Myanmar security forces have resumed loudspeaker broadcasts near its border with Bangladesh ordering Rohingya Muslims to immediately leave a strip of no-man's land between the two countries, refugees said Sunday.

Around 6,000 refugees from the persecuted minority have been camping on the narrow stretch of land since fleeing a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's west last August.

The majority of the nearly 700,000 Rohingya who escaped the violence settled in huge camps in Bangladesh but a smaller number insisted on staying put in the buffer zone between the borders.

Myanmar had agreed in February to stop using loudspeakers to order the stranded Muslims to leave the area immediately and cross into Bangladesh.

The army also withdrew some of its heavy forces from the edge of no-man's land, where refugees camped on the other side of a barbed wire fence had complained of intimidation.

But the loudspeaker messages resumed this weekend without warning, Rohingya community leaders said, exacerbating tension along the restive border zone.

"They played it several times yesterday, and have been repeating it this morning. It's very disturbing and creates panic," said Mohammad Arif, one of the leaders camped in no-man's land.

The messages -- broadcast in Burmese and Rohingya -- warned the refugees to "leave the area under Myanmar's jurisdiction or face prosecution". "We're citizens of Myanmar. It's our fatherland. We have every right to remain here. Why should we go elsewhere?" said another community leader, Dil Mohammad.

The broadcasts also refer to the refugees as "Bengalis", the term used by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refer to the Rohingya, whom they consider interlopers from Bangladesh.

Lieutenant Colonel Manzurul Hasan Khan, a local Border Guard Bangladesh commander, said the situation was being closely monitored.

"We have noticed that they tied loudhailers to the trees along their border fences near the camp," Khan said.

The refugee crisis has strained ties between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The neighbours had agreed in November to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees to Myanmar but the process has stalled, with both sides blaming each other for the delays.

Those living in no-man's land -- and many in the Bangladeshi refugee camps -- refuse to return to Myanmar until their safety and citizenship is assured and compensation granted for past injustices.&nbsp

Around 6,000 refugees from the persecuted minority have been camping on the narrow stretch of land since fleeing a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's west last August

Myanmar security forces have resumed loudspeaker broadcasts near its border with Bangladesh ordering Rohingya Muslims to immediately leave a strip of no-man's land between the two countries, refugees said Sunday. Around 6,000 refugees from the persecuted minority have been camping on the narrow stretch of land since fleeing a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's west last August. The majority of the nearly 700,000 Rohingya who escaped the violence settled in huge camps in Bangladesh but a smaller number insisted on staying put in the buffer zone between the borders. Myanmar had agreed in February to stop using loudspeakers to order the stranded Muslims to leave the area immediately and cross into Bangladesh. The army also withdrew some of its heavy forces from the edge of no-man's land, where refugees camped on the other side of a barbed wire fence had complained of intimidation. But the loudspeaker messages resumed this weekend without warning, Rohingya community leaders said, exacerbating tension along the restive border zone. "They played it several times yesterday, and have been repeating it this morning. It's very disturbing and creates panic," said Mohammad Arif, one of the leaders camped in no-man's land. The messages -- broadcast in Burmese and Rohingya -- warned the refugees to "leave the area under Myanmar's jurisdiction or face prosecution". "We're citizens of Myanmar. It's our fatherland. We have every right to remain here. Why should we go elsewhere?" said another community leader, Dil Mohammad. The broadcasts also refer to the refugees as "Bengalis", the term used by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refer to the Rohingya, whom they consider interlopers from Bangladesh. Lieutenant Colonel Manzurul Hasan Khan, a local Border Guard Bangladesh commander, said the situation was being closely monitored. "We have noticed that they tied loudhailers to the trees along their border fences near the camp," Khan said. The refugee crisis has strained ties between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The neighbours had agreed in November to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees to Myanmar but the process has stalled, with both sides blaming each other for the delays. Those living in no-man's land -- and many in the Bangladeshi refugee camps -- refuse to return to Myanmar until their safety and citizenship is assured and compensation granted for past injustices.

