had swirled for months about the health of Htin Kyaw, 72, who had recently lost weight and has had heart problems in the past.&nbsp;

&quot;Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018,&quot; a statement on the president&#39;s official Facebook page said.&nbsp;

His office did not give many details for why he resigned Wednesday, only saying that &quot;he wanted to take a rest from his current duty&quot;.

It added that a new leader will be selected in &quot;within seven working days&quot;. &nbsp;

There were no immediate candidates put forward as long term successors, but several senior party names were floated when Suu Kyi took power.

Myanmar&#39;s Vice President Myint Swe, a former general, will move into the role until a new president is in place, according to the constitution.&nbsp;

Loyal school friend 
Htin Kyaw, the country&rsquo;s first civilian president since 1962, was widely respected and seen as completely loyal to Suu Kyi&#39;s who said she would rule &quot;above&quot; him after he was elected in 2016.&nbsp;

He has stood firmly by her side even as as her reputation lies shattered internationally for not speaking up on behalf of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim community.

A violent military crackdown has forced some 700,000 Rohingya to flee over the border into squalid camps in Bangladesh, in what the UN has branded as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; with possible &quot;hallmarks of genocide&quot;.

The military justifies its campaign as a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks against police posts in August.

The civilian government is in a transitional power-sharing arrangement with the army which still retains huge political and economic power.

The army controls three key ministries - home affairs, borders and defence -- effectively giving the army a carte blanche to conduct any security operations it chooses.

It also has a quarter of legislative seats reserved for officers, giving the military a de facto veto over any constitutional change.&nbsp;

Defenders of Suu Kyi say her government&#39;s hands are tied by the military but critics maintain it could and should have done more to speak up against alleged army atrocities, particularly in Rakhine State.

Htin Kyaw is the son of a revered poet and helped run Suu Kyi&#39;s charitable foundation before taking over the presidency.

According to an official biography, Htin Kyaw studied at the University of London&#39;s Institute of Computer Science from 1971 to 1972. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a varied career he worked as a university teacher and also held positions in the finance and national planning and foreign affairs ministries in the late 1970s and 80s before retiring from government service as the military tightened its grip.

His office did not give many details for why he resigned Wednesday, only saying that 'he wanted to take a rest from his current duty'

Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw resigned suddenly on Wednesday leaving the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi without a close confidant and political ally as she faces rising international opprobrium over the Rakhine crisis. The president is an old school friend of Suu Kyi, serving as her proxy in an office she was barred from occupying according to Myanmar's military-drafted constitution. His role was largely ceremonial given Suu Kyi had awarded herself the title State Counsellor and called the shots within her civilian administration. But he was nonetheless the country's head of state and a key domestic ally for Suu Kyi within her party. Speculation had swirled for months about the health of Htin Kyaw, 72, who had recently lost weight and has had heart problems in the past. "Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018," a statement on the president's official Facebook page said. His office did not give many details for why he resigned Wednesday, only saying that "he wanted to take a rest from his current duty". It added that a new leader will be selected in "within seven working days". There were no immediate candidates put forward as long term successors, but several senior party names were floated when Suu Kyi took power. Myanmar's Vice President Myint Swe, a former general, will move into the role until a new president is in place, according to the constitution. Loyal school friend Htin Kyaw, the country’s first civilian president since 1962, was widely respected and seen as completely loyal to Suu Kyi's who said she would rule "above" him after he was elected in 2016. He has stood firmly by her side even as as her reputation lies shattered internationally for not speaking up on behalf of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim community. A violent military crackdown has forced some 700,000 Rohingya to flee over the border into squalid camps in Bangladesh, in what the UN has branded as "ethnic cleansing" with possible "hallmarks of genocide". The military justifies its campaign as a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks against police posts in August. The civilian government is in a transitional power-sharing arrangement with the army which still retains huge political and economic power. The army controls three key ministries - home affairs, borders and defence -- effectively giving the army a carte blanche to conduct any security operations it chooses. It also has a quarter of legislative seats reserved for officers, giving the military a de facto veto over any constitutional change. Defenders of Suu Kyi say her government's hands are tied by the military but critics maintain it could and should have done more to speak up against alleged army atrocities, particularly in Rakhine State. Htin Kyaw is the son of a revered poet and helped run Suu Kyi's charitable foundation before taking over the presidency. According to an official biography, Htin Kyaw studied at the University of London's Institute of Computer Science from 1971 to 1972. In a varied career he worked as a university teacher and also held positions in the finance and national planning and foreign affairs ministries in the late 1970s and 80s before retiring from government service as the military tightened its grip.

Myanmar President and Suu Kyi confidant Htin Kyaw resigns

Myanmar&#39;s civilian president Htin Kyaw resigned due to ill health on Wednesday and is expected to be replaced by a close ally of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a move unlikely to affect power in a country where the army remains influential.

Htin Kyaw&#39;s office said he was retiring &quot;in order to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities&quot;. Win Myint, a Suu Kyi loyalist who has served as the speaker of the lower house, was likely to replace him, said NLD spokesman Aung Shin.&nbsp;

Win Myint has had a tight grip on the parliament and his critics accuse him of stifling democratic debate, including from within the caucus of Suu Kyi&#39;s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. He resigned from that post on Wednesday.

&quot;He is loyal and has been a member of the NLD since the party was founded,&quot; said Aung Shin, who lauded Win Myint&#39;s performance as the lower house speaker and said he has &quot;worked very well with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during the whole period&quot;.

Suu Kyi is known for keeping her cards close to her chest and operating only with a very narrow group of trusted acolytes. Local media, citing confidential sources, have also reported Win Myint has been tipped to become the next president.

Analysts said the move was forced by the 71-year-old Htin Kyaw&#39;s deteriorating health, and was unrelated to the crisis sparked by the brutal military crackdown that has pushed out hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Speculation over Htin Kyaw`s ill health mounted in recent months over his rapid and visible loss of weight.

&quot;The discussion about the replacement has been around for a while so this was well expected,&quot; said Liu Yun, political analyst from China-based Han Yue Consultancy. &quot;It should have a fairly limited impact on the political equation in Myanmar.&quot;&nbsp;

He said the role of the president &quot;isn&#39;t that influential as Suu Kyi makes the final call, so the impact will be limited.&quot;

Interregnum

According to the country&#39;s constitution, the more senior of two vice presidents will stand in as president until a new leader is elected by parliament within seven working days.

&quot;There&#39;s no doubt as to what the outcome of this will be,&quot; said Richard Horsey, a former United Nations official and Yangon-based analyst.

&quot;The NLD has a strong bloc and a supermajority so whoever is selected as the lower-house candidate will become the next president,&quot; Horsey said.

In the meantime, Myint Swe, who was the military&#39;s appointment for vice-president, will stand in as the acting president.

The president is the head of state and government in Myanmar, and under the constitution has far-reaching powers. However, Htin Kyaw&#39;s role was more ceremonial because Suu Kyi has been Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader since April 2016.

A constitution drafted by the former junta bars Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi from the top office and so she hand-picked Htin Kyaw, a close ally of hers, to become president following a historic landslide victory in 2015.

