A senior Bangladesh cabinet minister has accused Myanmar of obstructing efforts to repatriate roughly 750,000 Rohingya refugees, saying it was unlikely the displaced Muslims would ever return to their homeland.

Finance minister AMA Muhith said the repatriation deal signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh in November would likely fail despite his government&#39;s official stance that the refugees must eventually go back.

&quot;I do not believe that the Rohingya can be sent back,&quot; Muhith, an outspoken minister from the ruling party, told reporters late Tuesday in Dhaka after meeting with a British charity.

&quot;You can speculate that very few will return to Burma. The first reason is that Burma will only take a few and secondly is that the refugees will never return if they fear persecution,&quot; he added, using another name for Myanmar.

Bangladesh insists the repatriation process will go ahead, last month submitting to Myanmar the names of 8,000 refugees expected to return to Rakhine state where the Muslim minority has been persecuted for generations.

But the plan has courted controversy from the outset.

Rights groups and the UN have warned that conditions for their return are not close to being in place.

Refugees living in camps in southeastern Bangladesh have also resisted the idea, fearing they will not be safe if they return to Rakhine.

Close to one million refugees from the persecuted Muslim minority live in squalid camps in Cox&#39;s Bazar, having fled successive waves of violence in Myanmar&#39;s westernmost region.

Under the agreement, the first of a proposed 750,000 returnees were scheduled to begin crossing the border in late January.

But the process stalled, with Myanmar and Bangladesh blaming the other for a lack of preparedness for the huge undertaking.

Muhith said Myanmar would &quot;take 15 a day when there is one million&quot;, referring to the Rohingya in camps strung along the border.

&quot;They (Myanmar) are absolute evil,&quot; he added.

A UN human rights envoy said on Tuesday that Myanmar was continuing its &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of the Rohingya with a &quot;campaign of terror and forced starvation&quot; in Rakhine state.

Rohingya are still streaming across the border from Rakhine state more than six months after a Myanmar army crackdown sparked a massive refugee crisis.&nbsp;

"I do not believe that the Rohingya can be sent back," Muhith

A senior Bangladesh cabinet minister has accused Myanmar of obstructing efforts to repatriate roughly 750,000 Rohingya refugees, saying it was unlikely the displaced Muslims would ever return to their homeland. Finance minister AMA Muhith said the repatriation deal signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh in November would likely fail despite his government's official stance that the refugees must eventually go back. "I do not believe that the Rohingya can be sent back," Muhith, an outspoken minister from the ruling party, told reporters late Tuesday in Dhaka after meeting with a British charity. "You can speculate that very few will return to Burma. The first reason is that Burma will only take a few and secondly is that the refugees will never return if they fear persecution," he added, using another name for Myanmar. Bangladesh insists the repatriation process will go ahead, last month submitting to Myanmar the names of 8,000 refugees expected to return to Rakhine state where the Muslim minority has been persecuted for generations. But the plan has courted controversy from the outset. Rights groups and the UN have warned that conditions for their return are not close to being in place. Refugees living in camps in southeastern Bangladesh have also resisted the idea, fearing they will not be safe if they return to Rakhine. Close to one million refugees from the persecuted Muslim minority live in squalid camps in Cox's Bazar, having fled successive waves of violence in Myanmar's westernmost region. Under the agreement, the first of a proposed 750,000 returnees were scheduled to begin crossing the border in late January. But the process stalled, with Myanmar and Bangladesh blaming the other for a lack of preparedness for the huge undertaking. Muhith said Myanmar would "take 15 a day when there is one million", referring to the Rohingya in camps strung along the border. "They (Myanmar) are absolute evil," he added. A UN human rights envoy said on Tuesday that Myanmar was continuing its "ethnic cleansing" of the Rohingya with a "campaign of terror and forced starvation" in Rakhine state. Rohingya are still streaming across the border from Rakhine state more than six months after a Myanmar army crackdown sparked a massive refugee crisis.

Bangladesh minister says Rohingya repatriation unlikely to succeed

Hundreds of people marched through Myanmar&#39;s largest city Yangon to oppose amendments to a protest law. Activists fear new law would limit free speech.

Amendments to the 2011 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession law proposes maximum three-year prison term for those hold protests and demonstrations that challenge the security and rule of the land.

As per the amendment, organisers of the protests will be required to provide details of the budget and source of their funds in order to be able to stage any protest or demonstration.

The changes to the law are being backed by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi&#39;s ruling party, National League for Democracy.&nbsp;

&ldquo;If they are trying to make it difficult to protest, the authorities that rule the country - the parliament, judiciary and government - cannot hear the true opinions of the people,&rdquo; said Zaw Yan, a farmers&#39; rights activist.

Nearly 190 Myanmar civil society groups have signed a petition against the amendment.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

Activists fear new law would limit free speech

Hundreds of people marched through Myanmar's largest city Yangon to oppose amendments to a protest law. Activists fear new law would limit free speech. Amendments to the 2011 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession law proposes maximum three-year prison term for those hold protests and demonstrations that challenge the security and rule of the land. As per the amendment, organisers of the protests will be required to provide details of the budget and source of their funds in order to be able to stage any protest or demonstration. The changes to the law are being backed by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling party, National League for Democracy. “If they are trying to make it difficult to protest, the authorities that rule the country - the parliament, judiciary and government - cannot hear the true opinions of the people,” said Zaw Yan, a farmers' rights activist. Nearly 190 Myanmar civil society groups have signed a petition against the amendment. (With inputs from Reuters)

Myanmar: Locals stage protests as parliament debates new curbs on demonstrations

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour said that Myanmar&#39;s &#39;ethnic cleansing&#39; continues. Gilmour&#39;s comments came after a four-day visit to refugee camps in Cox&#39;s Bazar, Bangladesh on Tuesday.&nbsp;

&quot;The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya from Myanmar continues. I don&#39;t think we can draw any other conclusion from what I have seen and heard in Cox&#39;s Bazar,&quot; Gilmour said.&nbsp;

&quot;It appears that widespread and systematic violence against the Rohingya persists,&quot; Gilmour added in a statement.

&quot;The nature of the violence has changed from the frenzied blood-letting and mass rape of last year to a lower intensity campaign of terror and forced starvation that seems to be designed to drive the remaining Rohingya from their homes and into Bangladesh.&quot;&nbsp;

Insurgent attacks in Myanmar, carried out almost six months back, sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Insurgent attacks in Myanmar, carried out almost six months back, sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour said that Myanmar's 'ethnic cleansing' continues. Gilmour's comments came after a four-day visit to refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on Tuesday. "The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya from Myanmar continues. I don't think we can draw any other conclusion from what I have seen and heard in Cox's Bazar," Gilmour said. "It appears that widespread and systematic violence against the Rohingya persists," Gilmour added in a statement. "The nature of the violence has changed from the frenzied blood-letting and mass rape of last year to a lower intensity campaign of terror and forced starvation that seems to be designed to drive the remaining Rohingya from their homes and into Bangladesh." Insurgent attacks in Myanmar, carried out almost six months back, sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar's 'ethnic cleansing' of Rohingya continues: UN human rights official

Myanmar`s &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of Rohingya Muslims is continuing, a senior UN human rights official said on Tuesday, more than six months after insurgent attacks sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh.

Andrew Gilmour, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, made the comment after a four-day visit to the Cox`s Bazar district in neighboring Bangladesh, where he met people who have fled from Myanmar recently.

&quot;I don`t think we can draw any other conclusion from what I have seen and heard in Cox`s Bazar,&quot; Gilmour said in a statement.&nbsp;

After Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 police posts and an army base on August 25, Myanmar soldiers and police swept through villages in what the government says was a legitimate operation to root out &quot;terrorists&quot;.

Rohingya who sought shelter in Bangladesh have reported rape, killings, and arson by security forces. The United Nations and the United States have concluded the campaign amounted to ethnic cleansing.

Gilmour spoke to refugees who recounted abductions by security forces and at least one apparent death of a Rohingya man in custody in February, the statement said.

&quot;It appears that widespread and systematic violence against the Rohingya persists,&quot; Gilmour said.

&quot;The nature of the violence has changed from the frenzied blood-letting and mass rape of last year to a lower intensity campaign of terror and forced starvation that seems to be designed to drive the remaining Rohingya from their homes and into Bangladesh.&quot;&nbsp;

Despite Myanmar saying it was ready to accept back refugees under a pact signed with Bangladesh in November, he added, &quot;Safe, dignified and sustainable returns are, of course, impossible under current conditions&quot;.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said he had not seen the UN statement published on Tuesday, but that Myanmar was not committing ethnic cleansing.

&quot;We don`t drive out the refugees,&quot; he said.

Separately, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it was concerned about people living just inside Myanmar at its border with Bangladesh.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is monitoring developments after several thousand people living in a makeshift camp &quot;were reportedly ordered to vacate the area by the Myanmar authorities&quot;, the agency said.

Residents of what is called &quot;no-man`s land&quot;, as it sits outside Myanmar`s border fence but on its side of a creek that separates the two countries, say Myanmar officials have warned them on loudspeakers that their presence on the borderline is illegal.

&quot;UNHCR underscores that everyone has the right to seek asylum, just as they also have the right to return home when they deem the time and circumstances right,&quot; it said in a statement late on Monday.

&quot;People who have fled violence in their country must be granted safety and protection and any decision to return must be voluntary and based upon a free and informed choice.&quot;

Zaw Htay said Myanmar had the right to move people from its territory and part of an agreed &quot;buffer zone&quot; with Bangladesh. Authorities had received information that &quot;terrorists&quot; linked to the August attacks on Myanmar`s security posts were sheltering there, he added.

&quot;According to procedure security forces have to clear the area for security reasons,&quot; he said.

Zaw Htay said he believed the people were staying on the border to &quot;trap&quot; Myanmar into conducting a &quot;clearance operation&quot;, which he said media and the United Nations would label as ethnic cleansing.

Bangladesh last week protested to Myanmar`s ambassador in Dhaka after Myanmar security personnel, estimated to number more than 200, gathered near the border.

&quot;Troop movements so close to them are making things even worse,&quot; said Major Iqbal Ahmed of Bangladesh`s border guard. &quot;They are now ev en more reluctant to go back to their homeland.&quot;

Myanmar`s "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims is continuing, a senior UN human rights official said on Tuesday, more than six months after insurgent attacks sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh

Myanmar`s "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims is continuing, a senior UN human rights official said on Tuesday, more than six months after insurgent attacks sparked a security response that has driven nearly 700,000 people into Bangladesh. Andrew Gilmour, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, made the comment after a four-day visit to the Cox`s Bazar district in neighboring Bangladesh, where he met people who have fled from Myanmar recently. "I don`t think we can draw any other conclusion from what I have seen and heard in Cox`s Bazar," Gilmour said in a statement. After Rohingya insurgents attacked 30 police posts and an army base on August 25, Myanmar soldiers and police swept through villages in what the government says was a legitimate operation to root out "terrorists". Rohingya who sought shelter in Bangladesh have reported rape, killings, and arson by security forces. The United Nations and the United States have concluded the campaign amounted to ethnic cleansing. Gilmour spoke to refugees who recounted abductions by security forces and at least one apparent death of a Rohingya man in custody in February, the statement said. "It appears that widespread and systematic violence against the Rohingya persists," Gilmour said. "The nature of the violence has changed from the frenzied blood-letting and mass rape of last year to a lower intensity campaign of terror and forced starvation that seems to be designed to drive the remaining Rohingya from their homes and into Bangladesh." Despite Myanmar saying it was ready to accept back refugees under a pact signed with Bangladesh in November, he added, "Safe, dignified and sustainable returns are, of course, impossible under current conditions". Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said he had not seen the UN statement published on Tuesday, but that Myanmar was not committing ethnic cleansing. "We don`t drive out the refugees," he said. Separately, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it was concerned about people living just inside Myanmar at its border with Bangladesh. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is monitoring developments after several thousand people living in a makeshift camp "were reportedly ordered to vacate the area by the Myanmar authorities", the agency said. Residents of what is called "no-man`s land", as it sits outside Myanmar`s border fence but on its side of a creek that separates the two countries, say Myanmar officials have warned them on loudspeakers that their presence on the borderline is illegal. "UNHCR underscores that everyone has the right to seek asylum, just as they also have the right to return home when they deem the time and circumstances right," it said in a statement late on Monday. "People who have fled violence in their country must be granted safety and protection and any decision to return must be voluntary and based upon a free and informed choice." Zaw Htay said Myanmar had the right to move people from its territory and part of an agreed "buffer zone" with Bangladesh. Authorities had received information that "terrorists" linked to the August attacks on Myanmar`s security posts were sheltering there, he added. "According to procedure security forces have to clear the area for security reasons," he said. Zaw Htay said he believed the people were staying on the border to "trap" Myanmar into conducting a "clearance operation", which he said media and the United Nations would label as ethnic cleansing. Bangladesh last week protested to Myanmar`s ambassador in Dhaka after Myanmar security personnel, estimated to number more than 200, gathered near the border. "Troop movements so close to them are making things even worse," said Major Iqbal Ahmed of Bangladesh`s border guard. "They are now ev en more reluctant to go back to their homeland."

Myanmar's 'ethnic cleansing' of Rohingya continues, UN rights official says

The first Rohingya refugees who arrived on Jorina Katun&#39;s farmland in Bangladesh last year were worn out and traumatised after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar. They wept and begged to stay, and Katun, moved by their plight, said yes.

&quot;I really regret that,&quot; she said. &quot;They said they would stay for only a month. They&#39;re still here and more are coming.&quot; Katun now has 25 Rohingya families living on a patch of land where she used to grow rice and vegetables.

Since August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State into Bangladesh. Makeshift camps housing the Rohingya sprawl across thousands of acres of what was once a government forest reserve, butting up against - and sometimes overwhelming - Bangladeshi homes and land. Jorina Katun lives on the edge of the largest such camp.

Officials and aid workers fear that the welcome is wearing thin, due to the unprecedented number of refugees and growing doubts over whether Myanmar will ever take them back.

Repatriation was due to begin in January under an agreement signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh. But the plan has stalled due to safety and logistical concerns, and meanwhile, Rohingya continue to flee across the border.

&quot;We&#39;ve accommodated them, but for how long?&quot; said Kazi Abdur Rahman, a deputy district administrator in Cox&#39;s Bazar. &quot;Our crop fields are destroyed. Our forests are destroyed...It&#39;s a huge impact on the whole community.&quot;

So far, local people have been remarkably tolerant, with many feeling duty-bound to help fellow Muslims they see as being oppressed because of their religion. There have only been a handful of anti-Rohingya protest, all small and peaceful.