Myanmar orders Rohingya to leave tense border zone

The United States indirectly criticised China on Monday for shielding Myanmar from strong UN&nbspSecurity Council action over a military crackdown against mainly Rohingya Muslims that the US&nbspand other countries have denounced as ethnic cleansing.

US&nbspAmbassador Nikki Haley did not mention China by name, but China proposed substantial amendments to a British-drafted Security Council statement on Myanmar last week. The 15-member council eventually agreed a weaker statement.

The Security Council met on Monday to discuss a visit by envoys to Myanmar and Bangladesh two weeks ago.

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Myanmar's Rakhine state in August last year sparked a military operation that sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.

"Some members of the council have kept us from taking action for cynical and self-interested reasons," Haley said. "Some undermined the unity of the council demonstrated during the trip with unhelpful edits that only weakened the council's message."

Speaking before Haley, China's UN&nbspAmbassador Ma Zhaoxu told the Security Council that Myanmar and Bangladesh should be encouraged to solve the crisis bilaterally to make sure it doesn't "drag on or become more complicated."

"The council should continue to encourage Myanmar and Bangladesh to increase consultations and cooperation for the early implementation of the bilateral arrangement," he said.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow.

Diplomats said Russia has also backed China in council discussions on Myanmar.

Speaking after Haley, Russia's deputy UN&nbspAmbassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said the unity of the council on the issue was important and he hoped some members "will not fall prey to the temptation of using this situation to pursue their narrow, domestic political aims."

Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing and has said its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents.

"The government of Myanmar has stated time and again that no violation of human rights will be condoned," Myanmar's UN&nbspAmbassador Hau Do Suan told council on Monday. "Allegations supported by evidence will be investigated and action taken in accordance with the law."

The United States and Canada have imposed unilateral sanctions against a general in Myanmar's military for his role in the crackdown and the European Union is preparing individual sanctions.

Haley, who did not travel to Myanmar and Bangladesh, said that the Security Council had "unique tools to encourage Burma to take real steps towards resolving this crisis," though she did not elaborate.

"We should move quickly to adopt a resolution that institutes real steps to resolve this enormous and growing humanitarian and human rights crisis," Haley said. 
&nbsp

The UN Security Council met on Monday to discuss a visit by envoys to Myanmar and Bangladesh two weeks ago

The United States indirectly criticised China on Monday for shielding Myanmar from strong UN&nbspSecurity Council action over a military crackdown against mainly Rohingya Muslims that the US&nbspand other countries have denounced as ethnic cleansing. US&nbspAmbassador Nikki Haley did not mention China by name, but China proposed substantial amendments to a British-drafted Security Council statement on Myanmar last week. The 15-member council eventually agreed a weaker statement. The Security Council met on Monday to discuss a visit by envoys to Myanmar and Bangladesh two weeks ago. Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Myanmar's Rakhine state in August last year sparked a military operation that sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. "Some members of the council have kept us from taking action for cynical and self-interested reasons," Haley said. "Some undermined the unity of the council demonstrated during the trip with unhelpful edits that only weakened the council's message." Speaking before Haley, China's UN&nbspAmbassador Ma Zhaoxu told the Security Council that Myanmar and Bangladesh should be encouraged to solve the crisis bilaterally to make sure it doesn't "drag on or become more complicated." "The council should continue to encourage Myanmar and Bangladesh to increase consultations and cooperation for the early implementation of the bilateral arrangement," he said. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow. Diplomats said Russia has also backed China in council discussions on Myanmar. Speaking after Haley, Russia's deputy UN&nbspAmbassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said the unity of the council on the issue was important and he hoped some members "will not fall prey to the temptation of using this situation to pursue their narrow, domestic political aims." Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing and has said its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents. "The government of Myanmar has stated time and again that no violation of human rights will be condoned," Myanmar's UN&nbspAmbassador Hau Do Suan told council on Monday. "Allegations supported by evidence will be investigated and action taken in accordance with the law." The United States and Canada have imposed unilateral sanctions against a general in Myanmar's military for his role in the crackdown and the European Union is preparing individual sanctions. Haley, who did not travel to Myanmar and Bangladesh, said that the Security Council had "unique tools to encourage Burma to take real steps towards resolving this crisis," though she did not elaborate. "We should move quickly to adopt a resolution that institutes real steps to resolve this enormous and growing humanitarian and human rights crisis," Haley said.