The charter also reserves for the army one quarter of the seats in parliament and several major cabinet posts, including defense, interior and border affairs, giving it an effective veto over constitutional change and control of security affairs.

One of the key questions facing Myanmar now, according to Horsey, is, &quot;what will the acting president Myint Swe do during the interregnum because he has the power to do many things.&quot;

Horsey said that while Myint Swe will be the top executive for no more than a week, &quot;it may worry some in the NLD that you have the military vice-president in charge of the country.&quot;

Yangon-based diplomats say the relationship between Suu Kyi and the military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, is marked by mistrust and lack of frequent, open communication, highlighting a risk even in the smallest changes to the leadership structure.

Myint Swe is a retired general who headed the feared military intelligence agency under former junta leader Than Shwe. When Than Shwe ordered a crackdown on anti-junta protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007, known as the Saffron Revolution, Myint Swe was the head of special operations in Yangon.

According to the country`s constitution, the more senior of two vice presidents will stand in as president until a new leader is elected

Myanmar's civilian president Htin Kyaw resigned due to ill health on Wednesday and is expected to be replaced by a close ally of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a move unlikely to affect power in a country where the army remains influential. Htin Kyaw's office said he was retiring "in order to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities". Win Myint, a Suu Kyi loyalist who has served as the speaker of the lower house, was likely to replace him, said NLD spokesman Aung Shin. Win Myint has had a tight grip on the parliament and his critics accuse him of stifling democratic debate, including from within the caucus of Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. He resigned from that post on Wednesday. "He is loyal and has been a member of the NLD since the party was founded," said Aung Shin, who lauded Win Myint's performance as the lower house speaker and said he has "worked very well with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during the whole period". Suu Kyi is known for keeping her cards close to her chest and operating only with a very narrow group of trusted acolytes. Local media, citing confidential sources, have also reported Win Myint has been tipped to become the next president. Analysts said the move was forced by the 71-year-old Htin Kyaw's deteriorating health, and was unrelated to the crisis sparked by the brutal military crackdown that has pushed out hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to neighbouring Bangladesh. Speculation over Htin Kyaw`s ill health mounted in recent months over his rapid and visible loss of weight. "The discussion about the replacement has been around for a while so this was well expected," said Liu Yun, political analyst from China-based Han Yue Consultancy. "It should have a fairly limited impact on the political equation in Myanmar." He said the role of the president "isn't that influential as Suu Kyi makes the final call, so the impact will be limited." Interregnum According to the country's constitution, the more senior of two vice presidents will stand in as president until a new leader is elected by parliament within seven working days. "There's no doubt as to what the outcome of this will be," said Richard Horsey, a former United Nations official and Yangon-based analyst. "The NLD has a strong bloc and a supermajority so whoever is selected as the lower-house candidate will become the next president," Horsey said. In the meantime, Myint Swe, who was the military's appointment for vice-president, will stand in as the acting president. The president is the head of state and government in Myanmar, and under the constitution has far-reaching powers. However, Htin Kyaw's role was more ceremonial because Suu Kyi has been Myanmar's de facto leader since April 2016. A constitution drafted by the former junta bars Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi from the top office and so she hand-picked Htin Kyaw, a close ally of hers, to become president following a historic landslide victory in 2015. The charter also reserves for the army one quarter of the seats in parliament and several major cabinet posts, including defense, interior and border affairs, giving it an effective veto over constitutional change and control of security affairs. One of the key questions facing Myanmar now, according to Horsey, is, "what will the acting president Myint Swe do during the interregnum because he has the power to do many things." Horsey said that while Myint Swe will be the top executive for no more than a week, "it may worry some in the NLD that you have the military vice-president in charge of the country." Yangon-based diplomats say the relationship between Suu Kyi and the military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, is marked by mistrust and lack of frequent, open communication, highlighting a risk even in the smallest changes to the leadership structure. Myint Swe is a retired general who headed the feared military intelligence agency under former junta leader Than Shwe. When Than Shwe ordered a crackdown on anti-junta protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007, known as the Saffron Revolution, Myint Swe was the head of special operations in Yangon.

Suu Kyi loyalist Win Myint may become Myanmar president

Supreme Court today refused to pass an interim order on ensuring health and educational facilities for Rohingya refugees in India.

The Centre has told the top court that there has been no discrimination in granting health and educational facilities to Indians and outsiders.

The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in August last year set up camps in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to put up a status report on the condition of Rohingyas in various states in the country.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are &quot;unhygienic&quot; and &quot;filthiest to say the least&quot;.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are "unhygienic" and "filthiest to say the least".

Supreme Court today refused to pass an interim order on ensuring health and educational facilities for Rohingya refugees in India. The Centre has told the top court that there has been no discrimination in granting health and educational facilities to Indians and outsiders. The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in August last year set up camps in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to put up a status report on the condition of Rohingyas in various states in the country. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are "unhygienic" and "filthiest to say the least".

File status report on condition of Rohingyas: Supreme Court to Centre

Rohingya holed up in a border &quot;no man&#39;s land&quot; after fleeing Myanmar will only accept repatriation to their home villages, a local leader said today, rejecting any move to transit camps for fear of long-term confinement.

Some 700,000 Rohingya have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August by a major army crackdown -- purportedly intended to &quot;clear&quot; northern Rakhine state of militants from the Muslim minority.

The UN describes it as a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Muslim Rohingya, an allegation staunchly denied by mainly Buddhist Myanmar.

Overwhelmed by the influx, Bangladesh wants Myanmar to take them back and the neighbours agreed to start repatriating refugees in January. But so far no Rohingya have returned.

Since August several thousand of the Rohingya have been living in tents beyond a barbed-wire fence which roughly demarcates the border zone between the two countries, reliant on NGO food handouts.

Myanmar authorities are pressing hard for their return and have increased troop numbers on their side of the fence, accusing Rohingya militants of infiltrating the camp.

But despite the apparent show of force and looming monsoon rains, a camp leader told reporters they would not bow to pressure to return or to move forward into Bangladesh.

&quot;We have no intention to enter Bangladesh. We are not Bengali... We are Myanmar original citizens,&quot; Dil Mohamed, 51, told reporters through barbed wire in an interview in &quot;no man&#39;s land&quot;, during a government-steered trip through the Maungdaw border district.

Dil said the villagers -- who number around 6,000 -- would return to Myanmar only if they are guaranteed safety, compensation for the homes burned down in the army clearance and permission to resettle in their old villages.

&quot;We don&#39;t want to go to the transit camps. We need to go directly to our homes,&quot; he said, referring to sites set up by Myanmar authorities to process returning refugees.

The international Red Cross currently provides supplies to the group, who collect it by crossing a creek and reaching the Bangladesh side.

Fears abound that transit camps and resettlement villages being built for returnees will effectively become long-term detention centres.

More than 120,000 Rohingya are already confined to squalid camps further south in Myanmar following earlier bouts of communal violence, with their movements strictly controlled.

Myanmar denies any plan to hold Rohingya.

&quot;We don&#39;t have any vision or intention to keep them long,&quot; Ye Htut, the administrator of Maungdaw district, told reporters on Saturday as they were chaperoned around northern Rakhine by government minders.