But many also blame the Rohingya for driving up food prices and stealing jobs, and officials worry that the refugees bring with them an increased risk of disease, militant activity and drug trafficking. 
Residents have been told to report any Rohingya seen outside the camps, said Rahman. &quot;It&#39;s for our security, so they can&#39;t get up to any terrorist activity,&quot; he said.

He said he had no evidence that the Rohingya were involved in crime, but noted they were poor, desperate and &quot;very vulnerable to evil forces&quot;.

THE CHEAPEST WORKER

Before the current crisis, Bangladesh was already home to 300,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled previous bouts of violence in Myanmar. Now, in Ukhia and Teknaf, two sub-districts near the Myanmar border, Rohingya outnumber local people by about two to one.

Residents of Ukhia and Teknaf were already among Bangladesh&#39;s poorest and by some measures as deprived as the refugees, according to ACAPS, a Geneva-based think-tank which analyses humanitarian responses.

Seven in 10 families &ndash; both Bangladeshi and Rohingya &ndash; struggled to get enough to eat, ACAPS found.

Little of the land around Cox&#39;s Bazar is suitable for farming, so Bangladeshis have to buy about 80 percent of their food in local markets, said ACAPS.

The price of that food is rising, said Hamidul Hoque Chowdhury, a college principal who heads the Ukhia branch of the Awami League, the party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Six months ago, 1 kg of potatoes cost 20 takas ($0.24); it has since tripled in price to 60 or 70 takas. The price of fish has doubled, he said.

&quot;The local people are now silent. They&#39;re not shouting now. But they&#39;re not happy,&quot; said Chowdhury. &quot;Tensions will definitely rise.&quot; 
Chowdhury, who helped organise a small anti-Rohingya protest in Ukhia in January, said Rohingya were competing with Bangladeshis for unskilled labour jobs, the main source of income for about half the local population.

Faruk Ahmed, 73, a local farmer, said he hired Rohingya labourers because they were cheap, plentiful and hard-working.

&quot;Bangladeshis want 500 takas ($6) a day, but Rohingya will take 300 takas,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#39;ll hire the cheapest worker.&quot;

ROHINGYA ISLAND

Partly to ease the congestion at the camps, Bangladesh is accelerating a controversial plan to temporarily relocate 100,000 Rohingya on a remote island in the Bay of Bengal.

H.T. Imam, an advisor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the refugees must be kept apart from Bangladeshis. &quot;In the past, the Rohingya spread out and caused serious law and order problems,&quot; he said.

Humanitarian groups said they were also looking for ways to support the Bangladeshi community.

Of the $950 million budget currently being requested from donors for March to December, a quarter had been earmarked for projects that will directly benefit Bangladeshis, said UN host community liaison Maurice Dewulf.

There are &quot;no major signals yet&quot; of problems between Bangladeshis and locals in Cox&#39;s Bazar, Dewulf said, but such problems become more likely the longer a refugee crisis lasts.

The Rohingya families camped out on Jorina Katun&#39;s land are also doing what they can to keep the peace, paying Katun between 300 and 600 takas ($3.50 to $7) a month in rent, says refugee Bodi Alam. 
The Bangladesh Army, which oversees security in the area, said it forbids local people to charge rent. &quot;But we still pay,&quot; said Alam.

Without such payments, there would be quarrels with the Bangladeshis. &quot;They will say &#39;go from here, this is our area, these are our houses, this is our land,&#39;&quot; he said.

Since August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's Rakhine State into Bangladesh

The first Rohingya refugees who arrived on Jorina Katun's farmland in Bangladesh last year were worn out and traumatised after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar. They wept and begged to stay, and Katun, moved by their plight, said yes. "I really regret that," she said. "They said they would stay for only a month. They're still here and more are coming." Katun now has 25 Rohingya families living on a patch of land where she used to grow rice and vegetables. Since August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's Rakhine State into Bangladesh. Makeshift camps housing the Rohingya sprawl across thousands of acres of what was once a government forest reserve, butting up against - and sometimes overwhelming - Bangladeshi homes and land. Jorina Katun lives on the edge of the largest such camp. Officials and aid workers fear that the welcome is wearing thin, due to the unprecedented number of refugees and growing doubts over whether Myanmar will ever take them back. Repatriation was due to begin in January under an agreement signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh. But the plan has stalled due to safety and logistical concerns, and meanwhile, Rohingya continue to flee across the border. "We've accommodated them, but for how long?" said Kazi Abdur Rahman, a deputy district administrator in Cox's Bazar. "Our crop fields are destroyed. Our forests are destroyed...It's a huge impact on the whole community." So far, local people have been remarkably tolerant, with many feeling duty-bound to help fellow Muslims they see as being oppressed because of their religion. There have only been a handful of anti-Rohingya protest, all small and peaceful. But many also blame the Rohingya for driving up food prices and stealing jobs, and officials worry that the refugees bring with them an increased risk of disease, militant activity and drug trafficking. Residents have been told to report any Rohingya seen outside the camps, said Rahman. "It's for our security, so they can't get up to any terrorist activity," he said. He said he had no evidence that the Rohingya were involved in crime, but noted they were poor, desperate and "very vulnerable to evil forces". THE CHEAPEST WORKER Before the current crisis, Bangladesh was already home to 300,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled previous bouts of violence in Myanmar. Now, in Ukhia and Teknaf, two sub-districts near the Myanmar border, Rohingya outnumber local people by about two to one. Residents of Ukhia and Teknaf were already among Bangladesh's poorest and by some measures as deprived as the refugees, according to ACAPS, a Geneva-based think-tank which analyses humanitarian responses. Seven in 10 families – both Bangladeshi and Rohingya – struggled to get enough to eat, ACAPS found. Little of the land around Cox's Bazar is suitable for farming, so Bangladeshis have to buy about 80 percent of their food in local markets, said ACAPS. The price of that food is rising, said Hamidul Hoque Chowdhury, a college principal who heads the Ukhia branch of the Awami League, the party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Six months ago, 1 kg of potatoes cost 20 takas ($0.24); it has since tripled in price to 60 or 70 takas. The price of fish has doubled, he said. "The local people are now silent. They're not shouting now. But they're not happy," said Chowdhury. "Tensions will definitely rise." Chowdhury, who helped organise a small anti-Rohingya protest in Ukhia in January, said Rohingya were competing with Bangladeshis for unskilled labour jobs, the main source of income for about half the local population. Faruk Ahmed, 73, a local farmer, said he hired Rohingya labourers because they were cheap, plentiful and hard-working. "Bangladeshis want 500 takas ($6) a day, but Rohingya will take 300 takas," he said. "I'll hire the cheapest worker." ROHINGYA ISLAND Partly to ease the congestion at the camps, Bangladesh is accelerating a controversial plan to temporarily relocate 100,000 Rohingya on a remote island in the Bay of Bengal. H.T. Imam, an advisor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the refugees must be kept apart from Bangladeshis. "In the past, the Rohingya spread out and caused serious law and order problems," he said. Humanitarian groups said they were also looking for ways to support the Bangladeshi community. Of the $950 million budget currently being requested from donors for March to December, a quarter had been earmarked for projects that will directly benefit Bangladeshis, said UN host community liaison Maurice Dewulf. There are "no major signals yet" of problems between Bangladeshis and locals in Cox's Bazar, Dewulf said, but such problems become more likely the longer a refugee crisis lasts. The Rohingya families camped out on Jorina Katun's land are also doing what they can to keep the peace, paying Katun between 300 and 600 takas ($3.50 to $7) a month in rent, says refugee Bodi Alam. The Bangladesh Army, which oversees security in the area, said it forbids local people to charge rent. "But we still pay," said Alam. Without such payments, there would be quarrels with the Bangladeshis. "They will say 'go from here, this is our area, these are our houses, this is our land,'" he said.

Rohingya refugees test Bangladeshi welcome as prices rise and repatriation stalls

Three bombs exploded in different locations in Rakhine&#39;s state capital Sittwe early Saturday morning, including at the home of a high ranking official, Myanmar police told AFP.

&quot;Three bombs exploded and three other unexploded bombs were found. A police was injured but not seriously,&quot; a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity, adding that there were no deaths.&nbsp;

The blasts occurred around 4am (2130 GMT Friday) in the compound of the state government secretary&#39;s home, at an office and on a road leading towards the beach, the officer said.

The blasts occurred around 4 am (2130 GMT Friday) in the compound of the state government secretary's home

Three bombs exploded in different locations in Rakhine's state capital Sittwe early Saturday morning, including at the home of a high ranking official, Myanmar police told AFP. "Three bombs exploded and three other unexploded bombs were found. A police was injured but not seriously," a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity, adding that there were no deaths. The blasts occurred around 4am (2130 GMT Friday) in the compound of the state government secretary's home, at an office and on a road leading towards the beach, the officer said.

Three bombs hit capital of Myanmar's Rakhine state: Police

Satellite imagery shows Myanmar authorities have bulldozed at least 55 Rohingya villages in northern Rakhine in recent months, Human Rights Watch said Friday, condemning the government for erasing evidence at sites where troops are accused of atrocities.

Northern Rakhine has been nearly emptied of its Rohingya population since last August, when a military crackdown drove some 700,000 of the persecuted group across the border to Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The UN has accused Myanmar of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Muslim minority, who face acute discrimination in the mainly Buddhist nation.

Myanmar denies the charge but has blocked UN investigators from investigating an area where thousands of Rohingya are believed to have been killed.&nbsp;

Hundreds of Rohingya villages were already damaged by fire during the initial months of violence last year, when soldiers and Buddhist vigilantes terrorised communities with arson, gunfire and rape, according to refugees.&nbsp;

Since November Myanmar authorities have further demolished at least 55 villages with heavy machinery, clearing out all structures and vegetation, satellite images obtained by Human Rights Watch showed.

At least two of the flattened villages were previously undamaged by fires, the watchdog said.

&quot;Many of these villages were scenes of atrocities against Rohingya and should be preserved so that the experts appointed by the UN to document these abuses can properly evaluate the evidence to identify those responsible,&quot; said HRW&#39;s Asia director Brad Adams.

&quot;Bulldozing these areas threatens to erase both the memory and the legal claims of the Rohingya who lived there,&quot; he added.

Myanmar&#39;s government spokesman could not be reached for comment. Haunting images of levelled villages first circulated on social media earlier this month after they were posted by an EU diplomat.

At the time Myanmar&#39;s Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told AFP the demolition was part of a plan to &quot;build back&quot; villages to a higher standard than before.

Myanmar has trumpeted a government effort to rebuild violence-gutted Rakhine and welcome back refugees under a repatriation agreement with Dhaka that was supposed to commence in January.

But many Rohingya refuse to return without the guarantee of basic rights and safety.

Analysts have also sounded the alarm over the government&#39;s rehabilitation projects, calling the sweeping destruction of villages, mosques and property only the latest move to erase the Rohingya&#39;s ties to their ancestral lands, and prevent them returning.

On Thursday UN agencies said they had struck a partnership with Myanmar and Japan governments to provide $20 million for humanitarian and development projects in Rakhine state, where authorities have restricted access for aid groups since the crisis.

Food and other assistance would be provided to &quot;people of all communities in Rakhine state,&quot; the UN agencies said in a statement, adding that access had improved but remained restricted in some areas.

The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights in Myanmar in recent decades.

They have also been targeted by bouts of communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhist neighbours and corralled into grim displacement camps in other parts of the state.

Myanmar&#39;s army says its August crackdown was a proportionate counterstrike against Rohingya rebels who attacked police posts in late August, killing around a dozen officials.&nbsp;

Many in the Buddhist majority revile the Rohingya and brand the group as foreign interlopers, despite their having lived in Rakhine for generations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Northern Rakhine has been nearly emptied of its Rohingya population since last August

Satellite imagery shows Myanmar authorities have bulldozed at least 55 Rohingya villages in northern Rakhine in recent months, Human Rights Watch said Friday, condemning the government for erasing evidence at sites where troops are accused of atrocities. Northern Rakhine has been nearly emptied of its Rohingya population since last August, when a military crackdown drove some 700,000 of the persecuted group across the border to Bangladesh. The UN has accused Myanmar of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Muslim minority, who face acute discrimination in the mainly Buddhist nation. Myanmar denies the charge but has blocked UN investigators from investigating an area where thousands of Rohingya are believed to have been killed. Hundreds of Rohingya villages were already damaged by fire during the initial months of violence last year, when soldiers and Buddhist vigilantes terrorised communities with arson, gunfire and rape, according to refugees. Since November Myanmar authorities have further demolished at least 55 villages with heavy machinery, clearing out all structures and vegetation, satellite images obtained by Human Rights Watch showed. At least two of the flattened villages were previously undamaged by fires, the watchdog said. "Many of these villages were scenes of atrocities against Rohingya and should be preserved so that the experts appointed by the UN to document these abuses can properly evaluate the evidence to identify those responsible," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams. "Bulldozing these areas threatens to erase both the memory and the legal claims of the Rohingya who lived there," he added. Myanmar's government spokesman could not be reached for comment. Haunting images of levelled villages first circulated on social media earlier this month after they were posted by an EU diplomat. At the time Myanmar's Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told AFP the demolition was part of a plan to "build back" villages to a higher standard than before. Myanmar has trumpeted a government effort to rebuild violence-gutted Rakhine and welcome back refugees under a repatriation agreement with Dhaka that was supposed to commence in January. But many Rohingya refuse to return without the guarantee of basic rights and safety. Analysts have also sounded the alarm over the government's rehabilitation projects, calling the sweeping destruction of villages, mosques and property only the latest move to erase the Rohingya's ties to their ancestral lands, and prevent them returning. On Thursday UN agencies said they had struck a partnership with Myanmar and Japan governments to provide $20 million for humanitarian and development projects in Rakhine state, where authorities have restricted access for aid groups since the crisis. Food and other assistance would be provided to "people of all communities in Rakhine state," the UN agencies said in a statement, adding that access had improved but remained restricted in some areas. The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights in Myanmar in recent decades. They have also been targeted by bouts of communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhist neighbours and corralled into grim displacement camps in other parts of the state. Myanmar's army says its August crackdown was a proportionate counterstrike against Rohingya rebels who attacked police posts in late August, killing around a dozen officials. Many in the Buddhist majority revile the Rohingya and brand the group as foreign interlopers, despite their having lived in Rakhine for generations.