US criticises China for shielding Myanmar from UN action

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myanmar clears some Rohingya for return but no date on horizon

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

The UN human rights chief warned today that possible acts of &quot;genocide and ethnic cleansing&quot; against Myanmar&#39;s Rohingya Muslim minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country&#39;s borders.

&quot;Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region,&quot; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein said during a speech in Jakarta.

His remarks follow the publication of a report last week about mass graves of Rohingya in Myanmar&#39;s crisis-hit Rakhine state, where government troops have been accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to bordering Bangladesh since last August.

Myanmar denied the mass grave report and wider allegations of rights abuses, saying it launched a proportionate crackdown on Rohingya rebels.

But it has blocked reporters and UN investigators from independently accessing the conflict zone and investigating refugee claims about a genocide.

Zeid on Monday said Myanmar had enjoyed strong growth including a focus on socio-economic development in the Rakhine region, but that this could not mask &quot;institutionalised discrimination&quot; against the minority.

The UN rights chief is due to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as top government officials and rights groups during his three-day visit.

Among the issues expected to be discussed is a crackdown on the LGBT community in Indonesia, the world&#39;s largest Muslim-majority country.

Parliament is set to pass a long-dormant bill to make sex outside marriage illegal. Gay marriage does not exist in Indonesia, meaning homosexual relations would be effectively outlawed.&nbsp;

'Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region,' said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

The UN human rights chief warned today that possible acts of "genocide and ethnic cleansing" against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country's borders. "Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said during a speech in Jakarta. His remarks follow the publication of a report last week about mass graves of Rohingya in Myanmar's crisis-hit Rakhine state, where government troops have been accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to bordering Bangladesh since last August. Myanmar denied the mass grave report and wider allegations of rights abuses, saying it launched a proportionate crackdown on Rohingya rebels. But it has blocked reporters and UN investigators from independently accessing the conflict zone and investigating refugee claims about a genocide. Zeid on Monday said Myanmar had enjoyed strong growth including a focus on socio-economic development in the Rakhine region, but that this could not mask "institutionalised discrimination" against the minority. The UN rights chief is due to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as top government officials and rights groups during his three-day visit. Among the issues expected to be discussed is a crackdown on the LGBT community in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Parliament is set to pass a long-dormant bill to make sex outside marriage illegal. Gay marriage does not exist in Indonesia, meaning homosexual relations would be effectively outlawed.

Rohingya abuses could spark regional conflict: UN rights chief

Bangladesh police arrested an alleged human trafficker and intercepted two Rohingya refugees preparing to board a boat for Malaysia, officials said today.

Police acting on a tip-off raided a home near the coastal town of Teknaf in southeastern Bangladesh, where five people had assembled ahead of a promised voyage across the Bay of Bengal. Two Rohingya Muslims, both men, were among the group.

The pair had arrived from Myanmar since August, when a surge of violence in Rakhine state forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya across the border.

The other three would-be passengers were Bangladeshi, another police officer said.

&quot;They were herded there as part of an effort to take them to Malaysia. They said they would be taken there by sea,&quot; Teknaf police chief Main Uddin said.

&quot;Among the five, there were two Rohingya men who had already paid 10,000 taka (USD 120) each. The arrested person is being charged with human trafficking.&quot;

The would-be passengers told police they had promised to pay the alleged trafficker, a Bangladeshi, another 200,000 taka each upon arrival in Malaysia.

Since August nearly 650,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military operation in Myanmar&#39;s westernmost Rakhine state described by the UN and US as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Bangladesh authorities worry many refugees may risk travelling to Southeast Asia by boat, a route once popular among Rohingya seeking economic opportunities outside the grim, long-standing camps in Cox&#39;s Bazar.