But the repatriation process appears to be in disarray, with the international community saying continuing insecurity precludes a swift return for the refugees.

Myanmar continues to show off new reception centres and camps for refugees who do eventually return as a sign of its apparent good faith over repatriation.

Development schemes led by the army, powerful Myanmar businessmen and donor-funded ethnic Rakhine groups are abundant across the north of Rakhine, the scene of the worst violence.

Critics say the projects are shaped by military and economic priorities and are often cited on commandeered Rohingya land, effectively excluding the minority from the future of the state.

Myanmar brands the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. It has systematically dismantled their legal rights and access to basic services in Rakhine, a state where many have lived for generations.&nbsp;

The UN describes it as a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Muslim Rohingya

Rohingya holed up in a border "no man's land" after fleeing Myanmar will only accept repatriation to their home villages, a local leader said today, rejecting any move to transit camps for fear of long-term confinement. Some 700,000 Rohingya have been driven into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August by a major army crackdown -- purportedly intended to "clear" northern Rakhine state of militants from the Muslim minority. The UN describes it as a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Muslim Rohingya, an allegation staunchly denied by mainly Buddhist Myanmar. Overwhelmed by the influx, Bangladesh wants Myanmar to take them back and the neighbours agreed to start repatriating refugees in January. But so far no Rohingya have returned. Since August several thousand of the Rohingya have been living in tents beyond a barbed-wire fence which roughly demarcates the border zone between the two countries, reliant on NGO food handouts. Myanmar authorities are pressing hard for their return and have increased troop numbers on their side of the fence, accusing Rohingya militants of infiltrating the camp. But despite the apparent show of force and looming monsoon rains, a camp leader told reporters they would not bow to pressure to return or to move forward into Bangladesh. "We have no intention to enter Bangladesh. We are not Bengali... We are Myanmar original citizens," Dil Mohamed, 51, told reporters through barbed wire in an interview in "no man's land", during a government-steered trip through the Maungdaw border district. Dil said the villagers -- who number around 6,000 -- would return to Myanmar only if they are guaranteed safety, compensation for the homes burned down in the army clearance and permission to resettle in their old villages. "We don't want to go to the transit camps. We need to go directly to our homes," he said, referring to sites set up by Myanmar authorities to process returning refugees. The international Red Cross currently provides supplies to the group, who collect it by crossing a creek and reaching the Bangladesh side. Fears abound that transit camps and resettlement villages being built for returnees will effectively become long-term detention centres. More than 120,000 Rohingya are already confined to squalid camps further south in Myanmar following earlier bouts of communal violence, with their movements strictly controlled. Myanmar denies any plan to hold Rohingya. "We don't have any vision or intention to keep them long," Ye Htut, the administrator of Maungdaw district, told reporters on Saturday as they were chaperoned around northern Rakhine by government minders. But the repatriation process appears to be in disarray, with the international community saying continuing insecurity precludes a swift return for the refugees. Myanmar continues to show off new reception centres and camps for refugees who do eventually return as a sign of its apparent good faith over repatriation. Development schemes led by the army, powerful Myanmar businessmen and donor-funded ethnic Rakhine groups are abundant across the north of Rakhine, the scene of the worst violence. Critics say the projects are shaped by military and economic priorities and are often cited on commandeered Rohingya land, effectively excluding the minority from the future of the state. Myanmar brands the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. It has systematically dismantled their legal rights and access to basic services in Rakhine, a state where many have lived for generations.

Rohingya in 'no man's land' reject return on Myanmar terms: Camp Chief

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi spoke at length about her country&#39;s troubled western state of Rakhine at a Sydney conference on Sunday and appealed to Southeast Asian neighbours for help, Australia&#39;s prime minister said.

&quot;We discussed the situation in Rakhine state at considerable length today,&quot; Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters at the end of a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, much of it held behind closed doors.

&quot;Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively at some considerable length herself... She seeks support from ASEAN and other nations to provide help from a humanitarian and capacity-building point of view,&quot; he said, using a Burmese honorific.

Suu Kyi&#39;s spokesman, Zaw Htay, was not immediately available for comment on Turnbull&#39;s comments.

Turnbull did not tell reporters whether Suu Kyi gave details of what support she was seeking or whether she spoke specifically about violence against the Rohingya, however ASEAN&#39;s Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance has been providing some aid since October.

UN&nbsp;officials say nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh after militant attacks on August 25 last year sparked a crackdown, led by security forces, in Rakhine that the United Nations and United States have said constitutes ethnic cleansing.

The UN&nbsp;independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, said in Geneva this month she saw growing evidence to suspect genocide had been committed.

Myanmar denies the charges and has asked for &quot;clear evidence&quot; of abuses by security forces.

Since coming to power in 2016, Suu Kyi - who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle for democracy - has failed to condemn the violence against the Rohingya.

Australia&#39;s attorney general on Saturday rejected a private bid by activist lawyers to have Suu Kyi face charges for crimes against humanity, saying she has diplomatic immunity.

In response to questions posed by Reuters about the lawyers&#39;&nbsp;move, Suu Kyi spokesman Zaw Htay said earlier in the day such &quot;pressure&quot; was unhelpful in solving the conflict in Rakhine, which he called &quot;the Bengali problem&quot; - using a term to describe the Rohingya that suggests they are interlopers from Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) had instigated the violence with attacks on government forces in October 2016 and August 2017, said Zaw Htay, director general at the State Counsellor&#39;s Office in Myanmar&#39;s capital, Naypyitaw.

&quot;All of this happened because of ARSA. The government did nothing,&quot; he said in response to a question about the legal move.

&quot;Those who are putting pressure like this need to be careful that doesn&#39;t become encouraging terrorists.&quot;

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was a &quot;complex inter-communal situation&quot; which ASEAN leaders would continue to discuss &quot;frankly&quot;.

&quot;It&#39;s an issue which is also in the public attention and it`s one of those where intense public attention sometimes makes it more difficult to solve,&quot; he added.

Suu Kyi&#39;s attendance at the ASEAN summit, hosted by Australia despite it not being a member of the 10-nation bloc, drew street protests in Sydney on Saturday.