Myanmar bulldozed scores of Rohingya villages since November: Human Rights Watch

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-successfully-launches-nuclear-capable-dhanush-missile-from-naval-ship-33812" target="_blank">India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Dhanush missile from naval ship</a>

India today successfully&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/agni-v-test-fired-successfully-10-things-about-the-nuclear-capable-missile-29955">test-fired&nbsp;the nuclear-capable</a>&nbsp;ballistic missile &#39;Dhanush&#39; from a naval ship off Odisha coast. An anti-ship missile, Dhanush is a variant of &nbsp;Prithvi III developed by the Indian Navy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-equipping-soliders-with-us-style-digital-combat-gear-along-india-border-report-33829" target="_blank">China equipping </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-equipping-soliders-with-us-style-digital-combat-gear-along-india-border-report-33829" target="_blank">soliders</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-equipping-soliders-with-us-style-digital-combat-gear-along-india-border-report-33829" target="_blank"> with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-equipping-soliders-with-us-style-digital-combat-gear-along-india-border-report-33829" target="_blank">US style</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-equipping-soliders-with-us-style-digital-combat-gear-along-india-border-report-33829" target="_blank"> digital combat gear along India border: Report</a>

After reports of China upgrading its&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-upgrading-air-defence-in-tibet-to-counter-india-threat-says-state-media-33664">air defence along the Line of Actual&nbsp;</a>Control (LAC), a report said it has equipped one its Army branch stationed at the border with US-style integrated individual soldier combat system to prepare for &quot;informatised warfare&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/now-india-pak-afghan-officials-bond-over-tapi-gas-pipeline-33808" target="_blank">Now, India, Pak, Afghan officials bond over TAPI gas pipeline</a>

India&#39;s minister of state for external affairs M J Akbar today joined Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to open Tapi gas pipeline section in Afganistan.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-space-for-those-who-misuse-religion-for-political-motives-separatism-pm-modi-33799" target="_blank">No space for those who misuse religion for political motives &amp; separatism: PM Modi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-bulldozed-scores-of-rohingya-villages-since-november-human-rights-watch-33823" target="_blank">Myanmar bulldozed scores of Rohingya villages since November: Human Rights Watch</a>

Satellite imagery shows Myanmar authorities have bulldozed at least 55 Rohingya villages in northern Rakhine in recent months, Human Rights Watch said Friday, condemning the government for erasing evidence at sites where troops are accused of atrocities.

&nbsp;

India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Dhanush missile from naval ship India today successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable ballistic missile 'Dhanush' from a naval ship off Odisha coast. An anti-ship missile, Dhanush is a variant of Prithvi III developed by the Indian Navy. China equipping soliders with US style digital combat gear along India border: Report After reports of China upgrading its air defence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a report said it has equipped one its Army branch stationed at the border with US-style integrated individual soldier combat system to prepare for "informatised warfare". Now, India, Pak, Afghan officials bond over TAPI gas pipeline India's minister of state for external affairs M J Akbar today joined Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to open Tapi gas pipeline section in Afganistan. No space for those who misuse religion for political motives & separatism: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday. Myanmar bulldozed scores of Rohingya villages since November: Human Rights Watch Satellite imagery shows Myanmar authorities have bulldozed at least 55 Rohingya villages in northern Rakhine in recent months, Human Rights Watch said Friday, condemning the government for erasing evidence at sites where troops are accused of atrocities.

WION Evening News brief, February 23, 2018

The crisis in Myanmar and reported massacres of Rohingya Muslims are the consequence of a society encouraged to hate and a lack of global leadership on human rights, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

The human rights group said in its annual report covering 159 countries that &quot;hate-filled rhetoric&quot; by leaders was normalising discrimination against minorities.

&quot;We saw the ultimate consequence of a society encouraged to hate, scapegoat and fear minorities laid bare in the horrific military campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya people in Myanmar,&quot; said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty.

Last week, the United States urged the UN Security Council to hold Myanmar`s military accountable for what it said was the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine and taken refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh since the Myanmar military launched a crackdown on insurgents at the end of August, according to the UN.

More than 6,500 Rohingya are currently trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Amnesty said the international community had failed to respond robustly to &quot;crimes against humanity and war crimes from Myanmar to Iraq, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen&quot;.&nbsp;

It said that leaders in countries such as the United States, Russia and China were not standing up for civil liberties and instead were &quot;callously undermining the rights of millions&quot;.

Amnesty said President Donald Trump had taken backward steps on human rights that were setting a dangerous precedent. Shetty described his move to ban people from several Muslim-majority countries in January last year as &quot;transparently hateful&quot;.

Last year`s report accused Trump of &quot;poisonous&quot; rhetoric.&nbsp;

Free speech will be a key issue for those concerned about human rights this year, the report said.&nbsp;

Amnesty said its staff were arrested at an unprecedented rate in Turkey in 2017, which along with Egypt and China was also among the biggest jailors of journalists.

Two Reuters reporters in Myanmar were arrested while investigating the killing of Rohingya Muslims. Court proceedings are ongoing.

&quot;In 2018, we cannot take for granted that we will be free to gather together in protest or to criticise our governments. In fact, speaking out is becoming more dangerous,&quot; Shetty said. 
&nbsp;

Amnesty said the international community had failed to respond robustly to "crimes against humanity and war crimes from Myanmar to Iraq, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen".

The crisis in Myanmar and reported massacres of Rohingya Muslims are the consequence of a society encouraged to hate and a lack of global leadership on human rights, Amnesty International said on Thursday. The human rights group said in its annual report covering 159 countries that "hate-filled rhetoric" by leaders was normalising discrimination against minorities. "We saw the ultimate consequence of a society encouraged to hate, scapegoat and fear minorities laid bare in the horrific military campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya people in Myanmar," said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty. Last week, the United States urged the UN Security Council to hold Myanmar`s military accountable for what it said was the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine and taken refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh since the Myanmar military launched a crackdown on insurgents at the end of August, according to the UN. More than 6,500 Rohingya are currently trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Amnesty said the international community had failed to respond robustly to "crimes against humanity and war crimes from Myanmar to Iraq, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen". It said that leaders in countries such as the United States, Russia and China were not standing up for civil liberties and instead were "callously undermining the rights of millions". Amnesty said President Donald Trump had taken backward steps on human rights that were setting a dangerous precedent. Shetty described his move to ban people from several Muslim-majority countries in January last year as "transparently hateful". Last year`s report accused Trump of "poisonous" rhetoric. Free speech will be a key issue for those concerned about human rights this year, the report said. Amnesty said its staff were arrested at an unprecedented rate in Turkey in 2017, which along with Egypt and China was also among the biggest jailors of journalists. Two Reuters reporters in Myanmar were arrested while investigating the killing of Rohingya Muslims. Court proceedings are ongoing. "In 2018, we cannot take for granted that we will be free to gather together in protest or to criticise our governments. In fact, speaking out is becoming more dangerous," Shetty said.

Amnesty says Rohingya crisis consequence of society 'encouraged to hate'

The European Union will start preparing sanctions against Myanmar generals over killings of Rohingya Muslims by formally calling on the bloc&#39;s foreign policy chief next week to draw up a list of possible names, two diplomats said.

Any new travel bans and asset freezes would be the EU&#39;s toughest measures yet to try to hold the military accountable for the abuses, likely joining US&nbsp;and Canadian sanctions already in place.

&quot;Ministers will call on (Federica) Mogherini to propose restrictive measures on senior members of the Myanmar military for systematic human rights abuses, without delay,&quot; one diplomat said on Thursday, referring to EU sanctions.

Foreign ministers will also ask Mogherini and the EU&#39;s foreign service, the EEAS, on Monday to look at ways to strengthen the bloc&#39;s 1990s-era arms embargo on the Southeast Asian country that remains in place.

In a statement expected to be released on Monday at a regular gathering of EU foreign ministers, the bloc is also expected to reiterate its call for the release of Reuters reporters detained on Dec. 12 over accusations that they violated Myanmar&#39;s Official Secrets Act.

The two had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men who were buried in a mass grave in Rakhine state after being hacked to death or shot by ethnic Rakhine Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

No names of generals to be targeted for sanctions have been yet discussed, the diplomats said, but the United States said in December it was sanctioning Major General Maung Maung Soe, who is accused of a crackdown on the Rohingya minority in Rakhine.

EU sanctions lists are often coordinated with Washington.&nbsp;

The EU&#39;s decision to consider sanctions reflects resistance to such measures in the UN&nbsp;Security Council, where veto-wielding powers Russia and China said this month they believe the situation in Rakhine was stable and under control.

The United States, as well as United Nations, have described the military crackdown in Myanmar as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. About 655,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine for shelter over the border in Bangladesh, according to the United Nations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Any new travel bans and asset freezes would be the EU's toughest measures yet to try

The European Union will start preparing sanctions against Myanmar generals over killings of Rohingya Muslims by formally calling on the bloc's foreign policy chief next week to draw up a list of possible names, two diplomats said. Any new travel bans and asset freezes would be the EU's toughest measures yet to try to hold the military accountable for the abuses, likely joining US and Canadian sanctions already in place. "Ministers will call on (Federica) Mogherini to propose restrictive measures on senior members of the Myanmar military for systematic human rights abuses, without delay," one diplomat said on Thursday, referring to EU sanctions. Foreign ministers will also ask Mogherini and the EU's foreign service, the EEAS, on Monday to look at ways to strengthen the bloc's 1990s-era arms embargo on the Southeast Asian country that remains in place. In a statement expected to be released on Monday at a regular gathering of EU foreign ministers, the bloc is also expected to reiterate its call for the release of Reuters reporters detained on Dec. 12 over accusations that they violated Myanmar's Official Secrets Act. The two had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men who were buried in a mass grave in Rakhine state after being hacked to death or shot by ethnic Rakhine Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. No names of generals to be targeted for sanctions have been yet discussed, the diplomats said, but the United States said in December it was sanctioning Major General Maung Maung Soe, who is accused of a crackdown on the Rohingya minority in Rakhine. EU sanctions lists are often coordinated with Washington. The EU's decision to consider sanctions reflects resistance to such measures in the UN Security Council, where veto-wielding powers Russia and China said this month they believe the situation in Rakhine was stable and under control. The United States, as well as United Nations, have described the military crackdown in Myanmar as "ethnic cleansing". About 655,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine for shelter over the border in Bangladesh, according to the United Nations.

EU set to prepare sanctions on Myanmar generals: Diplomats

Calling for continued efforts to scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar, the WHO today said the &quot;vulnerable&quot; people remain at risk of diseases and in need of critical services for survival even though six months have passed since the crisis began.

Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar&#39;s violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh in August when the military cracked down against alleged militant outfits of the community.

Though immense efforts have been made by the Bangladesh government and partner agencies to provide health services, prevent diseases such as cholera and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO southeast Asia, said.

&quot;The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population,&quot; Singh said.

According to a WHO statement, an estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox&#39;s Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017, joining nearly 212,500 others who arrived earlier, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span.

While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79,000 are living with the host population.

The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services, Singh said.

The statement stated that an estimated 60,000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year.

Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers, children, adults and the elderly need basic health services and that for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support.

&quot;Water and sanitation, and shelter continue to be far from optimum, increasing the risk of rapid spread of several communicable and water-borne diseases,&quot; the regional director said, stressing the need to accelerate efforts to address the key determinants of health on a priority.

For keeping a close watch on the situation, WHO established the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS), early as the crisis started, to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreak to minimise death and disease.

Additionally, WHO has been periodically carrying out risk assessments to enable Ministry of Health and partners take measures to detect potential health risks and take timely and appropriate measures. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

An estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017

Calling for continued efforts to scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, the WHO today said the "vulnerable" people remain at risk of diseases and in need of critical services for survival even though six months have passed since the crisis began. Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh in August when the military cracked down against alleged militant outfits of the community. Though immense efforts have been made by the Bangladesh government and partner agencies to provide health services, prevent diseases such as cholera and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO southeast Asia, said. "The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population," Singh said. According to a WHO statement, an estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017, joining nearly 212,500 others who arrived earlier, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span. While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79,000 are living with the host population. The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services, Singh said. The statement stated that an estimated 60,000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year. Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers, children, adults and the elderly need basic health services and that for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support. "Water and sanitation, and shelter continue to be far from optimum, increasing the risk of rapid spread of several communicable and water-borne diseases," the regional director said, stressing the need to accelerate efforts to address the key determinants of health on a priority. For keeping a close watch on the situation, WHO established the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS), early as the crisis started, to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreak to minimise death and disease. Additionally, WHO has been periodically carrying out risk assessments to enable Ministry of Health and partners take measures to detect potential health risks and take timely and appropriate measures.

Urgent need to scale up health services in Cox's Bazar: WHO

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) supremo Bhim Singh today demanded early deportation of foreigners, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, illegally settled in the winter capital of the state.

&quot;The presence of these foreign nationals especially in the municipal limits of Jammu is posing a threat to peace in the region. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) should make their stand (regarding deportation) clear,&quot; he told reporters here.

Singh said, &quot;My statement is neither linked to politics nor against any religion or community. It is for our rights, justice and peace for which the people of the state have rendered huge sacrifices.&quot;

The JKNPP leader said the people would not allow settlement of foreigners on their soil and &quot;it is better that these people are deported from here.&quot;

Accusing the ruling PDP-BJP coalition, of maintaining &ldquo;deliberate silence&rdquo; on the issue and misleading the people by giving wrong figures about the number of these illegal settlers, he said, &quot;The number of Bangladeshi and Myanmarese in the city is over 23,000, while the government is claiming that they are only 5,000 thus misleading the public.&quot;

'The presence of these foreign nationals especially in the municipal limits of Jammu is posing a threat to peace in the region. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) should make their stand (regarding deportation) clear,' party supremo of the JKNPP said

The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) supremo Bhim Singh today demanded early deportation of foreigners, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, illegally settled in the winter capital of the state. "The presence of these foreign nationals especially in the municipal limits of Jammu is posing a threat to peace in the region. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) should make their stand (regarding deportation) clear," he told reporters here. Singh said, "My statement is neither linked to politics nor against any religion or community. It is for our rights, justice and peace for which the people of the state have rendered huge sacrifices." The JKNPP leader said the people would not allow settlement of foreigners on their soil and "it is better that these people are deported from here." Accusing the ruling PDP-BJP coalition, of maintaining “deliberate silence” on the issue and misleading the people by giving wrong figures about the number of these illegal settlers, he said, "The number of Bangladeshi and Myanmarese in the city is over 23,000, while the government is claiming that they are only 5,000 thus misleading the public."

JKNPP demands deportation of illegal Bangladeshi, Rohingyas from Jammu

Representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar will meet on Tuesday to discuss the repatriation to Myanmar of more than 6,500 Rohingya Muslims trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries, Bangladeshi officials said.

&quot;It is about taking them back to Myanmar,&quot; Relief and Refugee Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam, told Reuters on Monday. &quot;They are on the zero line and actually on the Myanmar side.&quot;&nbsp;

However, several officials contacted in neighbouring Myanmar said they were not aware of plans for a meeting, which Kalam said would take place on the &quot;zero line&quot; near a place called Gundum.

A spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which will not be involved in the talks, said the agency was concerned the Rohingya may be forcibly returned to Myanmar without due consideration for their safety.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state and crossed into Bangladesh since last August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounts to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar denied the charge and says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against &quot;terrorists&quot; it blames for the attacks on the security forces.

The vast majority of Rohingya who fled are in camps at Cox&#39;s Bazar on the southern tip of Bangladesh, but several thousand who arrived in a buffer zone along the border are now stuck.&nbsp;

Bangladesh security forces have been instructed not to let these Rohingya cross the border, and many of them have said they would rather stay there to avoid becoming refugees in Bangladesh.

The no-mans land, which is about the size of 40 soccer pitches, used to be an area of paddy fields but is now dotted with the tarpaulin and bamboo shacks of displaced Rohingya.

No timeline for returns&nbsp;

&quot;We are concerned about the reports of pressures directed at this group of people at the border,&quot; said Caroline Gluck, UNHCR Senior Public Information Officer at Cox`s Bazar.&nbsp;

&quot;People who fled violence and discrimination in Myanmar should not be forced to return against their will,&quot; she told Reuters in a message sent on Saturday.

Bangladesh&#39;s Kalam said there was no timeline for repatriations, that anyone going back must do so voluntarily and that Myanmar must provide a safe environment for their return.

&quot;We cannot send them forcibly,&quot; he said.

Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as &quot;Bengalis&quot;.

Myanmar has said it will accept back people holding &quot;national verification&quot; registration cards. This card, which falls short of offering citizenship, has been rejected by Rohingya community leaders who say it treats life-long residents like new immigrants.

A leader of the Rohingya group in the buffer zone, Dil Mohammed, told Reuters in a text message: &quot;Our no-man&#39;s land camp demands are that there must be a safe return, we need security and all basic rights, including citizenship.&quot;

He said the group would never accept the national verification card, that its members must be allowed to return to their own homes, paid compensation for losses and damage, and provided with protection from a UN&nbsp;mission.

Gluck said the UNHCR was concerned that conditions in Rakhine state were not yet safe for voluntary returns, adding, &quot;We urge both governments to ensure that any return is based on informed consent and takes place in safety and dignity.&quot;&nbsp;

Buddhist-majority Myanmar denied the charge and says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against 'terrorists'

Representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar will meet on Tuesday to discuss the repatriation to Myanmar of more than 6,500 Rohingya Muslims trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries, Bangladeshi officials said. "It is about taking them back to Myanmar," Relief and Refugee Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam, told Reuters on Monday. "They are on the zero line and actually on the Myanmar side." However, several officials contacted in neighbouring Myanmar said they were not aware of plans for a meeting, which Kalam said would take place on the "zero line" near a place called Gundum. A spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which will not be involved in the talks, said the agency was concerned the Rohingya may be forcibly returned to Myanmar without due consideration for their safety. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state and crossed into Bangladesh since last August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounts to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape. Buddhist-majority Myanmar denied the charge and says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against "terrorists" it blames for the attacks on the security forces. The vast majority of Rohingya who fled are in camps at Cox's Bazar on the southern tip of Bangladesh, but several thousand who arrived in a buffer zone along the border are now stuck. Bangladesh security forces have been instructed not to let these Rohingya cross the border, and many of them have said they would rather stay there to avoid becoming refugees in Bangladesh. The no-mans land, which is about the size of 40 soccer pitches, used to be an area of paddy fields but is now dotted with the tarpaulin and bamboo shacks of displaced Rohingya. No timeline for returns "We are concerned about the reports of pressures directed at this group of people at the border," said Caroline Gluck, UNHCR Senior Public Information Officer at Cox`s Bazar. "People who fled violence and discrimination in Myanmar should not be forced to return against their will," she told Reuters in a message sent on Saturday. Bangladesh's Kalam said there was no timeline for repatriations, that anyone going back must do so voluntarily and that Myanmar must provide a safe environment for their return. "We cannot send them forcibly," he said. Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as "Bengalis". Myanmar has said it will accept back people holding "national verification" registration cards. This card, which falls short of offering citizenship, has been rejected by Rohingya community leaders who say it treats life-long residents like new immigrants. A leader of the Rohingya group in the buffer zone, Dil Mohammed, told Reuters in a text message: "Our no-man's land camp demands are that there must be a safe return, we need security and all basic rights, including citizenship." He said the group would never accept the national verification card, that its members must be allowed to return to their own homes, paid compensation for losses and damage, and provided with protection from a UN mission. Gluck said the UNHCR was concerned that conditions in Rakhine state were not yet safe for voluntary returns, adding, "We urge both governments to ensure that any return is based on informed consent and takes place in safety and dignity."

Bangladesh says to meet with Myanmar on Rohingya trapped at border

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade.

Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border.

The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief&#39;s Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals.&nbsp;

&quot;The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing,&quot; a senior police officer from the anti-drug department said on the condition of anonymity.

The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of &quot;ice&quot; -crystal meth- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million.&nbsp;

The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas.

Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN&#39;s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Myanmar&#39;s conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia&#39;s meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade.

Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years.

Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar troops seized narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade. Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border. The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief's Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals. "The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing," a senior police officer from the anti-drug department said on the condition of anonymity. The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of "ice" -crystal meth- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million. The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas. Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Myanmar's conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia's meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond. Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade. Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years. Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar seizes drugs and equipment worth $7 million in lab raid

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade.

Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border.

The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief`s Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals.&nbsp;

&quot;The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing,&quot; a senior police officer from the anti-drug department told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of &quot;ice&quot; -- crystal meth -- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million.&nbsp;

The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas.

Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN`s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Myanmar`s conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia`s meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade.

Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years.

Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said Monday, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade. Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes (571 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border. The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chief`s Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals. "The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing," a senior police officer from the anti-drug department told AFP on the condition of anonymity. The bust took place in Kutkai township, where a record seizure last month brought in 30 million meth pills, two tonnes of "ice" -- crystal meth -- and heroin, with an estimated combined value of $54 million. The raids come as the military continues its seasonal offensive against ethnic minority armed groups in the lawless border areas. Last week alone, clashes between the army and rebels in Kutkai and neighbouring Hseni township displaced some 870 civilians, according to the UN`s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Myanmar`s conflict-riddled northeast is a hub for Asia`s meth producers, who pump out narcotics that are showered across Southeast Asia and beyond. Drugs trafficking fuels much of the fighting between the army and the ethnic rebels -- both of whom are accused of profiting from the illicit trade. Myanmar is the second-largest opium producer in the world after Afghanistan, although a surge in demand for meth has caused a slump in poppy cultivation in recent years. Rights groups accuse the military and armed groups of extrajudicial killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Myanmar seizes drugs, equipment worth $7 mn in lab raid

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Senior management officials at Gitanjali Gems have called it quits. In a regulatory filing on Monday, the company revealed that CFO Chandrakant Karkare, company&rsquo;s vice-president (compliance) and a company secretary have resigned.&nbsp;

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Actor<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-priya-prakash-varrier-wants-to-work-with-shah-rukh-khan-ranveer-singh-32852">&nbsp;Priya Prakash Varrier and director Omar Lulu&nbsp;have filed a plea</a>&nbsp;in Supreme Court over the case registered against her film &quot;Oru Adaar Love&quot;&nbsp;in Telangana.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-registers-case-against-rotomac-directors-for-cheating-seven-banks-33364" target="_blank">CBI registers case against </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-registers-case-against-rotomac-directors-for-cheating-seven-banks-33364" target="_blank">Rotomac</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbi-registers-case-against-rotomac-directors-for-cheating-seven-banks-33364" target="_blank"> directors for cheating seven banks</a>

The Central&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/case-of-loan-default-not-fraud-vikram-kotharis-lawyer-33359">Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has</a>&nbsp;registered a case against Rotomac directors alleging that the conspirators cheated seven banks by syphoning off bank loans worth Rs 2,919 crore.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-says-to-meet-with-myanmar-on-rohingya-trapped-at-border-33378" target="_blank">Bangladesh says to meet with Myanmar on Rohingya trapped at border</a>

Representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar will meet on Tuesday to discuss the repatriation to Myanmar of more than 6,500 Rohingya Muslims trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries, Bangladeshi officials said.

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The Iran aviation authorities have not confirmed the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/wethevoice/remains-of-iranian-passenger-plane-found-in-central-iran-reports-33375" target="_blank">&nbsp;wreckage of the Iranian plane</a>&nbsp;that was found in the search operation on Monday.&nbsp; The confirmation was released by Iran`s Civil Aviation Organisation few minutes after the&nbsp;deputy governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said to a state media&nbsp;that the remains of the planes were&nbsp;found in Central Iran.&nbsp;

PNB scam: Amid nationwide raids, top Gitanjali Gems officials quit Senior management officials at Gitanjali Gems have called it quits. In a regulatory filing on Monday, the company revealed that CFO Chandrakant Karkare, company’s vice-president (compliance) and a company secretary have resigned. Priya Prakash Varrier moves Supreme Court over case filed against Oru Adaar Love Actor Priya Prakash Varrier and director Omar Lulu have filed a plea in Supreme Court over the case registered against her film "Oru Adaar Love" in Telangana. CBI registers case against Rotomac directors for cheating seven banks The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has registered a case against Rotomac directors alleging that the conspirators cheated seven banks by syphoning off bank loans worth Rs 2,919 crore. Bangladesh says to meet with Myanmar on Rohingya trapped at border Representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar will meet on Tuesday to discuss the repatriation to Myanmar of more than 6,500 Rohingya Muslims trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries, Bangladeshi officials said. Cannot confirm 'wreckage' found in search operation of crashed plane: Iran The Iran aviation authorities have not confirmed the wreckage of the Iranian plane that was found in the search operation on Monday. The confirmation was released by Iran`s Civil Aviation Organisation few minutes after the deputy governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said to a state media that the remains of the planes were found in Central Iran.

WION Evening News brief, February 19, 2018

A free app on farmer San San Hla`s smartphone is her new weapon in the war against the dreaded stem borer moth that blighted her rice paddy in southern Myanmar for the last two years.

As she watches her workers haul in this year`s harvest, the 35-year-old is in a triumphant mood, ascribing her victory over the seasonal scourge to advice received via the app about effective pesticide use.

&quot;We used to just farm the way our parents showed us,&quot; she told AFP, in her village of Aye Ywar west of Yangon.

&quot;But after getting the app, I now see how we should be doing it... it`s better to use proper techniques rather than just working blindly.&quot;

San San Hla is among a growing cohort of farmers who are turning to tech to address the knowledge gap in a country where two-thirds of the workforce are employed in agriculture.

The sector accounts for some 28 per cent of the country`s GDP, but yields are low with farmers cut-off from modern technology under decades of isolationist junta rule.&nbsp;

For people like San San Hla apps could be the answer.

They are providing farmers with up-to-date information on everything from weather, climate change, crop prices to advice on pesticides and fertilisers.

Chat forums are connecting farmers, allowing them to swap tips while experts are on hand to answer queries.

The &quot;Green Way&quot; app is the brainchild of two former agricultural students, who in 2011 set up a website for farmers, often working through the night to keep it updated.

But at the time few farmers had internet access, recalls Yin Yin Phyu, 28, explaining the &quot;idea just didn`t take off.&quot;

Then smartphones arrived and everything changed.

As Myanmar opened its doors, telecoms companies rushed in to grab market share, thrusting Myanmar beyond the era of desktop computers and old-style mobile phones.

The cost of sim cards, once the tightly-controlled reserve of the well-connected, or special branch spies, plummeted from an unattainable $3,000 in 2005 to $1.50 in 2013.

Competitors practically gave away smartphone handsets as they fell over themselves to build up brand loyalty.

Mobile penetration stood at just seven per cent in 2012. By the end of 2017, smartphone penetration had rocketed to 80 per cent.

A nascent tech hub followed and outside of agriculture, apps were created for everything from healthcare to Myanmar`s parliament.

Farmers, many among the country`s poorest, today find themselves with a mobile computer in their hands -- a game-changer for the entrepreneurs behind `Green Way,` who launched their app in 2016 and now employ 18 full-time staff.

&quot;`Green way` is my dream to link farmers and experts,&quot; Yin Yin Phyu told AFP. &quot;The farmers can get help whenever they need.&quot;

Some 70,000 farmers have already downloaded the app although she hears far more are accessing it through phone-to-phone sharing.Greater productivity at Myanmar`s farms could reshape both its economy and society, says 71-year-old agricultural expert Myo Myint.

&quot;Many workers migrate to other countries because they can`t make enough money to live from agriculture in Myanmar,&quot; he says.

&quot;Farmers need technology and investment.&quot;

A 2017 World Bank study found farmers in some areas of the country still earn as little as $2 per day.

Productivity is also relatively low with only 23kg of rice paddy generated in one day of work in Myanmar compared to 62kg in Cambodia, 429kg in Vietnam, and 547kg in Thailand.

The founder of the &quot;Golden Paddy&quot; app says the new tech is not best suited to struggling farmers at the bottom of the ladder.

They do not have the time or resources to implement advice on changing seeds or fertiliser.

Instead, the apps are aimed at smallholder farmers to allow them to &quot;become a little more commercial,&quot; Dutchman Erwin Sikma explains.

Similar projects in other developing countries - in India and parts of Africa - are still reliant on old-style phones and information by SMS.

Myanmar now has the chance to leapfrog that era to become an agricultural trailblazer.

But that also means the country is in uncharted territory.

&quot;We have a lot of first-mover disadvantages,&quot; Erwin Sikma says.