People smugglers in recent years have sent tens of thousands of Rohingya from Bangladesh to Malaysia, a Muslim- majority country in Southeast Asia, usually between November and March when seas are calmest.

But these networks were targeted by Bangladesh in 2015 after Thai authorities discovered mass graves and boats overcrowded with thousands of migrants drifted at sea while Southeast Asian nations squabbled over a solution.

Bangladesh police said they were questioning the alleged people smuggler to determine whether he was part of a larger regional trafficking ring.

Bangladesh has arrested dozens of suspected traffickers and broken up networks since the 2015 crackdown, but authorities fear these networks could be revived during the latest Rohingya crisis.

The refugees living in camps in Cox&#39;s Bazar are prohibited from leaving the area, but already aid groups and officials say trafficking networks are targeting the stateless minority.

Bangladesh in recent months has stepped up patrols in coastal areas and fishing villages where traffickers moor their vessels, police say.

&quot;We have zero tolerance toward human trafficking. We are working day and night,&quot; Iqbal Hossain, head of police in Cox&#39;s Bazar district where the Rohingya camps are located, said.

He said police were not aware of a single journey undertaken by a people smuggling vessel in Cox&#39;s Bazar in the previous two years, citing the success of law enforcement efforts.

Police acting on a tip-off raided a home near the coastal town of Teknaf in southeastern Bangladesh, where five people had assembled ahead of a promised voyage across the Bay of Bengal. Two Rohingya Muslims, both men, were among the group

Bangladesh police arrested an alleged human trafficker and intercepted two Rohingya refugees preparing to board a boat for Malaysia, officials said today. Police acting on a tip-off raided a home near the coastal town of Teknaf in southeastern Bangladesh, where five people had assembled ahead of a promised voyage across the Bay of Bengal. Two Rohingya Muslims, both men, were among the group. The pair had arrived from Myanmar since August, when a surge of violence in Rakhine state forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya across the border. The other three would-be passengers were Bangladeshi, another police officer said. "They were herded there as part of an effort to take them to Malaysia. They said they would be taken there by sea," Teknaf police chief Main Uddin said. "Among the five, there were two Rohingya men who had already paid 10,000 taka (USD 120) each. The arrested person is being charged with human trafficking." The would-be passengers told police they had promised to pay the alleged trafficker, a Bangladeshi, another 200,000 taka each upon arrival in Malaysia. Since August nearly 650,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military operation in Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine state described by the UN and US as "ethnic cleansing". Bangladesh authorities worry many refugees may risk travelling to Southeast Asia by boat, a route once popular among Rohingya seeking economic opportunities outside the grim, long-standing camps in Cox's Bazar. People smugglers in recent years have sent tens of thousands of Rohingya from Bangladesh to Malaysia, a Muslim- majority country in Southeast Asia, usually between November and March when seas are calmest. But these networks were targeted by Bangladesh in 2015 after Thai authorities discovered mass graves and boats overcrowded with thousands of migrants drifted at sea while Southeast Asian nations squabbled over a solution. Bangladesh police said they were questioning the alleged people smuggler to determine whether he was part of a larger regional trafficking ring. Bangladesh has arrested dozens of suspected traffickers and broken up networks since the 2015 crackdown, but authorities fear these networks could be revived during the latest Rohingya crisis. The refugees living in camps in Cox's Bazar are prohibited from leaving the area, but already aid groups and officials say trafficking networks are targeting the stateless minority. Bangladesh in recent months has stepped up patrols in coastal areas and fishing villages where traffickers moor their vessels, police say. "We have zero tolerance toward human trafficking. We are working day and night," Iqbal Hossain, head of police in Cox's Bazar district where the Rohingya camps are located, said. He said police were not aware of a single journey undertaken by a people smuggling vessel in Cox's Bazar in the previous two years, citing the success of law enforcement efforts.

Bangladesh stops Rohingya preparing to board boat to Malaysia

Rohingya Muslims remaining in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state and other communities in the violence-racked region are so terrified of each other that life has basically ground to a halt, the Red Cross said Wednesday.