Suu Kyi's attendance at the ASEAN summit drew street protests in Sydney on Saturday.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi spoke at length about her country's troubled western state of Rakhine at a Sydney conference on Sunday and appealed to Southeast Asian neighbours for help, Australia's prime minister said. "We discussed the situation in Rakhine state at considerable length today," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters at the end of a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, much of it held behind closed doors. "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively at some considerable length herself... She seeks support from ASEAN and other nations to provide help from a humanitarian and capacity-building point of view," he said, using a Burmese honorific. Suu Kyi's spokesman, Zaw Htay, was not immediately available for comment on Turnbull's comments. Turnbull did not tell reporters whether Suu Kyi gave details of what support she was seeking or whether she spoke specifically about violence against the Rohingya, however ASEAN's Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance has been providing some aid since October. UN officials say nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh after militant attacks on August 25 last year sparked a crackdown, led by security forces, in Rakhine that the United Nations and United States have said constitutes ethnic cleansing. The UN independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, said in Geneva this month she saw growing evidence to suspect genocide had been committed. Myanmar denies the charges and has asked for "clear evidence" of abuses by security forces. Since coming to power in 2016, Suu Kyi - who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle for democracy - has failed to condemn the violence against the Rohingya. Australia's attorney general on Saturday rejected a private bid by activist lawyers to have Suu Kyi face charges for crimes against humanity, saying she has diplomatic immunity. In response to questions posed by Reuters about the lawyers' move, Suu Kyi spokesman Zaw Htay said earlier in the day such "pressure" was unhelpful in solving the conflict in Rakhine, which he called "the Bengali problem" - using a term to describe the Rohingya that suggests they are interlopers from Bangladesh. Militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) had instigated the violence with attacks on government forces in October 2016 and August 2017, said Zaw Htay, director general at the State Counsellor's Office in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw. "All of this happened because of ARSA. The government did nothing," he said in response to a question about the legal move. "Those who are putting pressure like this need to be careful that doesn't become encouraging terrorists." Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was a "complex inter-communal situation" which ASEAN leaders would continue to discuss "frankly". "It's an issue which is also in the public attention and it`s one of those where intense public attention sometimes makes it more difficult to solve," he added. Suu Kyi's attendance at the ASEAN summit, hosted by Australia despite it not being a member of the 10-nation bloc, drew street protests in Sydney on Saturday.

Suu Kyi spoke at length about Myanmar troubles - Turnbull

A Myanmar official in Rakhine state said today that Rohingya refugees who return will not be held in newly-built camps &quot;forever,&quot; as concerns mount over a vexed repatriation process and efforts to reshape communities in the crisis-hit state.

Ye Htut, the administrator of Maungdaw district, was speaking to reporters on a government-chaperoned trip to northern Rakhine, the site of a military crackdown last August that has emptied the region of some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar has been trumpeting its readiness to take back refugees, who are massed across the border in Bangladesh, and built reception centres and transit camps for returnees.

But not a single Rohingya has crossed the border, with the United Nations sounding the alarm that Myanmar must do far more to ensure the safety of a minority that was targeted in an army-led campaign the UN branded &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Rights groups have also raised concerns about how Buddhist-majority Myanmar is reconstructing Rakhine in the Rohingyas&#39; absence, with authorities bulldozing over their burned villages and building new settlements and security posts.

An AFP reporter witnessed a flurry of construction in the region on Saturday, with work crews erecting prefabricated houses along a road leading to Maungdaw town.

Speaking to reporters from his office, Ye Htut insisted that any Rohingya returnees would eventually be resettled close to their original villages after staying in transit camps.

&quot;I can&#39;t ask them to live (at the camps) forever...We don&#39;t have any vision or intention to keep them long,&quot; he said.

The government &quot;will return them back to their native villages or close by,&quot; he added.

But a visit to one of the resettlement sites intended for Rohingya, whom a government official referred to only as Muslims, showed slow progress.

Only three squat houses with concrete and brick foundations had been built in a field covered in churned up dirt and tread marks from heavy machinery.

The site, which lies two hours north of Maungdaw town by car, was chosen for its proximity to the original village, which lay in charred ruins within view.

Myint Khaing, Maungdaw township administrator, said about 100 families were supposed to live in the new site and that it would be completed in two months.

Asked why its construction was not as far along as a settlement 30 minutes away intended for an internally displaced ethnic minority called the Mro, he suggested priority was given to communities that had not fled to Bangladesh.

&quot;They didn&#39;t run away,&quot; he said.

Myanmar has vehemently denied accusations that is trying to erase the Rohingya&#39;s ties to Rakhine, insisting the army crackdown was a targeted assault on Muslim militants.

But the UN and rights groups have pointed to the country&#39;s long history of marginalising and persecuting the Muslim minority, who are denied citizenship and loathed by the Buddhist majority.

More than 100,000 are still languishing in a squalid refugee camp in southern Rakhine state after being displaced by communal violence in 2012.

Yesterday the head of the UN&#39;s refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, said the conditions for the Rohingyas&#39; safe return were not yet in place and that discussions with Myanmar on repatriation &quot;have been pretty basic, not very frequent (and) not very advanced&quot;.

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a deal that was supposed to see repatriation begin in January.

But Myanmar has so far agreed to accept only 374 of 8,000 refugees whose names have been put forward by Dhaka for the initial batch of returnees.

Myanmar has been trumpeting its readiness to take back refugees, who are massed across the border in Bangladesh

A Myanmar official in Rakhine state said today that Rohingya refugees who return will not be held in newly-built camps "forever," as concerns mount over a vexed repatriation process and efforts to reshape communities in the crisis-hit state. Ye Htut, the administrator of Maungdaw district, was speaking to reporters on a government-chaperoned trip to northern Rakhine, the site of a military crackdown last August that has emptied the region of some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar has been trumpeting its readiness to take back refugees, who are massed across the border in Bangladesh, and built reception centres and transit camps for returnees. But not a single Rohingya has crossed the border, with the United Nations sounding the alarm that Myanmar must do far more to ensure the safety of a minority that was targeted in an army-led campaign the UN branded "ethnic cleansing". Rights groups have also raised concerns about how Buddhist-majority Myanmar is reconstructing Rakhine in the Rohingyas' absence, with authorities bulldozing over their burned villages and building new settlements and security posts. An AFP reporter witnessed a flurry of construction in the region on Saturday, with work crews erecting prefabricated houses along a road leading to Maungdaw town. Speaking to reporters from his office, Ye Htut insisted that any Rohingya returnees would eventually be resettled close to their original villages after staying in transit camps. "I can't ask them to live (at the camps) forever...We don't have any vision or intention to keep them long," he said. The government "will return them back to their native villages or close by," he added. But a visit to one of the resettlement sites intended for Rohingya, whom a government official referred to only as Muslims, showed slow progress. Only three squat houses with concrete and brick foundations had been built in a field covered in churned up dirt and tread marks from heavy machinery. The site, which lies two hours north of Maungdaw town by car, was chosen for its proximity to the original village, which lay in charred ruins within view. Myint Khaing, Maungdaw township administrator, said about 100 families were supposed to live in the new site and that it would be completed in two months. Asked why its construction was not as far along as a settlement 30 minutes away intended for an internally displaced ethnic minority called the Mro, he suggested priority was given to communities that had not fled to Bangladesh. "They didn't run away," he said. Myanmar has vehemently denied accusations that is trying to erase the Rohingya's ties to Rakhine, insisting the army crackdown was a targeted assault on Muslim militants. But the UN and rights groups have pointed to the country's long history of marginalising and persecuting the Muslim minority, who are denied citizenship and loathed by the Buddhist majority. More than 100,000 are still languishing in a squalid refugee camp in southern Rakhine state after being displaced by communal violence in 2012. Yesterday the head of the UN's refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, said the conditions for the Rohingyas' safe return were not yet in place and that discussions with Myanmar on repatriation "have been pretty basic, not very frequent (and) not very advanced". Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a deal that was supposed to see repatriation begin in January. But Myanmar has so far agreed to accept only 374 of 8,000 refugees whose names have been put forward by Dhaka for the initial batch of returnees.