&quot;It`s a start-up in a completely new model in a completely new market or economy so we need all the help we can get.&quot;

&nbsp;

The apps are providing farmers with up-to-date information on everything from weather, climate change, crop prices to advice on pesticides and fertilisers

A free app on farmer San San Hla`s smartphone is her new weapon in the war against the dreaded stem borer moth that blighted her rice paddy in southern Myanmar for the last two years. As she watches her workers haul in this year`s harvest, the 35-year-old is in a triumphant mood, ascribing her victory over the seasonal scourge to advice received via the app about effective pesticide use. "We used to just farm the way our parents showed us," she told AFP, in her village of Aye Ywar west of Yangon. "But after getting the app, I now see how we should be doing it... it`s better to use proper techniques rather than just working blindly." San San Hla is among a growing cohort of farmers who are turning to tech to address the knowledge gap in a country where two-thirds of the workforce are employed in agriculture. The sector accounts for some 28 per cent of the country`s GDP, but yields are low with farmers cut-off from modern technology under decades of isolationist junta rule. For people like San San Hla apps could be the answer. They are providing farmers with up-to-date information on everything from weather, climate change, crop prices to advice on pesticides and fertilisers. Chat forums are connecting farmers, allowing them to swap tips while experts are on hand to answer queries. The "Green Way" app is the brainchild of two former agricultural students, who in 2011 set up a website for farmers, often working through the night to keep it updated. But at the time few farmers had internet access, recalls Yin Yin Phyu, 28, explaining the "idea just didn`t take off." Then smartphones arrived and everything changed. As Myanmar opened its doors, telecoms companies rushed in to grab market share, thrusting Myanmar beyond the era of desktop computers and old-style mobile phones. The cost of sim cards, once the tightly-controlled reserve of the well-connected, or special branch spies, plummeted from an unattainable $3,000 in 2005 to $1.50 in 2013. Competitors practically gave away smartphone handsets as they fell over themselves to build up brand loyalty. Mobile penetration stood at just seven per cent in 2012. By the end of 2017, smartphone penetration had rocketed to 80 per cent. A nascent tech hub followed and outside of agriculture, apps were created for everything from healthcare to Myanmar`s parliament. Farmers, many among the country`s poorest, today find themselves with a mobile computer in their hands -- a game-changer for the entrepreneurs behind `Green Way,` who launched their app in 2016 and now employ 18 full-time staff. "`Green way` is my dream to link farmers and experts," Yin Yin Phyu told AFP. "The farmers can get help whenever they need." Some 70,000 farmers have already downloaded the app although she hears far more are accessing it through phone-to-phone sharing.Greater productivity at Myanmar`s farms could reshape both its economy and society, says 71-year-old agricultural expert Myo Myint. "Many workers migrate to other countries because they can`t make enough money to live from agriculture in Myanmar," he says. "Farmers need technology and investment." A 2017 World Bank study found farmers in some areas of the country still earn as little as $2 per day. Productivity is also relatively low with only 23kg of rice paddy generated in one day of work in Myanmar compared to 62kg in Cambodia, 429kg in Vietnam, and 547kg in Thailand. The founder of the "Golden Paddy" app says the new tech is not best suited to struggling farmers at the bottom of the ladder. They do not have the time or resources to implement advice on changing seeds or fertiliser. Instead, the apps are aimed at smallholder farmers to allow them to "become a little more commercial," Dutchman Erwin Sikma explains. Similar projects in other developing countries - in India and parts of Africa - are still reliant on old-style phones and information by SMS. Myanmar now has the chance to leapfrog that era to become an agricultural trailblazer. But that also means the country is in uncharted territory. "We have a lot of first-mover disadvantages," Erwin Sikma says. "It`s a start-up in a completely new model in a completely new market or economy so we need all the help we can get."

Myanmar farmers going against the grain with apps

Bangladesh Friday handed over a list of more than 8,000 Rohingya to Myanmar as it moves to kick-start their repatriation weeks after the process was halted due to lack of preparation.

Dhaka&#39;s home minister Asaduzzaman Khan formally gave the list to his Myanmar counterpart Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe after officials of the two nations held a meeting in the Bangladeshi capital.

&quot;We&#39;ve today handed over a list of 8,032 people from 1,673 families to them. The (Myanmar) delegation received it very cordially and told us they would start processing their repatriation,&quot; Khan told reporters.

Bangladesh reached a deal with Myanmar late last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingya who have fled across the border since August to escape a brutal military crackdown.

That was meant to start last month, but was delayed by a lack of preparation and protests by Rohingya refugees, most of whom say they do not wish to return without guarantees of safety.

Khan said more than one million Rohingya now live in squalid camps in Bangladesh&#39;s southeast and Dhaka hoped all of them would be repatriated to Myanmar.

&quot;We discussed how would they repatriate these people. The Myanmar delegation was very cordial about it and said they will take them back gradually,&quot; he said.

Bangladesh&#39;s refugee commissioner Abul Kalam told AFP Dhaka had already started construction of a transit camp and would start building another next week to facilitate the return of the Rohingya.

This week Bangladesh&#39;s junior foreign minister said they had signed a deal to involve the United Nations in the process of returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

He said the government was involving the UN refugee agency so that it could not be accused of sending anyone from the stateless Muslim minority back against their will.

He gave few details, but said refugees would be asked to fill out repatriation forms in the presence of UN officials.&nbsp;

But Rohingya refugees are still entering Bangladesh with claims of rights abuses by Buddhist mobs and the military in their native Rakhine state.

Home minister Khan acknowledged people were still crossing the border.&nbsp;

&quot;The (Myanmar) delegation has admitted it and told us they will try their best to stop it as soon as possible,&quot; he said

Many Rohingya have lost their homes to arson attacks in their villages, where witnesses and rights groups say entire Rohingya settlements have been burned to the ground.

New arrivals have brought harrowing tales of rape, murder and torture.

The Rohingya also want guarantees of citizenship before returning to Myanmar, which views them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh even though many have been there for generations.

Khan said there was no specific timeframe to start the repatriation but he hoped it would start soon.

&quot;No specific date came for repatriation but they showed sincerity and are taking preparations to take their nationals back,&quot; he said

He urged Myanmar to ensure the refugees&#39; return was &quot;sustainable&quot;, adding the Rohingya &quot;may face difficulties in resettling back into their land&quot;.&nbsp;

The two sides also discussed the fate of some 6,000 Rohingya refugees who have been stranded in no man&#39;s land on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border since September.

&quot;They said they have started processing repatriation of those refugees living on the (border&#39;s) zero line,&quot; Khan said, adding Myanmar has &quot;requested&quot; a joint meeting on their repatriation on February 20.

Last week a Myanmar government minister told refugees stranded on the border that they should take up a government offer to return, warning they will face &quot;consequences&quot; if they stay where they are.

A video circulated on social media apparently shows Myanmar&#39;s Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Aung Soe addressing a group of refugees through a barbed wire fence last Friday.

Dhaka's home minister Asaduzzaman Khan formally gave the list to his Myanmar counterpart Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe after officials of the two nations held a meeting in the Bangladeshi capital

Bangladesh Friday handed over a list of more than 8,000 Rohingya to Myanmar as it moves to kick-start their repatriation weeks after the process was halted due to lack of preparation. Dhaka's home minister Asaduzzaman Khan formally gave the list to his Myanmar counterpart Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe after officials of the two nations held a meeting in the Bangladeshi capital. "We've today handed over a list of 8,032 people from 1,673 families to them. The (Myanmar) delegation received it very cordially and told us they would start processing their repatriation," Khan told reporters. Bangladesh reached a deal with Myanmar late last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingya who have fled across the border since August to escape a brutal military crackdown. That was meant to start last month, but was delayed by a lack of preparation and protests by Rohingya refugees, most of whom say they do not wish to return without guarantees of safety. Khan said more than one million Rohingya now live in squalid camps in Bangladesh's southeast and Dhaka hoped all of them would be repatriated to Myanmar. "We discussed how would they repatriate these people. The Myanmar delegation was very cordial about it and said they will take them back gradually," he said. Bangladesh's refugee commissioner Abul Kalam told AFP Dhaka had already started construction of a transit camp and would start building another next week to facilitate the return of the Rohingya. This week Bangladesh's junior foreign minister said they had signed a deal to involve the United Nations in the process of returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He said the government was involving the UN refugee agency so that it could not be accused of sending anyone from the stateless Muslim minority back against their will. He gave few details, but said refugees would be asked to fill out repatriation forms in the presence of UN officials. But Rohingya refugees are still entering Bangladesh with claims of rights abuses by Buddhist mobs and the military in their native Rakhine state. Home minister Khan acknowledged people were still crossing the border. "The (Myanmar) delegation has admitted it and told us they will try their best to stop it as soon as possible," he said Many Rohingya have lost their homes to arson attacks in their villages, where witnesses and rights groups say entire Rohingya settlements have been burned to the ground. New arrivals have brought harrowing tales of rape, murder and torture. The Rohingya also want guarantees of citizenship before returning to Myanmar, which views them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh even though many have been there for generations. Khan said there was no specific timeframe to start the repatriation but he hoped it would start soon. "No specific date came for repatriation but they showed sincerity and are taking preparations to take their nationals back," he said He urged Myanmar to ensure the refugees' return was "sustainable", adding the Rohingya "may face difficulties in resettling back into their land". The two sides also discussed the fate of some 6,000 Rohingya refugees who have been stranded in no man's land on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border since September. "They said they have started processing repatriation of those refugees living on the (border's) zero line," Khan said, adding Myanmar has "requested" a joint meeting on their repatriation on February 20. Last week a Myanmar government minister told refugees stranded on the border that they should take up a government offer to return, warning they will face "consequences" if they stay where they are. A video circulated on social media apparently shows Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Aung Soe addressing a group of refugees through a barbed wire fence last Friday.

Bangladesh hands over list of 8,000 Rohingyas, Myanmar says will start repatriation

UN High Commissioner for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-urges-un-to-hold-myanmar-military-accountable-for-ethnic-cleansing-32784">Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the</a> Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas.

&quot;Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees,&quot; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Grandi statement comes as US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Myanmar government has denied &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; in Rakhine State.

&quot;The causes of their flight have not been addressed, and we have yet to see substantive progress on addressing the exclusion and denial of rights that has deepened over the last decades, rooted in their lack of citizenship,&quot; Grandi told the Security Council.

The UN refugee chief said that while Rohingyas&#39; exodus had significantly decreased, however, the &quot;flow&quot;&nbsp;continued as some 1,500 refugees arrived in Bangladesh this month.

The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them.

Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety.

Meanwhile, French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas &quot;could constitute crimes against humanity.&quot;

French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas "could constitute crimes against humanity."

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas. "Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said. Grandi statement comes as US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Myanmar government has denied "ethnic cleansing" in Rakhine State. "The causes of their flight have not been addressed, and we have yet to see substantive progress on addressing the exclusion and denial of rights that has deepened over the last decades, rooted in their lack of citizenship," Grandi told the Security Council. The UN refugee chief said that while Rohingyas' exodus had significantly decreased, however, the "flow" continued as some 1,500 refugees arrived in Bangladesh this month. The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them. Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety. Meanwhile, French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas "could constitute crimes against humanity."

Conditions not conducive for voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Two armed ethnic groups will sign on to a ceasefire in Myanmar today in a ceremony the government hopes will showcase a significant victory for a peace process derided as &quot;broken&quot; by critics.

World attention has recently focused on the desperate plight of the some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims forced over the border into Bangladesh in western Myanmar by a violent military campaign.

But this is just one of some two dozen conflicts festering around the country&#39;s restive fringes, where ethnic minorities have been locked in decades-long battles with the state for more autonomy.

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi announced that securing peace was her top priority when her civilian administration took office in 2016, ending five decades of military domination.

But there has been little to show for the effort, with swathes of the borderlands still embroiled in often drug-fuelled unrest that has displaced tens of thousands of people.

On Tuesday the government can claim a symbolic victory after the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) ink the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Naypyidaw, joining eight other militias who had signed onto the pact before Suu Kyi took office.

The two groups have not actively clashed with the army for some time but were part of a bloc of powerful rebel armies that resisted signing the NCA under the former military-backed government.

&quot;We believe in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi but we&#39;ll have to see what happens on the road ahead because the government and the military are not very united,&quot; LDU chairman Kya Khun Sar told AFP ahead of the signing.

Myanmar&#39;s powerful army has stepped down from junta rule but still controls the key home affairs, borders and defence ministries as well as a quarter of parliamentary seats.

This effectively gives it carte blanche to conduct whatever military operations it wants around the country.

Many are therefore sceptical of success for Suu Kyi&#39;s &quot;21st Century Panglong&quot; peace talks, named after the agreement signed by her independence hero father that promised autonomy to major ethnic groups ahead of the country&#39;s independence from Britain in 1948.

&quot;Regardless of the theatre and pageantry of the NCA signing for the Mon and Lahu, the peace process is broken and only the state counsellor&#39;s office seems unaware of this reality,&quot; political analyst David Mathieson told AFP, saying that the military has been the &quot;main actor derailing the peace process&quot;.

Mai Win Htoo, a Taaung National Party MP, said peace negotiations have yet bear fruit in his community in restive northern Shan state.

&quot;Since it started, there has been more fighting in my area. People have had to run away. They lose their jobs, their homes. It has brought war on our area.&quot;

Myanmar&#39;s diverse patchwork of ethnic groups make up around a third of the population, but the government and military have long been dominated by the majority Bamar ethnicity, to which Suu Kyi belong

World attention has recently focused on the desperate plight of the some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims forced over the border into Bangladesh in western Myanmar by a violent military campaign

Two armed ethnic groups will sign on to a ceasefire in Myanmar today in a ceremony the government hopes will showcase a significant victory for a peace process derided as "broken" by critics. World attention has recently focused on the desperate plight of the some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims forced over the border into Bangladesh in western Myanmar by a violent military campaign. But this is just one of some two dozen conflicts festering around the country's restive fringes, where ethnic minorities have been locked in decades-long battles with the state for more autonomy. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi announced that securing peace was her top priority when her civilian administration took office in 2016, ending five decades of military domination. But there has been little to show for the effort, with swathes of the borderlands still embroiled in often drug-fuelled unrest that has displaced tens of thousands of people. On Tuesday the government can claim a symbolic victory after the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) ink the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Naypyidaw, joining eight other militias who had signed onto the pact before Suu Kyi took office. The two groups have not actively clashed with the army for some time but were part of a bloc of powerful rebel armies that resisted signing the NCA under the former military-backed government. "We believe in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi but we'll have to see what happens on the road ahead because the government and the military are not very united," LDU chairman Kya Khun Sar told AFP ahead of the signing. Myanmar's powerful army has stepped down from junta rule but still controls the key home affairs, borders and defence ministries as well as a quarter of parliamentary seats. This effectively gives it carte blanche to conduct whatever military operations it wants around the country. Many are therefore sceptical of success for Suu Kyi's "21st Century Panglong" peace talks, named after the agreement signed by her independence hero father that promised autonomy to major ethnic groups ahead of the country's independence from Britain in 1948. "Regardless of the theatre and pageantry of the NCA signing for the Mon and Lahu, the peace process is broken and only the state counsellor's office seems unaware of this reality," political analyst David Mathieson told AFP, saying that the military has been the "main actor derailing the peace process". Mai Win Htoo, a Taaung National Party MP, said peace negotiations have yet bear fruit in his community in restive northern Shan state. "Since it started, there has been more fighting in my area. People have had to run away. They lose their jobs, their homes. It has brought war on our area." Myanmar's diverse patchwork of ethnic groups make up around a third of the population, but the government and military have long been dominated by the majority Bamar ethnicity, to which Suu Kyi belong

Two ethnic groups sign up to Myanmar's 'broken' peace process

The UN&nbsp;refugee agency and other groups have urged a rethink of a plan to send Muslim Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar amid fears of forced repatriations without safeguards such as guaranteed citizenship after they fled to Bangladesh to escape bloodshed at home.&nbsp;

The calls come as Bangladesh delayed the repatriation of the largely stateless Rohingya to Myanmar that was set to begin on Tuesday, as the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back was incomplete.

&quot;In order for the repatriation to be (done) right, to be sustainable, actually viable...you need to really address a number of issues that for the time being we have heard nothing about,&quot; UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said in Geneva, noting that issues like citizenship had not been addressed.

More than 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh last year after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine state, amid witness reports of killings, looting and rape, in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25 last year.

Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations described Myanmar&#39;s crackdown as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Grandi said it was important to set up a monitoring mechanism in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state for those returning and noted that UNHCR currently did not have the ability to move freely and perform this role there.&nbsp;

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed earlier this month to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar says it has set up two reception centres and a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine state to receive the first arrivals.&nbsp;

Human Rights Watch, a non-government organization, said on Tuesday that Bangladesh should suspend the plan entirely as it &quot;threatens the refugees` security and well-being.&quot;

The plan has sparked fears in refugee camps in Bangladesh that people may be forced to return despite a lack of guarantees around their security.&nbsp;

One Rohingya man detained on Monday by the Bangladeshi military at the Palong Khali refugee camp following a protest against repatriations remained in police custody on Tuesday and was still being interrogated, officials said.&nbsp;

&quot;He was detained for instigating violence. He is in custody for interrogation,&quot; local police chief Abul Khayer told Reuters by telephone.

A UNHCR official said the agency plans to bring up the detention with Bangladesh during their next meeting, as the refugees were only staging a peaceful protest.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed earlier this month to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years

The UN refugee agency and other groups have urged a rethink of a plan to send Muslim Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar amid fears of forced repatriations without safeguards such as guaranteed citizenship after they fled to Bangladesh to escape bloodshed at home. The calls come as Bangladesh delayed the repatriation of the largely stateless Rohingya to Myanmar that was set to begin on Tuesday, as the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back was incomplete. "In order for the repatriation to be (done) right, to be sustainable, actually viable...you need to really address a number of issues that for the time being we have heard nothing about," UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said in Geneva, noting that issues like citizenship had not been addressed. More than 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh last year after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine state, amid witness reports of killings, looting and rape, in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25 last year. Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations described Myanmar's crackdown as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Grandi said it was important to set up a monitoring mechanism in Myanmar's Rakhine state for those returning and noted that UNHCR currently did not have the ability to move freely and perform this role there. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed earlier this month to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar says it has set up two reception centres and a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine state to receive the first arrivals. Human Rights Watch, a non-government organization, said on Tuesday that Bangladesh should suspend the plan entirely as it "threatens the refugees` security and well-being." The plan has sparked fears in refugee camps in Bangladesh that people may be forced to return despite a lack of guarantees around their security. One Rohingya man detained on Monday by the Bangladeshi military at the Palong Khali refugee camp following a protest against repatriations remained in police custody on Tuesday and was still being interrogated, officials said. "He was detained for instigating violence. He is in custody for interrogation," local police chief Abul Khayer told Reuters by telephone. A UNHCR official said the agency plans to bring up the detention with Bangladesh during their next meeting, as the refugees were only staging a peaceful protest.

Aid groups urge rethink of Rohingya repatriations without safeguards

A senior Bangladesh official has told Reuters that the process of repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar has been delayed due to delay in compiling the list of people.

Abul Kalam, Bangladesh&rsquo;s refugee relief and rehabilitation commissioner did not set the date for repatriation even several refugees in camps opposed the repatriation.

Bangladesh had earlier agreed to repatriate the Rohingya refugees living in relief camps in Cox&#39;s Bazaar and other areas bordering Myanmar.&nbsp;

The exodus of refugees which had started on August 25th last year has been marred by controversies. The UN in its report said over 6,50,000 refugees have crossed over to Bangladesh in the wake of alleged persecution by the Bangladesh army in the Rakhine state.

As a result, several refugees have expressed fears over their repatriation and have requested extra security from the Myanmar government.&nbsp;

Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The UN and the US had denounced the Myanmar government earlier terming the treatment meted out to the Rohingya refugees as a case of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.&nbsp;

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said the repatriation should be &quot;voluntary&quot; as several refugees have walked all the way from Rakhine State, through forests surviving adverse conditions.

Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return, Reuters reported.

A senior Bangladesh official has told Reuters that the process of repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar has been delayed due to delay in compiling the list of people. Abul Kalam, Bangladesh’s refugee relief and rehabilitation commissioner did not set the date for repatriation even several refugees in camps opposed the repatriation. Bangladesh had earlier agreed to repatriate the Rohingya refugees living in relief camps in Cox's Bazaar and other areas bordering Myanmar. The exodus of refugees which had started on August 25th last year has been marred by controversies. The UN in its report said over 6,50,000 refugees have crossed over to Bangladesh in the wake of alleged persecution by the Bangladesh army in the Rakhine state. As a result, several refugees have expressed fears over their repatriation and have requested extra security from the Myanmar government. Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return, Reuters reported. The UN and the US had denounced the Myanmar government earlier terming the treatment meted out to the Rohingya refugees as a case of "ethnic cleansing". The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said the repatriation should be "voluntary" as several refugees have walked all the way from Rakhine State, through forests surviving adverse conditions.

Repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar delayed

Myanmar is making final preparations to take back the first batch of Rohingya Muslims who had fled conflict in troubled Rakhine state, state media said on Saturday, despite growing doubts about the plan among refugees and in the United Nations.

Rakhine state chief minister Nyi Pu &ldquo;insisted on completion of the finishing touches on buildings, medical clinics and sanitation infrastructures&rdquo; during a visit to repatriation camps in the state on Friday, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

It published a photo of his delegation standing by a long, wooden house that will be used to house returnees at the camp near the town of Maungtaw. A wire-mesh fence topped by barbed wire appears in the background of the photo.

Over 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25. The United Nations described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Myanmar will start receiving Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centres and the temporary camp near Maungtaw starting on Tuesday and continuing over the next two years, under an agreement the two countries signed this week.

Bangladesh will provide an advance list of prospective returnees with forms attesting to their residency in Myanmar, the newspaper said. Some returnees will cross over by land and others via a river along the border, it said.

Rohingya refugees at the sprawling Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh are balking at going back until Myanmar can guarantee their safety, among other demands listed in a petition drawn up by camp leaders and shown to Reuters.

Even as Myanmar gets ready to start receiving the Rohingya next week, more of them are fleeing continued military operations in Rakhine, newly arrived refugees camp have told Reuters.

More than 100 Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine fled into Bangladesh and scores more were waiting to cross the Naf river that forms the border, they said.

&lsquo;Concentration camps&rsquo;

Rohingya Muslim insurgents said on Saturday the repatriation plan was &ldquo;not acceptable&rdquo; and &ldquo;the Burmese terrorist government is deceitfully and crookedly offering Rohingya refugees to settle down in so-called temporary camps&rdquo;. Burma is the former name of Myanmar.

&ldquo;Repatriated Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh will never be able to settle down in their own ancestral lands and villages, rather than spending not only the rest of their lives but also the lives of their next generations to come in those concentration camps,&rdquo; the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) said in a statement on Twitter.

Myanmar has said it would build a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees before they are allowed to return to their &ldquo;place of origin&rdquo; or &ldquo;nearest to their place of origin.&rdquo;

Government spokesman Zaw Htay did not respond to requests for comment on the ARSA statement.

Paul Vrieze, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesman in Myanmar, cautioned that the returnees must not be rushed out of Bangladesh prematurely &ldquo;without the informed consent of refugees or the basic elements of lasting solutions in place&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Further measures are also required to ensure safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of refugees to their places of origin and to address the underlying root causes of the crisis,&rdquo; he told Reuters.

The UNHCR, which is helping to administer the refugee camps, is not involved in the repatriation exercise between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Rohingya refugees at the sprawling Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh are balking at going back until Myanmar can guarantee their safety

Myanmar is making final preparations to take back the first batch of Rohingya Muslims who had fled conflict in troubled Rakhine state, state media said on Saturday, despite growing doubts about the plan among refugees and in the United Nations. Rakhine state chief minister Nyi Pu “insisted on completion of the finishing touches on buildings, medical clinics and sanitation infrastructures” during a visit to repatriation camps in the state on Friday, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. It published a photo of his delegation standing by a long, wooden house that will be used to house returnees at the camp near the town of Maungtaw. A wire-mesh fence topped by barbed wire appears in the background of the photo. Over 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25. The United Nations described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Myanmar will start receiving Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centres and the temporary camp near Maungtaw starting on Tuesday and continuing over the next two years, under an agreement the two countries signed this week. Bangladesh will provide an advance list of prospective returnees with forms attesting to their residency in Myanmar, the newspaper said. Some returnees will cross over by land and others via a river along the border, it said. Rohingya refugees at the sprawling Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh are balking at going back until Myanmar can guarantee their safety, among other demands listed in a petition drawn up by camp leaders and shown to Reuters. Even as Myanmar gets ready to start receiving the Rohingya next week, more of them are fleeing continued military operations in Rakhine, newly arrived refugees camp have told Reuters. More than 100 Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine fled into Bangladesh and scores more were waiting to cross the Naf river that forms the border, they said. ‘Concentration camps’ Rohingya Muslim insurgents said on Saturday the repatriation plan was “not acceptable” and “the Burmese terrorist government is deceitfully and crookedly offering Rohingya refugees to settle down in so-called temporary camps”. Burma is the former name of Myanmar. “Repatriated Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh will never be able to settle down in their own ancestral lands and villages, rather than spending not only the rest of their lives but also the lives of their next generations to come in those concentration camps,” the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) said in a statement on Twitter. Myanmar has said it would build a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees before they are allowed to return to their “place of origin” or “nearest to their place of origin.” Government spokesman Zaw Htay did not respond to requests for comment on the ARSA statement. Paul Vrieze, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesman in Myanmar, cautioned that the returnees must not be rushed out of Bangladesh prematurely “without the informed consent of refugees or the basic elements of lasting solutions in place”. “Further measures are also required to ensure safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of refugees to their places of origin and to address the underlying root causes of the crisis,” he told Reuters. The UNHCR, which is helping to administer the refugee camps, is not involved in the repatriation exercise between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Myanmar finalises preparations for repatriation of Rohingya Muslims

Tensions mounted on Sunday at refugee camps in Bangladesh holding hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims over an operation to send them back to Myanmar, from where they have fled following a military crackdown.

Dozens of refugees stood holding cloth banners opposing their transfer as United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee visited camps along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border over the weekend. Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return.

Under an agreement signed last week, Myanmar is set to receive Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centres and a temporary camp near their common border starting on Tuesday and continuing over the next two years.

The refugees refuse to go back unless their safety can be guaranteed and Myanmars grant their demands to be given citizenship and inclusion in a list of recognised ethnic minorities. They are also asking that their homes, mosques and schools that were burned down or damaged in the military operation be rebuilt.

Over 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine state in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25. The United Nations described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Rohingya elders told Reuters that Bangladeshi army officials have called or met them over the last two days, asking them to prepare lists of families from their camps for repatriation. Four of them said they were among more than 70 camp leaders &ndash; representing thousands of refugees &ndash; who met army officers at the Gungdum camp on Saturday.

&ldquo;When we said we cannot provide the lists because people are not ready to return, they asked us to bring their WP cards,&rdquo; said Musa, a leader at the Gungdum camp, referring to relief cards provided by the UN&rsquo;s World Food Programme.

Rashedul Hasan, a spokesman for the Bangladesh army, said he was not aware of army men threatening to take away food cards.

Hundreds of refugees queue up at relief centres across the camps each morning to collect food using the cards. These centres are managed by the Bangladesh army.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has repeatedly said Rohingya returns need to be voluntary.

&ldquo;UNHCR has not been part of discussions (on repatriation) to date, but has offered support to engage in the process to ensure that the voices of refugees are heard,&rdquo; Caroline Gluck, a senior protection officer for the agency, said by email on Saturday.

&ldquo;The pace of returns should be determined by the refugees themselves.&rdquo;

The refugees refused to go back unless their safety can be guaranteed and Myanmar's grant their demands to be given citizenship and inclusion in a list of recognised ethnic minorities

Tensions mounted on Sunday at refugee camps in Bangladesh holding hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims over an operation to send them back to Myanmar, from where they have fled following a military crackdown. Dozens of refugees stood holding cloth banners opposing their transfer as United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee visited camps along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border over the weekend. Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return. Under an agreement signed last week, Myanmar is set to receive Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centres and a temporary camp near their common border starting on Tuesday and continuing over the next two years. The refugees refuse to go back unless their safety can be guaranteed and Myanmars grant their demands to be given citizenship and inclusion in a list of recognised ethnic minorities. They are also asking that their homes, mosques and schools that were burned down or damaged in the military operation be rebuilt. Over 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine state in response to militant attacks on security forces on August 25. The United Nations described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Rohingya elders told Reuters that Bangladeshi army officials have called or met them over the last two days, asking them to prepare lists of families from their camps for repatriation. Four of them said they were among more than 70 camp leaders – representing thousands of refugees – who met army officers at the Gungdum camp on Saturday. “When we said we cannot provide the lists because people are not ready to return, they asked us to bring their WP cards,” said Musa, a leader at the Gungdum camp, referring to relief cards provided by the UN’s World Food Programme. Rashedul Hasan, a spokesman for the Bangladesh army, said he was not aware of army men threatening to take away food cards. Hundreds of refugees queue up at relief centres across the camps each morning to collect food using the cards. These centres are managed by the Bangladesh army. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has repeatedly said Rohingya returns need to be voluntary. “UNHCR has not been part of discussions (on repatriation) to date, but has offered support to engage in the process to ensure that the voices of refugees are heard,” Caroline Gluck, a senior protection officer for the agency, said by email on Saturday. “The pace of returns should be determined by the refugees themselves.”

Tensions mount in Rohingya camps ahead of planned relocation to Myanmar

Myanmar blamed Bangladesh on Tuesday for delays to a huge repatriation programme for Rohingya refugees, as the deadline passed for starting the return of the Muslim minority to strife-torn Rakhine state.

More than 680,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a brutal Myanmar army crackdown began last August, while a further 100,000 fled a previous bout of violence in October 2016.

Myanmar agreed that from January 23 it would start taking them back from the squalid camps in the Cox`s Bazar district of Bangladesh where they have sought shelter.

But a Bangladeshi official said Monday the programme would not begin as planned.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said there was much more work to be done.