Rohingya returnees won't be kept in camps 'forever': Myanmar official

A quick agreement to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar is looking less and less likely, the U.N. refugee chief said on Friday as he launched an almost $1 billion appeal to support the stateless Muslims in camps in Bangladesh for the rest of 2018.

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The United Nations says 671,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state after militant attacks in August sparked a crackdown led by security forces, which a U.N. investigator said bore &quot;the hallmarks of genocide&quot;.

Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said the Rohingya must be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar, but returns could only take place voluntarily and if their rights were guaranteed.

&ldquo;The odds are growing against a solution, an early solution anyway, but this is not a reason for me as High Commissioner for Refugees to give up on this issue,&rdquo; he told a news conference.

&quot;We are very mindful of the fact that this situation may take a long time, and therefore we need to plan for this.&quot;

Asked how long the Rohingya might stay in their camps in Bangladesh at the minimum, Grandi said: &ldquo;I wish I knew.&rdquo;

Last year he had visited another part of Myanmar where displaced people had been stuck in camps for six or seven years. He said the Rohingya could not be subjected to the same fate on a much larger scale.

Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that a first batch of 374 refugees could be repatriated.

He also said Myanmar now considered it was appropriate to invite UNHCR and the U.N. Development Programme into the repatriation process.

Grandi said he still did not have agreement for UNHCR&#39;s involvement, which he said was &quot;crucial, essential and indispensable&quot;.

&quot;The discussions with Myanmar have been pretty basic, not very frequent, not very advanced, but they have continued. This is the way it goes in this situation. It&rsquo;s very difficult,&rdquo; Grandi said.

The government does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens, and Grandi said their rights needed to be established, including citizenship, freedom of movement and access to services.

But first of all the violence had to stop. Although movements into Bangladesh have decreased massively since the flood late last year, they continue to come in smaller numbers, suggesting the situation has still not stabilised, he said.

He also said that other governments should only invest in development projects in Rakhine if they ensured it supported the presence of Rohingyas and did not perpetuate the situation.

Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, said the Rohingya must be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar, but returns could only take place voluntarily and if their rights were guaranteed.

A quick agreement to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar is looking less and less likely, the U.N. refugee chief said on Friday as he launched an almost $1 billion appeal to support the stateless Muslims in camps in Bangladesh for the rest of 2018. × The United Nations says 671,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state after militant attacks in August sparked a crackdown led by security forces, which a U.N. investigator said bore "the hallmarks of genocide". Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said the Rohingya must be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar, but returns could only take place voluntarily and if their rights were guaranteed. “The odds are growing against a solution, an early solution anyway, but this is not a reason for me as High Commissioner for Refugees to give up on this issue,” he told a news conference. "We are very mindful of the fact that this situation may take a long time, and therefore we need to plan for this." Asked how long the Rohingya might stay in their camps in Bangladesh at the minimum, Grandi said: “I wish I knew.” Last year he had visited another part of Myanmar where displaced people had been stuck in camps for six or seven years. He said the Rohingya could not be subjected to the same fate on a much larger scale. Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that a first batch of 374 refugees could be repatriated. He also said Myanmar now considered it was appropriate to invite UNHCR and the U.N. Development Programme into the repatriation process. Grandi said he still did not have agreement for UNHCR's involvement, which he said was "crucial, essential and indispensable". "The discussions with Myanmar have been pretty basic, not very frequent, not very advanced, but they have continued. This is the way it goes in this situation. It’s very difficult,” Grandi said. The government does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens, and Grandi said their rights needed to be established, including citizenship, freedom of movement and access to services. But first of all the violence had to stop. Although movements into Bangladesh have decreased massively since the flood late last year, they continue to come in smaller numbers, suggesting the situation has still not stabilised, he said. He also said that other governments should only invest in development projects in Rakhine if they ensured it supported the presence of Rohingyas and did not perpetuate the situation.

UNHCR chief pessimistic on deal for Rohingya returns to Myanmar

By Christa Stewart*&nbsp;

It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account.

Violent oppression of Myanmar&rsquo;s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar&rsquo;s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as &ldquo;clearance operations&rdquo; against Rohingya &ldquo;terrorists.&rdquo; According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day.

Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar&rsquo;s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators.

In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: &ldquo;I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother &hellip; then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.&rdquo;

Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed.&nbsp;

Directed Attacks&nbsp;

Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage.

The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest &ldquo;stateless&rdquo; community in the world, with around 10% of the world&rsquo;s stateless people residing in Myanmar.&nbsp;

Both Myanmar&rsquo;s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar&rsquo;s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as &ldquo;fake rapes.&rdquo; Meanwhile, when Rakhine State&rsquo;s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: &ldquo;These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances &mdash; do you think they are that attractive to be raped?&rdquo;

In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution.&nbsp;

Safety, Security, Dignity&nbsp;

Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in &ldquo;safety, security and dignity.&rdquo; However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face.

Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement.

As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access.

Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return &mdash; including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity &mdash; a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses.

Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one &mdash; including military officials who are meant to protect civilians &mdash; is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity.&nbsp;

 
*Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women&rsquo;s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer

This <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#starred/1619d70efeff25b7">article</a> was originally published in<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/"> Fair Observer</a>.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The evidence is mounting that Myanmar’s military is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya minority.

By Christa Stewart* It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account. Violent oppression of Myanmar’s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar’s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as “clearance operations” against Rohingya “terrorists.” According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day. Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar’s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators. In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: “I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother … then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.” Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed. Directed Attacks Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice. A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage. The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest “stateless” community in the world, with around 10% of the world’s stateless people residing in Myanmar. Both Myanmar’s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar’s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as “fake rapes.” Meanwhile, when Rakhine State’s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances — do you think they are that attractive to be raped?” In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution. Safety, Security, Dignity Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in “safety, security and dignity.” However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face. Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement. As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access. Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return — including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity — a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses. Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one — including military officials who are meant to protect civilians — is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity. *Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women’s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer This article was originally published in Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: With rape and violence rife, where is justice for Rohingya women

UN human rights investigators <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-to-seek-1billion-for-rohingya-refugee-effort-in-bangladesh-35410">have held Facebook responsible</a> for the spread of hate speech in the large-scale violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar.

&quot;It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict, if you will, within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that,&quot; Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said.

&quot;As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media,&quot; he added.

Another UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar and it was widely used by the government to convey information.

&quot;It was used to convey public messages but we know that the ultra-nationalist Buddhists have their own Facebooks and are really inciting a lot of violence and a lot of hatred against the Rohingya or other ethnic minorities,&quot; she said.

&quot;I&rsquo;m afraid that Facebook has now turned into a beast, and not what it originally intended,&quot; she observed.

&nbsp;

UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar

UN human rights investigators have held Facebook responsible for the spread of hate speech in the large-scale violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar. "It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict, if you will, within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said. "As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media," he added. Another UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar and it was widely used by the government to convey information. "It was used to convey public messages but we know that the ultra-nationalist Buddhists have their own Facebooks and are really inciting a lot of violence and a lot of hatred against the Rohingya or other ethnic minorities," she said. "I’m afraid that Facebook has now turned into a beast, and not what it originally intended," she observed.

Facebook turned into a beast, ultra-nationalist Buddhists using it to spread hatred against Rohingyas: UN

Myanmar is building security installations on top of razed Rohingya villages, Amnesty International said Monday, casting doubt on the country&#39;s plans to repatriate hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh since Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on insurgents six months ago that the US and UN have called ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar rejects that accusation, saying it was responding to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in late August.&nbsp;

But critics accuse the military of using the insurgent attacks to launch disproportionate, scorched-earth &quot;clearance operations&quot; as a pretext to push out the loathed minority.

The new Amnesty report, &quot;Remaking Rakhine State,&quot; uses satellite imagery and interviews to point to a rapid increase in military infrastructure and other construction since the start of the year that researchers say amounts to a &quot;land grab&quot;.

&quot;The new evidence and the rebuilding that Amnesty has documented in our latest research shows that the Myanmar authorities are building over the top of the very places the Rohingya need to return to,&quot; Tirana Hassan, Amnesty&#39;s crisis response director, told AFP ahead of the report&#39;s release on Monday.

&quot;In some instances there has been the destruction of existing homes.&quot;

Though admitting the images only paint a partial picture, the rights group says structures for security forces, helipads and even roads have been built in and around torched Rohingya properties.

Satellite imagery of one village called Kan Kya on the outskirts of Rakhine&#39;s Maungdaw town taken two months after the August attacks shows a settlement scarred by fire.

But by early March buildings could be seen on the revamped land. Amnesty believes they are part of a new base for security forces.&nbsp;

Similar building activity was also detected in Inn Din village, where Myanmar has admitted that its security forces took part in the killings of 10 Rohingya residents in September.&nbsp;

Rakhine state has been largely sealed off from rights groups, the media and UN investigators.

Myanmar and Bangladesh were supposed to start repatriating Rohingya refugees in late January but many are reluctant to return to a place without guarantees of basic rights and safety.

The report also highlights concerns that abandoned Rohingya land will be set aside for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and other non-Muslim groups in the area, and that alterations to the landscape will erase evidence of alleged atrocities by the military.

Myanmar officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Myanmar has denied claims it is covering up evidence, saying it is improving the standard of living in one of the poorest states in the country.

Myanmar rejects that accusation, saying it was responding to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in late August

Myanmar is building security installations on top of razed Rohingya villages, Amnesty International said Monday, casting doubt on the country's plans to repatriate hundreds of thousands of refugees. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh since Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on insurgents six months ago that the US and UN have called ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that accusation, saying it was responding to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in late August. But critics accuse the military of using the insurgent attacks to launch disproportionate, scorched-earth "clearance operations" as a pretext to push out the loathed minority. The new Amnesty report, "Remaking Rakhine State," uses satellite imagery and interviews to point to a rapid increase in military infrastructure and other construction since the start of the year that researchers say amounts to a "land grab". "The new evidence and the rebuilding that Amnesty has documented in our latest research shows that the Myanmar authorities are building over the top of the very places the Rohingya need to return to," Tirana Hassan, Amnesty's crisis response director, told AFP ahead of the report's release on Monday. "In some instances there has been the destruction of existing homes." Though admitting the images only paint a partial picture, the rights group says structures for security forces, helipads and even roads have been built in and around torched Rohingya properties. Satellite imagery of one village called Kan Kya on the outskirts of Rakhine's Maungdaw town taken two months after the August attacks shows a settlement scarred by fire. But by early March buildings could be seen on the revamped land. Amnesty believes they are part of a new base for security forces. Similar building activity was also detected in Inn Din village, where Myanmar has admitted that its security forces took part in the killings of 10 Rohingya residents in September. Rakhine state has been largely sealed off from rights groups, the media and UN investigators. Myanmar and Bangladesh were supposed to start repatriating Rohingya refugees in late January but many are reluctant to return to a place without guarantees of basic rights and safety. The report also highlights concerns that abandoned Rohingya land will be set aside for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and other non-Muslim groups in the area, and that alterations to the landscape will erase evidence of alleged atrocities by the military. Myanmar officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Myanmar has denied claims it is covering up evidence, saying it is improving the standard of living in one of the poorest states in the country.

Myanmar erects security structures atop burned Rohingya land: Amnesty

Myanmar is allegedly building military bases on the top of razed Rohingya villages, where the Rohingyas once lived before their persecution by the country&#39;s security forces in August last year.

The development has raised questions over the safety of hundreds of thousands of persecuted Rohingyas due to be repatriated from neighbouring Bangladesh to Myanmar.

According to detailed satellite images published by Amnesty International on Monday, it appeared to show &quot;new security infrastructure&quot; replacing the burnt homes of the refugees, after Myanmarese forces launched a brutal campaign against the Rohingyas, which the United Nations has described the violence as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Tirana Hassan, Amnesty&#39;s crisis response director, said, &quot;The remaking of Rakhine State (in Myanmar) is taking place in a shroud of secrecy. The authorities cannot be allowed to continue their campaign of ethnic cleansing in the name of &#39;development&#39;.&quot;

Amnesty&#39;s analysis of new satellite imagery appears to prove that at least three new security bases have been built in Rakhine since January, while more were found to be under construction, The Telegraph reported.

Hassan added, &quot;What we are seeing is a land grab by the military on a dramatic scale. New bases are being erected to house the very same security forces that have committed crimes against humanity against Rohingyas.&quot;

The images also show new refugee reception centres surrounded by the new security fences and a heavy presence of military forces, raising concerns that Myanmar is preparing to restrict the freedom of the Rohingya refugees returning home to safety.

In January, Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed on a two-year timeframe for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

An estimated 7,00,000 Rohingyas have fled the country in an attempt to escape the atrocities committed by Myanmar&#39;s military forces against the minority community.

The process, which was supposed to start from January 22 was delayed as some critics of the deal voiced concerns over the lack of security guarantees for those who would return.

Despite the ongoing preparations for repatriation, more than 2,500 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh this year.

According to Bangladesh government&#39;s statistics, an average of 75 Rohingya refugees fled their villages in Myanmar every day between January 1 and February 15.

Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.

Hassan added, "What we are seeing is a land grab by the military on a dramatic scale. New bases are being erected to house the very same security forces that have committed crimes against humanity against Rohingyas."