The complex process of registering huge numbers of the dispossessed has been further cast into doubt by the refugees, who are too afraid to return to the scene of what the UN has called &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Myanmar authorities are also accused of drawing out the process by agreeing to take back just 1,500 people a week.

It has prepared two reception camps on its side of the border.

Myanmar officials said that by Tuesday afternoon no Rohingya had crossed back into Rakhine, the scene of alleged widespread atrocities by Myanmar`s army and ethnic Rakhine mobs.

&quot;We are right now ready to receive... we are completely ready to welcome them according to the agreement,&quot; Kyaw Tin, Minister of International Cooperation told reporters in Naypyidaw, Myanmar`s capital.

&quot;We have seen the news that the Bangladesh side is not ready, but we have not received any official&quot; explanation, he added.

National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said &quot;it is our hope that this will commence today as agreed.&quot;

With hundreds of Rohingya villages torched and communal tensions still at boiling point in Rakhine, rights groups say Rohingya returnees will be at best corralled into long-term camps.

Those who return must sign a form verifying they did so voluntarily and pledging to abide by Myanmar laws.

Myanmar has sent a list of more than 1,000 &quot;wanted&quot; alleged Rohingya militants to Bangladesh, while headshot photos of the suspects have been widely circulated inside the country.

In a sign of the tensions attached to the repatriation issue, a second Rohingya leader was killed in Bangladesh camps on Monday -- allegedly after endorsing the returns programme.

Bangladesh, one of Asia`s poorest countries, has been besieged by an influx of Rohingya since communal violence flared in 2016.

Dhaka has tried to use the global outcry over the crisis to press Myanmar into taking back the refugees before they settle -- joining an estimated 200,000 Rohingya stuck in Cox`s Bazar camps since a previous bout of violence in the 1990s.

&nbsp;

Myanmar agreed that from January 23 it would start taking them back from the squalid camps in the Cox`s Bazar district of Bangladesh where they have sought shelter. But a Bangladeshi official said Monday the programme would not begin as planned

Myanmar blamed Bangladesh on Tuesday for delays to a huge repatriation programme for Rohingya refugees, as the deadline passed for starting the return of the Muslim minority to strife-torn Rakhine state. More than 680,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a brutal Myanmar army crackdown began last August, while a further 100,000 fled a previous bout of violence in October 2016. Myanmar agreed that from January 23 it would start taking them back from the squalid camps in the Cox`s Bazar district of Bangladesh where they have sought shelter. But a Bangladeshi official said Monday the programme would not begin as planned. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said there was much more work to be done. The complex process of registering huge numbers of the dispossessed has been further cast into doubt by the refugees, who are too afraid to return to the scene of what the UN has called "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar authorities are also accused of drawing out the process by agreeing to take back just 1,500 people a week. It has prepared two reception camps on its side of the border. Myanmar officials said that by Tuesday afternoon no Rohingya had crossed back into Rakhine, the scene of alleged widespread atrocities by Myanmar`s army and ethnic Rakhine mobs. "We are right now ready to receive... we are completely ready to welcome them according to the agreement," Kyaw Tin, Minister of International Cooperation told reporters in Naypyidaw, Myanmar`s capital. "We have seen the news that the Bangladesh side is not ready, but we have not received any official" explanation, he added. National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said "it is our hope that this will commence today as agreed." With hundreds of Rohingya villages torched and communal tensions still at boiling point in Rakhine, rights groups say Rohingya returnees will be at best corralled into long-term camps. Those who return must sign a form verifying they did so voluntarily and pledging to abide by Myanmar laws. Myanmar has sent a list of more than 1,000 "wanted" alleged Rohingya militants to Bangladesh, while headshot photos of the suspects have been widely circulated inside the country. In a sign of the tensions attached to the repatriation issue, a second Rohingya leader was killed in Bangladesh camps on Monday -- allegedly after endorsing the returns programme. Bangladesh, one of Asia`s poorest countries, has been besieged by an influx of Rohingya since communal violence flared in 2016. Dhaka has tried to use the global outcry over the crisis to press Myanmar into taking back the refugees before they settle -- joining an estimated 200,000 Rohingya stuck in Cox`s Bazar camps since a previous bout of violence in the 1990s.

Myanmar blames Bangladesh for delayed Rohingya return

Aung San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;remains&nbsp;Myanmar&#39;s&nbsp;best&nbsp;hope&nbsp;for change, veteran US&nbsp;mediator Bill&nbsp;Richardson&nbsp;said on Friday, days after he got into a fight with the Nobel laureate and quite an international panel advising her government on the Rohingya crisis.

Richardson&nbsp;said&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;- whom he described as a long-time friend - had developed a &quot;siege mentality&quot; in her position as&nbsp;Myanmar&#39;s&nbsp;State Counsellor, the country&#39;s civilian leader, but added that Western governments should continue to engage with her.

&quot;The relationship with the West, with human rights groups, with the United Nations, with the international media is terrible,&quot; he told Reuters by phone from New Mexico on Friday.

&quot;And I think Aung San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;has brought this upon herself, the constant disparagement of the international community, which I think can be helpful to her ... She seems isolated. She doesn&#39;t travel much into the country. I think she&#39;s developed a classic bubble.&quot;

Richardson&nbsp;said he resigned from the advisory board on Wednesday, during its first visit to troubled Rakhine State, saying it was conducting a &quot;whitewash&quot;.&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&#39;s office said on Thursday her government had asked&nbsp;Richardson&nbsp;to step down and accused him of pursuing &quot;his own agenda&quot;.

Suu&nbsp;Kyi&#39;s government said on Friday it did not want discuss the details of the exchange between Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;and&nbsp;Richardson&nbsp;any further.

Around 688,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to Bangladesh in recent months to escape an army crackdown following insurgent attacks on security forces.

&quot;I think the Myanmar military is to blame a lot and the only person that can turn them around, I believe, is Aung San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi, and she should start doing that,&quot; said&nbsp;Richardson, a former US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton who has also worked as a mediator with North Korea.

Richardson&nbsp;said he had informed the US&nbsp;ambassador in Yangon and the State Department of his intention to resign but had not sought their guidance.

Richardson&nbsp;said that before his trip to Myanmar, he spoke to US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who visited the country in November. &quot;He called me and gave me a briefing on his visit and that was all,&quot; he told Reuters in a separate television interview.

A State Department spokesman said he could not immediately confirm details of&nbsp;Richardson&#39;s contacts.

Furious Argument

A statement on Thursday from the nine remaining members of the advisory board said they met this week &quot;with open minds&quot; and rejected&nbsp;Richardson&#39;s criticism that he feared the panel would be used as &quot;a cheerleading squad&quot;.

Richardson&nbsp;said&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&#39;s response at a Monday night dinner was &quot;furious&quot; when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters, who were arrested on Dec. 12 on suspicion of violatingMyanmar&#39;s&nbsp;Official Secrets Act.

&quot;She was very angry with me when I raised releasing the journalists, giving them a fair trial,&quot; he said.

&quot;She was upset when I said there should be an investigation of the mass-graves issue, that they had to increase their international support for the treatment of the Rohingyas, the terrible refugee crisis. She exploded. She was very unhappy, and it shows that she didn&#39;t want to hear frank advice.&quot;

Her office said it would not be commenting further on the exchange.

&quot;We already published a statement and also the advisory board published a statement. The judge will decide whether the journalists committed the crime or not. It is Contempt of Court. Even in America, they wouldn&#39;t involve themselves in a case while the case is ongoing in a court hearing,&quot; said Zaw Htay,&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&#39;s spokesman.&nbsp;

Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine.

Richardson&nbsp;said it was important for Western governments, the United Nations and&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;to enter into a new dialogue &quot;to try to help each other, not to keep fighting each other&quot; before any thoughts of new sanctions on Myanmar.

&quot;What we don&#39;t want is to have Aung San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;just listen to ASEAN countries, China or Russia. They need engagement with the West. We&#39;re all former friends. She needs to change, and perhaps the West needs to give her another chance and not impose sanctions.&quot;

Myanmar&#39;s&nbsp;armed forces have been accused by Rohingya witnesses and human rights activists of carrying out killings, rapes and arson in Rakhine in a campaign senior officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that label and has denied nearly all the allegations.

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed earlier this month to complete the voluntary repatriation of all the refugees. The remaining members of the advisory board on Wednesday toured temporary camps the government has set up for returnees.

Richardson&nbsp;said he did not believe conditions were yet right for the repatriation process to begin.

&quot;I believe that the Myanmar government has emphasised speed instead of systems,&quot; he said. &quot;There&#39;s been too much emphasis on quick results rather than assuring that safety is guaranteed.&quot;

Richardson said he resigned from the advisory board on Wednesday, during its first visit to troubled Rakhine State

Aung San Suu Kyi remains Myanmar's best hope for change, veteran US mediator Bill Richardson said on Friday, days after he got into a fight with the Nobel laureate and quite an international panel advising her government on the Rohingya crisis. Richardson said Suu Kyi - whom he described as a long-time friend - had developed a "siege mentality" in her position as Myanmar's State Counsellor, the country's civilian leader, but added that Western governments should continue to engage with her. "The relationship with the West, with human rights groups, with the United Nations, with the international media is terrible," he told Reuters by phone from New Mexico on Friday. "And I think Aung San Suu Kyi has brought this upon herself, the constant disparagement of the international community, which I think can be helpful to her ... She seems isolated. She doesn't travel much into the country. I think she's developed a classic bubble." Richardson said he resigned from the advisory board on Wednesday, during its first visit to troubled Rakhine State, saying it was conducting a "whitewash". Suu Kyi's office said on Thursday her government had asked Richardson to step down and accused him of pursuing "his own agenda". Suu Kyi's government said on Friday it did not want discuss the details of the exchange between Suu Kyi and Richardson any further. Around 688,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to Bangladesh in recent months to escape an army crackdown following insurgent attacks on security forces. "I think the Myanmar military is to blame a lot and the only person that can turn them around, I believe, is Aung San Suu Kyi, and she should start doing that," said Richardson, a former US ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton who has also worked as a mediator with North Korea. Richardson said he had informed the US ambassador in Yangon and the State Department of his intention to resign but had not sought their guidance. Richardson said that before his trip to Myanmar, he spoke to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who visited the country in November. "He called me and gave me a briefing on his visit and that was all," he told Reuters in a separate television interview. A State Department spokesman said he could not immediately confirm details of Richardson's contacts. Furious Argument A statement on Thursday from the nine remaining members of the advisory board said they met this week "with open minds" and rejected Richardson's criticism that he feared the panel would be used as "a cheerleading squad". Richardson said Suu Kyi's response at a Monday night dinner was "furious" when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters, who were arrested on Dec. 12 on suspicion of violatingMyanmar's Official Secrets Act. "She was very angry with me when I raised releasing the journalists, giving them a fair trial," he said. "She was upset when I said there should be an investigation of the mass-graves issue, that they had to increase their international support for the treatment of the Rohingyas, the terrible refugee crisis. She exploded. She was very unhappy, and it shows that she didn't want to hear frank advice." Her office said it would not be commenting further on the exchange. "We already published a statement and also the advisory board published a statement. The judge will decide whether the journalists committed the crime or not. It is Contempt of Court. Even in America, they wouldn't involve themselves in a case while the case is ongoing in a court hearing," said Zaw Htay, Suu Kyi's spokesman. Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine. Richardson said it was important for Western governments, the United Nations and Suu Kyi to enter into a new dialogue "to try to help each other, not to keep fighting each other" before any thoughts of new sanctions on Myanmar. "What we don't want is to have Aung San Suu Kyi just listen to ASEAN countries, China or Russia. They need engagement with the West. We're all former friends. She needs to change, and perhaps the West needs to give her another chance and not impose sanctions." Myanmar's armed forces have been accused by Rohingya witnesses and human rights activists of carrying out killings, rapes and arson in Rakhine in a campaign senior officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that label and has denied nearly all the allegations. Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed earlier this month to complete the voluntary repatriation of all the refugees. The remaining members of the advisory board on Wednesday toured temporary camps the government has set up for returnees. Richardson said he did not believe conditions were yet right for the repatriation process to begin. "I believe that the Myanmar government has emphasised speed instead of systems," he said. "There's been too much emphasis on quick results rather than assuring that safety is guaranteed."

Aung Suu Kyi remains Myanmar's best hope: US mediator Bill Richardson

The stage is set in New Delhi, India for two days ASEAN-India commemorative summit, an international meet to commemorate 26 years of&nbsp;India-ASEAN relations and its partnership.

Heads of all ten ASEAN member countries will be in India to attend the summit two-day summit from 25-26 of January.

Heads of ASEAN member countries, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei would start arriving in the country on January 25.

During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to have a bilateral meeting with leaders of ASEAN nations.

The ASEAN heads will be received by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind and will be followed by lunch at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The leaders coming from ASEAN member countries will also attend Republic day parade and will make a walk in Mughal garden which would be followed by a formal photo shoot.

During the Summit Tour de Exhibition of 20 paintings of ASEAN-India Artists&rsquo; Camp will also be on display inside Mumtaz Hall.

Several cultural programmes will also be organised in honour of the ASEAN leader.

India and ASEAN have celebrated 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership in 2017.

Heads of all ten ASEAN member countries will be in India to attend the summit two-day summit from 25-26 of January

The stage is set in New Delhi, India for two days ASEAN-India commemorative summit, an international meet to commemorate 26 years of India-ASEAN relations and its partnership. Heads of all ten ASEAN member countries will be in India to attend the summit two-day summit from 25-26 of January. Heads of ASEAN member countries, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei would start arriving in the country on January 25. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to have a bilateral meeting with leaders of ASEAN nations. The ASEAN heads will be received by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind and will be followed by lunch at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The leaders coming from ASEAN member countries will also attend Republic day parade and will make a walk in Mughal garden which would be followed by a formal photo shoot. During the Summit Tour de Exhibition of 20 paintings of ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp will also be on display inside Mumtaz Hall. Several cultural programmes will also be organised in honour of the ASEAN leader. India and ASEAN have celebrated 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership in 2017.

Heads of ASEAN countries to participate in two-day summit in Delhi

Veteran US&nbsp;diplomat Bill Richardson has resigned from an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on the Rohingya crisis, saying it was conducting a &quot;whitewash&quot; and accusing the country&#39;s leader Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking &quot;moral leadership&quot;.

Richardson, a former Clinton administration cabinet member, quit as the 10-member advisory board was making its first visit to western Rakhine State, from where nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled in recent months.

&quot;The main reason I am resigning is that this advisory board is a whitewash,&quot; Richardson told Reuters in an interview, adding he did not want to be part of &quot;a cheerleading squad for the government&quot;.