Myanmar is allegedly building military bases on the top of razed Rohingya villages, where the Rohingyas once lived before their persecution by the country's security forces in August last year. The development has raised questions over the safety of hundreds of thousands of persecuted Rohingyas due to be repatriated from neighbouring Bangladesh to Myanmar. According to detailed satellite images published by Amnesty International on Monday, it appeared to show "new security infrastructure" replacing the burnt homes of the refugees, after Myanmarese forces launched a brutal campaign against the Rohingyas, which the United Nations has described the violence as "ethnic cleansing". Tirana Hassan, Amnesty's crisis response director, said, "The remaking of Rakhine State (in Myanmar) is taking place in a shroud of secrecy. The authorities cannot be allowed to continue their campaign of ethnic cleansing in the name of 'development'." Amnesty's analysis of new satellite imagery appears to prove that at least three new security bases have been built in Rakhine since January, while more were found to be under construction, The Telegraph reported. Hassan added, "What we are seeing is a land grab by the military on a dramatic scale. New bases are being erected to house the very same security forces that have committed crimes against humanity against Rohingyas." The images also show new refugee reception centres surrounded by the new security fences and a heavy presence of military forces, raising concerns that Myanmar is preparing to restrict the freedom of the Rohingya refugees returning home to safety. In January, Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed on a two-year timeframe for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. An estimated 7,00,000 Rohingyas have fled the country in an attempt to escape the atrocities committed by Myanmar's military forces against the minority community. The process, which was supposed to start from January 22 was delayed as some critics of the deal voiced concerns over the lack of security guarantees for those who would return. Despite the ongoing preparations for repatriation, more than 2,500 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh this year. According to Bangladesh government's statistics, an average of 75 Rohingya refugees fled their villages in Myanmar every day between January 1 and February 15. Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.

Myanmar building military bases in burnt Rohingya villages

An ultra-nationalist Myanmar monk was released from prison on Friday after serving time for inciting unrest in an anti-Rohingya protest in 2016, a rare punishment handed to one of the country`s hardline Buddhist clergymen.

Parmaukkha, who was handed a three-month jail term, has helped peddle a fiery brand of Buddhist nationalism and Islamophobia in Myanmar, a country accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims.&nbsp;

The monk was arrested in November over a rally he held outside the US Embassy in Yangon in April 2016 to protest against America`s use of the word &quot;Rohingya&quot;.&nbsp;

The Buddhist-majority nation refuses to recognise the Rohingya as citizens, referring pejoratively to the community as &quot;Bengalis&quot; and insisting they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

On Friday several dozen supporters cheered and scattered petals in front of Parmaukkha as he walked out of Yangon`s notorious Insein prison at dawn before heading to pray at the city`s iconic Shwedagon Pagoda.

&quot;He has work to do...I love everything he does for religion and the nation,&quot; said Aye Lay, a 32-year-old supporter.

Anti-Muslim hate speech has been brewing in Myanmar for several years, often spilling over into bouts of bloodshed.

Religious hatred has surged in the wake of a ruthless military crackdown that has compelled 700,000 Rohingya to flee the country since August.&nbsp;

The UN says the campaign amounts to ethnic cleansing and possible genocide.

But many in the Buddhist majority support the crackdown, which the army says was needed to crush a Rohingya militant uprising.&nbsp;

Over the past year, religious authorities have taken some steps to curb the influence of ultra-nationalist monks like Parmaukkha.

His release on Friday coincides with the end of a year-long public speaking ban on Wirathu - another firebrand monk known as the face of Myanmar`s Buddhist nationalist movement.&nbsp;

Wirathu, once dubbed the &quot;Buddhist Bin Laden&quot;, was barred from giving public sermons last year by a council of senior monks who said he had &quot;repeatedly delivered hate speech against religions to cause communal strife.&quot;

The monk was also recently kicked off Facebook, where he had amassed a huge following with incendiary anti-Muslim posts.

The social media giant said it took down his page in January in accordance with a policy that prohibits &quot;people dedicated to promoting hatred and violence against others&quot;.

He was arrested in November over a rally he held outside the US Embassy in Yangon in April 2016 to protest against America`s use of the word "Rohingya"

An ultra-nationalist Myanmar monk was released from prison on Friday after serving time for inciting unrest in an anti-Rohingya protest in 2016, a rare punishment handed to one of the country`s hardline Buddhist clergymen. Parmaukkha, who was handed a three-month jail term, has helped peddle a fiery brand of Buddhist nationalism and Islamophobia in Myanmar, a country accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims. The monk was arrested in November over a rally he held outside the US Embassy in Yangon in April 2016 to protest against America`s use of the word "Rohingya". The Buddhist-majority nation refuses to recognise the Rohingya as citizens, referring pejoratively to the community as "Bengalis" and insisting they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. On Friday several dozen supporters cheered and scattered petals in front of Parmaukkha as he walked out of Yangon`s notorious Insein prison at dawn before heading to pray at the city`s iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. "He has work to do...I love everything he does for religion and the nation," said Aye Lay, a 32-year-old supporter. Anti-Muslim hate speech has been brewing in Myanmar for several years, often spilling over into bouts of bloodshed. Religious hatred has surged in the wake of a ruthless military crackdown that has compelled 700,000 Rohingya to flee the country since August. The UN says the campaign amounts to ethnic cleansing and possible genocide. But many in the Buddhist majority support the crackdown, which the army says was needed to crush a Rohingya militant uprising. Over the past year, religious authorities have taken some steps to curb the influence of ultra-nationalist monks like Parmaukkha. His release on Friday coincides with the end of a year-long public speaking ban on Wirathu - another firebrand monk known as the face of Myanmar`s Buddhist nationalist movement. Wirathu, once dubbed the "Buddhist Bin Laden", was barred from giving public sermons last year by a council of senior monks who said he had "repeatedly delivered hate speech against religions to cause communal strife." The monk was also recently kicked off Facebook, where he had amassed a huge following with incendiary anti-Muslim posts. The social media giant said it took down his page in January in accordance with a policy that prohibits "people dedicated to promoting hatred and violence against others".

Ultra-nationalist Myanmar monk walks free from prison

Myanmar wants to see clear evidence to support accusations that ethnic cleansing or genocide has been perpetrated against its Muslim minority in Rakhine state, National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said on Thursday.

&quot;The vast majority of the Muslim community that was living in Rakhine remain,&quot; he told reporters in Geneva. &quot;If it was a genocide, they would all be driven out.&rdquo;

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine into neighbouring Bangladesh since insurgent attacks sparked a security crackdown in August, joining 200,000 refugees from a previous exodus.

On Wednesday, UN&nbsp;human rights chief Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein said he strongly suspected &quot;acts of genocide&quot;, while Myanmar&#39;s military published a lengthy response to widespread allegations over its campaign in Rakhine, saying its investigations had cleared troops of almost all alleged abuses.

Zeid told the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council that reports of bulldozing of alleged mass graves were a &quot;deliberate attempt by the authorities to destroy evidence of potential international crimes, including possible crimes against humanity&quot;.

Thaung Tun said charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide were very serious and should not be bandied about lightly.

&quot;We have often heard many accusations that there is ethnic cleansing or even genocide in Myanmar. And I&rsquo;ve said it before and I&rsquo;ll say it again &ndash; it is not the policy of the government, and this we can assure you. Although there are accusations, we would like to have clear evidence,&quot; he said.

&quot;We should look into that before making a pronouncement on whether there is ethnic cleansing or genocide.&quot;

Myanmar has not allowed UN&nbsp;investigators into the country to investigate. A U.N. fact-finding mission is due to report on Monday on its initial findings, based on interviews with victims and survivors in Bangladesh and other countries.

Thaung Tun added that Myanmar was willing to accept back people who had fled and provide safety and dignity for them, showing that it did not want them out of the country, and that only a minority of Rakhine&#39;s population of 3 million had left.