Richardson said he got into an argument with Suu Kyi during a meeting on Monday with other members of the board, when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters who are on trial accused of breaching the country&#39;s Officials Secrets Act.

He said Suu Kyi&#39;s response was &quot;furious&quot;, saying the case of the reporters &quot;was not part of the work of the advisory board&quot;. The argument continued at a dinner later that evening, the former New Mexico governor said.

Suu Kyi&#39;s spokesman, Zaw Htay, told Reuters on Thursday that the Advisory Board was meeting about the &quot;Rakhine issue&quot;.

&quot;(Richardson) talked on a topic outside the agenda of the meetings and went beyond the framework,&quot; Zaw Htay said. &quot;We feel sorry for his resignation due to the misunderstanding.&quot; Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine, from where 688,000 Rohingya have fled an army crackdown on insurgents since late August, according to estimates by the United Nations.

They were detained on December&nbsp;12 after they had been invited to meet police officers over dinner in Yangon. The government has cited police as saying they were arrested for possessing secret documents relating to the security situation in Rakhine.

&#39;Good faith efforts&#39;

US&nbsp;State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called Richardson&#39;s decision to resign from the board and his reasons for doing so &quot;cause for concern&quot;, but noted he had been acting as a private citizen in joining the board and visiting Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.

&quot;Ultimately, the Burmese government and military have the authority to determine whether the Advisory Board will succeed,&quot; Nauert said. &quot;The United States has made clear that we are willing to support good faith efforts to implement the Annan Commission recommendations.&rdquo;

The Advisory Board for the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State was set up by Myanmar last year, to advise on enacting the findings of an earlier commission headed by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The armed forces have been accused by Rohingya witnesses and human rights activists of carrying out killings, rapes and arson in a campaign senior officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that label and has denied nearly all the allegations.

Richardson said he was also &quot;taken aback by the vigour with which the media, the United Nations, human rights groups and in general the international community were disparaged&quot; during the last three days of meetings the board held with Myanmar officials.

&quot;She&#39;s not getting good advice from her team,&quot; Richardson said of Suu Kyi, whom he said he has known since the 1980s. &quot;I like her enormously and respect her. But she has not shown moral leadership on the Rakhine issue and the allegations made, and I regret that.&quot;

Suu Kyi&#39;s national security adviser, Thaung Tun, told Reuters he had escorted the other board members on a trip to Rakhine on Wednesday, but that Richardson had not taken part.

&quot;He said he was unhappy about the situation but I am not sure what he was unhappy about,&quot; he said. &quot;This is just the initial stage, this is the start of a whole year of business so I don&#39;t know what happened to make him feel like that.&quot;

Panel chairman slammed&nbsp;

Before Richardson quit the advisory board had 10 members, including five from overseas, chaired by former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, also had harsh words for Surakiart.

The board chairman, he said, was not &quot;genuinely committed&quot; to implementing recommendations regarding the issues of Rohingya safety, citizenship, peace, stability and development.

&quot;He parroted the dangerous and untrue notion that international NGOs employ radicals and that humanitarian agencies are providing material support to ARSA,&quot; Richardson said, referring to Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants.

Surakiart was travelling with other members of the board in Rakhine and did not respond to requests for comment.

Another board member, former South African Defence Minister Roelof Meyer, told Reuters the visit to Rakhine had been &quot;very constructive&quot;.

&quot;If anybody would say that we are just a rubber stamp or a voice on behalf of the government that would be completely untrue, unfair,&quot; he said. &quot;We haven&#39;t done any recommendations so far.&quot;

Other members of the board, which also includes British doctor and politician Lord Darzi of Denham and speaker of the Swedish parliament Urban Ahlin, were not immediately available for comment.

Richardson said he declined to join the advisory board&#39;s tour of a new repatriation camp in Rakhine State on Wednesday, instead of travelling to Yangon.

Mass grave

Myanmar&#39;s military said earlier this month its soldiers had taken part in the killings of 10 captured Muslim &quot;terrorists&quot; during insurgent attacks at the beginning of September after Buddhist villagers had forced the captured men into a grave the villagers had dug.

It was a rare acknowledgement of wrongdoing during its operations in Rakhine by the Myanmar military, which said legal action would be taken against members of the security forces who violated their rules of engagement and the villagers involved.

Richardson said he has asked the board to recommend that the Myanmar government set up an independent investigation into &quot;the mass grave issue, especially as it pertained to ... the involvement of the military&quot;. He did not say how the board had responded.

The Rohingya crisis erupted after ARSA attacks on security posts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 triggered a fierce military response. Myanmar says its troops were engaged in legitimate counterinsurgency operations.

The UN&nbsp;on Wednesday called on Myanmar to give aid agencies unhindered access to camps it has built for tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees after agreeing to a deal with Bangladesh on their return.

Richardson, a former US ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, also had harsh words for Surakiart

Veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson has resigned from an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on the Rohingya crisis, saying it was conducting a "whitewash" and accusing the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking "moral leadership". Richardson, a former Clinton administration cabinet member, quit as the 10-member advisory board was making its first visit to western Rakhine State, from where nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled in recent months. "The main reason I am resigning is that this advisory board is a whitewash," Richardson told Reuters in an interview, adding he did not want to be part of "a cheerleading squad for the government". Richardson said he got into an argument with Suu Kyi during a meeting on Monday with other members of the board, when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters who are on trial accused of breaching the country's Officials Secrets Act. He said Suu Kyi's response was "furious", saying the case of the reporters "was not part of the work of the advisory board". The argument continued at a dinner later that evening, the former New Mexico governor said. Suu Kyi's spokesman, Zaw Htay, told Reuters on Thursday that the Advisory Board was meeting about the "Rakhine issue". "(Richardson) talked on a topic outside the agenda of the meetings and went beyond the framework," Zaw Htay said. "We feel sorry for his resignation due to the misunderstanding." Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine, from where 688,000 Rohingya have fled an army crackdown on insurgents since late August, according to estimates by the United Nations. They were detained on December 12 after they had been invited to meet police officers over dinner in Yangon. The government has cited police as saying they were arrested for possessing secret documents relating to the security situation in Rakhine. 'Good faith efforts' US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called Richardson's decision to resign from the board and his reasons for doing so "cause for concern", but noted he had been acting as a private citizen in joining the board and visiting Myanmar, which is also known as Burma. "Ultimately, the Burmese government and military have the authority to determine whether the Advisory Board will succeed," Nauert said. "The United States has made clear that we are willing to support good faith efforts to implement the Annan Commission recommendations.” The Advisory Board for the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State was set up by Myanmar last year, to advise on enacting the findings of an earlier commission headed by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The armed forces have been accused by Rohingya witnesses and human rights activists of carrying out killings, rapes and arson in a campaign senior officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that label and has denied nearly all the allegations. Richardson said he was also "taken aback by the vigour with which the media, the United Nations, human rights groups and in general the international community were disparaged" during the last three days of meetings the board held with Myanmar officials. "She's not getting good advice from her team," Richardson said of Suu Kyi, whom he said he has known since the 1980s. "I like her enormously and respect her. But she has not shown moral leadership on the Rakhine issue and the allegations made, and I regret that." Suu Kyi's national security adviser, Thaung Tun, told Reuters he had escorted the other board members on a trip to Rakhine on Wednesday, but that Richardson had not taken part. "He said he was unhappy about the situation but I am not sure what he was unhappy about," he said. "This is just the initial stage, this is the start of a whole year of business so I don't know what happened to make him feel like that." Panel chairman slammed Before Richardson quit the advisory board had 10 members, including five from overseas, chaired by former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, also had harsh words for Surakiart. The board chairman, he said, was not "genuinely committed" to implementing recommendations regarding the issues of Rohingya safety, citizenship, peace, stability and development. "He parroted the dangerous and untrue notion that international NGOs employ radicals and that humanitarian agencies are providing material support to ARSA," Richardson said, referring to Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants. Surakiart was travelling with other members of the board in Rakhine and did not respond to requests for comment. Another board member, former South African Defence Minister Roelof Meyer, told Reuters the visit to Rakhine had been "very constructive". "If anybody would say that we are just a rubber stamp or a voice on behalf of the government that would be completely untrue, unfair," he said. "We haven't done any recommendations so far." Other members of the board, which also includes British doctor and politician Lord Darzi of Denham and speaker of the Swedish parliament Urban Ahlin, were not immediately available for comment. Richardson said he declined to join the advisory board's tour of a new repatriation camp in Rakhine State on Wednesday, instead of travelling to Yangon. Mass grave Myanmar's military said earlier this month its soldiers had taken part in the killings of 10 captured Muslim "terrorists" during insurgent attacks at the beginning of September after Buddhist villagers had forced the captured men into a grave the villagers had dug. It was a rare acknowledgement of wrongdoing during its operations in Rakhine by the Myanmar military, which said legal action would be taken against members of the security forces who violated their rules of engagement and the villagers involved. Richardson said he has asked the board to recommend that the Myanmar government set up an independent investigation into "the mass grave issue, especially as it pertained to ... the involvement of the military". He did not say how the board had responded. The Rohingya crisis erupted after ARSA attacks on security posts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 triggered a fierce military response. Myanmar says its troops were engaged in legitimate counterinsurgency operations. The UN on Wednesday called on Myanmar to give aid agencies unhindered access to camps it has built for tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees after agreeing to a deal with Bangladesh on their return.

US diplomat quits Rohingya panel, accuses Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking 'moral leadership'

Two Rohingya men have been jailed for a week for protesting against a controversial plan to repatriate the persecuted minority back to Myanmar, Bangladesh police said Wednesday.

Rohingya have erected banners, chanted slogans and staged angry rallies in crowded camps near the border in Cox&#39;s Bazar as tension mounts over the looming relocation of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled a crackdown by the Myanmar military.

Bangladesh insists the repatriation process will be voluntary but police have ramped up security in the camps.

Abdul Jabbar and Ali Hossain, both in their 60s, were sentenced Tuesday after being charged with creating a public nuisance.

Another man held for questioning at the protest was released Wednesday afternoon without charge on condition he will not &quot;engage in any anti-government activities&quot; or incite further protests, a police officer said.

Bangladesh had been due to start repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees this week after agreeing to a two-year timeline with Myanmar.

But it was delayed when Bangladesh said neither side was ready. Myanmar later blamed its neighbour for a lack of preparation, a charge Bangladesh has rejected.&nbsp;

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled a campaign of violence in Myanmar since August, and many of the displaced Muslims living in Bangladesh fear returning to their conflict-scarred homeland in Rakhine state.

Police are also investigating the murder of two Rohingya representatives in the past week. Local media suggested one man was targeted for his support for the repatriation.

Bangladesh&#39;s Rapid Action Battalion said two Rohingya had been arrested and a knife had been seized in raids on the camps where the men were murdered, a spokesman for the elite security forces said.

Rohingya have erected banners, chanted slogans and staged angry rallies in crowded camps near the border in Cox's Bazar as tension mounts over the looming relocation of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled a crackdown by the Myanmar military

Two Rohingya men have been jailed for a week for protesting against a controversial plan to repatriate the persecuted minority back to Myanmar, Bangladesh police said Wednesday. Rohingya have erected banners, chanted slogans and staged angry rallies in crowded camps near the border in Cox's Bazar as tension mounts over the looming relocation of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled a crackdown by the Myanmar military. Bangladesh insists the repatriation process will be voluntary but police have ramped up security in the camps. Abdul Jabbar and Ali Hossain, both in their 60s, were sentenced Tuesday after being charged with creating a public nuisance. Another man held for questioning at the protest was released Wednesday afternoon without charge on condition he will not "engage in any anti-government activities" or incite further protests, a police officer said. Bangladesh had been due to start repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees this week after agreeing to a two-year timeline with Myanmar. But it was delayed when Bangladesh said neither side was ready. Myanmar later blamed its neighbour for a lack of preparation, a charge Bangladesh has rejected. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled a campaign of violence in Myanmar since August, and many of the displaced Muslims living in Bangladesh fear returning to their conflict-scarred homeland in Rakhine state. Police are also investigating the murder of two Rohingya representatives in the past week. Local media suggested one man was targeted for his support for the repatriation. Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion said two Rohingya had been arrested and a knife had been seized in raids on the camps where the men were murdered, a spokesman for the elite security forces said.

Bangladesh jail two Rohingya for protesting repatriation

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar`s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident.

Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that &quot;action according to the law&quot; would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published.

The arrests were &quot;not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news,&quot; Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people.

On January 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 &quot;terrorists&quot; who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved.

The military`s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women, and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach.

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

Arrested journalists

The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency`s reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested.&nbsp;

Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar`s Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: &quot;We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials.&quot;

If there was &quot;strong and reliable primary evidence&quot; of abuses, the government would investigate, he said.

There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report.

Britain`s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with the country`s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday.

He told Reuters in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh on Saturday that the violence in northern Rakhine clearly amounted to ethnic cleansing but observers and monitors should be allowed into the area to establish evidence.

The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.&nbsp;

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar`s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar`s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident. Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published. The arrests were "not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news," Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people. On January 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 "terrorists" who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved. The military`s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women, and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. Arrested journalists The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency`s reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested. Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar`s Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: "We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials." If there was "strong and reliable primary evidence" of abuses, the government would investigate, he said. There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report. Britain`s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with the country`s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday. He told Reuters in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh on Saturday that the violence in northern Rakhine clearly amounted to ethnic cleansing but observers and monitors should be allowed into the area to establish evidence. The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

Myanmar says soldiers, police facing action over village killings

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar&#39;s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident.

Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/one-grave-for-10-rohingya-men-how-myanmar-forces-burned-looted-and-killed-in-a-remote-village-32293" target="_blank">killing of 10 Rohingya men</a> in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that &quot;action according to the law&quot; would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published.

The arrests were &quot;not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news,&quot; Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people.

On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 &quot;terrorists&quot; who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved.

The military&#39;s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach.

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

Arrested journalists

The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency&#39;s reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested.

Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar&#39;s Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: &quot;We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials.&quot;

If there was &quot;strong and reliable primary evidence&quot; of abuses, the government would investigate, he said.

There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report.

Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday.

A statement issued by Britain&#39;s Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details.

&quot;Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full &amp; independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine &amp; urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine,&quot; Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks.

The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

A Myanmar government spokesman said "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar's security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident. Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published. The arrests were "not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news," Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people. On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 "terrorists" who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved. The military's version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. Arrested journalists The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency's reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested. Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar's Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: "We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials." If there was "strong and reliable primary evidence" of abuses, the government would investigate, he said. There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report. Britain's foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday. A statement issued by Britain's Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details. "Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full & independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine & urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine," Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks. The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

Myanmar says soldiers, police face action over village killings

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