He said the Muslims who fled largely did so because the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) armed group had sowed fear. He accused ARSA of having forced villagers to join their attacks on the security forces and had insisted on a scorched earth policy, burning villages in retreat.

Rohingya trace their presence in Rakhine back centuries. But most people in majority-Buddhist Myanmar consider them to be unwanted Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. The army refers to the Rohingya as &quot;Bengalis,&quot; and most lack citizenship.

Thaung Tun said former residents would be welcomed back if they were willing to &quot;participate in the life of the nation&quot;, for example by learning the Burmese language.

&quot;Those who want to become citizens of Myanmar, we are happy to welcome them, but they have to go through a process. There cannot be automatic citizenship,&quot; he said.

On Wednesday, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said he strongly suspected 'acts of genocide'

Myanmar wants to see clear evidence to support accusations that ethnic cleansing or genocide has been perpetrated against its Muslim minority in Rakhine state, National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said on Thursday. "The vast majority of the Muslim community that was living in Rakhine remain," he told reporters in Geneva. "If it was a genocide, they would all be driven out.” Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine into neighbouring Bangladesh since insurgent attacks sparked a security crackdown in August, joining 200,000 refugees from a previous exodus. On Wednesday, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said he strongly suspected "acts of genocide", while Myanmar's military published a lengthy response to widespread allegations over its campaign in Rakhine, saying its investigations had cleared troops of almost all alleged abuses. Zeid told the UN Human Rights Council that reports of bulldozing of alleged mass graves were a "deliberate attempt by the authorities to destroy evidence of potential international crimes, including possible crimes against humanity". Thaung Tun said charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide were very serious and should not be bandied about lightly. "We have often heard many accusations that there is ethnic cleansing or even genocide in Myanmar. And I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it is not the policy of the government, and this we can assure you. Although there are accusations, we would like to have clear evidence," he said. "We should look into that before making a pronouncement on whether there is ethnic cleansing or genocide." Myanmar has not allowed UN investigators into the country to investigate. A U.N. fact-finding mission is due to report on Monday on its initial findings, based on interviews with victims and survivors in Bangladesh and other countries. Thaung Tun added that Myanmar was willing to accept back people who had fled and provide safety and dignity for them, showing that it did not want them out of the country, and that only a minority of Rakhine's population of 3 million had left. He said the Muslims who fled largely did so because the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) armed group had sowed fear. He accused ARSA of having forced villagers to join their attacks on the security forces and had insisted on a scorched earth policy, burning villages in retreat. Rohingya trace their presence in Rakhine back centuries. But most people in majority-Buddhist Myanmar consider them to be unwanted Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. The army refers to the Rohingya as "Bengalis," and most lack citizenship. Thaung Tun said former residents would be welcomed back if they were willing to "participate in the life of the nation", for example by learning the Burmese language. "Those who want to become citizens of Myanmar, we are happy to welcome them, but they have to go through a process. There cannot be automatic citizenship," he said.

Myanmar says it would like to see 'clear evidence' of genocide

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum has said it was stripping Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of a prestigious human rights award, accusing her of doing little to halt the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign against the country&#39;s military dictatorship, was awarded the Holocaust Museum&#39;s Elie Wiesel award six years ago &quot;for her courageous leadership and great personal sacrifice in resisting tyranny and advancing the freedom and dignity of the Burmese people.&quot;

But the Museum said it was rescinding the award due to her inaction over what it called &quot;mounting evidence of genocide&quot; committed by the Myanmar military against civilians from the Rohingya minority.

&quot;As the military&#39;s attacks against the Rohingya unfolded in 2016 and 2017, we had hoped that you -- as someone we and many others have celebrated for your commitment to human dignity and universal human rights -- would have done something to condemn and stop the military&#39;s brutal campaign and to express solidarity with the targeted Rohingya population,&quot; the museum said in a letter to Suu Kyi.

Instead, it said, her political party, the National League for Democracy, has refused to cooperate with UN investigators and added to the anti-Rohingya rhetoric. 
The party has also obstructed journalists trying to report on the mass murder and expulsion to Bangladesh of the Rohingya.

&quot;The military&#39;s orchestration of the crimes against Rohingya and the severity of the atrocities in recent months demand that you use your moral authority to address this situation,&quot; they said.

In November a joint report by the Museum and Southeast Asia-based watchdog Fortify Rights -- based on testimony they gathered in the field -- documented &quot;widespread and systematic attacks&quot; on Rohingya civilians.

The award was named after Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi genocide against Jews who spent much of his life campaigning for human rights, himself winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

Suu Kyi, the country&#39;s symbol of democracy for decades, has come under heavy criticism for her refusal to stand up for the Rohingya.

In January US diplomat Bill Richardson resigned from a Suu Kyi-appointed panel set up to ease tensions with the Rohingya, assailing her for an &quot;absence of moral leadership.&quot;

About 700,000 Rohingya have fled over the border to Bangladesh since August, with horrifying testimony of murder, rape and arson by soldiers and vigilante mobs.

In Geneva on Wednesday the UN human rights chief Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein called for a new body tasked with preparing criminal indictments over the Myanmar atrocities.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign against the country's military dictatorship

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum has said it was stripping Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of a prestigious human rights award, accusing her of doing little to halt the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign against the country's military dictatorship, was awarded the Holocaust Museum's Elie Wiesel award six years ago "for her courageous leadership and great personal sacrifice in resisting tyranny and advancing the freedom and dignity of the Burmese people." But the Museum said it was rescinding the award due to her inaction over what it called "mounting evidence of genocide" committed by the Myanmar military against civilians from the Rohingya minority. "As the military's attacks against the Rohingya unfolded in 2016 and 2017, we had hoped that you -- as someone we and many others have celebrated for your commitment to human dignity and universal human rights -- would have done something to condemn and stop the military's brutal campaign and to express solidarity with the targeted Rohingya population," the museum said in a letter to Suu Kyi. Instead, it said, her political party, the National League for Democracy, has refused to cooperate with UN investigators and added to the anti-Rohingya rhetoric. The party has also obstructed journalists trying to report on the mass murder and expulsion to Bangladesh of the Rohingya. "The military's orchestration of the crimes against Rohingya and the severity of the atrocities in recent months demand that you use your moral authority to address this situation," they said. In November a joint report by the Museum and Southeast Asia-based watchdog Fortify Rights -- based on testimony they gathered in the field -- documented "widespread and systematic attacks" on Rohingya civilians. The award was named after Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi genocide against Jews who spent much of his life campaigning for human rights, himself winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Suu Kyi, the country's symbol of democracy for decades, has come under heavy criticism for her refusal to stand up for the Rohingya. In January US diplomat Bill Richardson resigned from a Suu Kyi-appointed panel set up to ease tensions with the Rohingya, assailing her for an "absence of moral leadership." About 700,000 Rohingya have fled over the border to Bangladesh since August, with horrifying testimony of murder, rape and arson by soldiers and vigilante mobs. In Geneva on Wednesday the UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called for a new body tasked with preparing criminal indictments over the Myanmar atrocities.

US Holocaust Museum strips Myanmar's Suu Kyi of rights award

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