More than 620,000 of Myanmar&#39;s Muslim minority have <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-refugees-still-fleeing-from-myanmar-to-bangladesh-unhcr-26177">fled across the border to Bangladesh </a>since late August when the Myanmar army launched a sweeping crackdown on Rohingya rebels in northern Rakhine state.

The Red Cross, the only international aid organisation with broad access on the ground in Rakhine, estimates that only about 300,000 Rohingya remain in the entire state.

But Dominik Stillhart, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the number should be taken with a &quot;big pinch of salt&quot; since a proper count has so far been impossible.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva after a three-day visit to the area, Stillhart said the situation in Rakhine appeared to have &quot;stabilised&quot;, with few incidents of violence.

Yet people are continuing to flee, with around 300 still crossing the border each day, mainly because of fear and anxiety for the future, he said.

He said he was especially struck by a lack of people on the roads, in the markets and out in the fields.

&quot;Life has stopped in its tracks... There are hardly any people moving around and you can really see that life has come to a halt,&quot; Stillhart said.

&#39;Scale of destruction&#39; 
 
While it was no surprise that the remaining Rohingya are living in fear, he said it was striking that Buddhist populations in neighbouring villages also appeared to be frightened.

&quot;You really get a sense that both communities are deeply scared of each other,&quot; he said.

The United Nations has warned that abuses against the Rohingya in Myanmar could amount to ethnic cleansing.

Stillhart refrained from commenting on the abuses but did say he had personally seen several burned villages.

&quot;You really see on both sides of the road, villages that are completely destroyed. It just gives you a bit of a sense of the scale of destruction,&quot; he said.

Meanwhile, Red Cross staff in the area had not seen many wounded people in the hospitals, and surprisingly few people appeared to have been rounded up and detained, he said.

&quot;Apparently there wasn&#39;t a huge wave of people arrested. The wave is out to Bangladesh, and not into the detention centres.&quot;

Stillhart also said the area did not seem heavily militarised at the moment, and there was no indication troops or police were restricting people&#39;s movement.

Rather, it appeared that people were restricting their own movement, he said.

&quot;People are deeply traumatised by what has happened and they are full of fear and anxiety,&quot; he said, emphasising the need for &quot;a very clear message from the authorities that it is fine&quot; to move about and that all communities &quot;will be protected&quot;.

Until then, any large return movement from Bangladesh is unlikely.

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a repatriation deal last month, but so far, Stillhart said, basically no Muslims have returned home.

There has been concern that Myanmar is planning to build camps to house returnees, as they did in central Rakhine state after a 2012 outbreak of violence.&nbsp;

More than 100,000 Rohingya have been trapped in those squalid camps ever since.

&quot;One thing that we definitely don&#39;t wish to see is people being in camps,&quot; Stillhart said, saying the camps in central Rakhine were &quot;clearly not a model to follow.&quot;&nbsp;

Rohingya Muslims remaining in Myanmar's Rakhine state and other communities in the violence-racked region are so terrified of each other that life has basically ground to a halt, the Red Cross says

Rohingya Muslims remaining in Myanmar's Rakhine state and other communities in the violence-racked region are so terrified of each other that life has basically ground to a halt, the Red Cross said Wednesday. More than 620,000 of Myanmar's Muslim minority have fled across the border to Bangladesh since late August when the Myanmar army launched a sweeping crackdown on Rohingya rebels in northern Rakhine state. The Red Cross, the only international aid organisation with broad access on the ground in Rakhine, estimates that only about 300,000 Rohingya remain in the entire state. But Dominik Stillhart, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the number should be taken with a "big pinch of salt" since a proper count has so far been impossible. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after a three-day visit to the area, Stillhart said the situation in Rakhine appeared to have "stabilised", with few incidents of violence. Yet people are continuing to flee, with around 300 still crossing the border each day, mainly because of fear and anxiety for the future, he said. He said he was especially struck by a lack of people on the roads, in the markets and out in the fields. "Life has stopped in its tracks... There are hardly any people moving around and you can really see that life has come to a halt," Stillhart said. 'Scale of destruction' While it was no surprise that the remaining Rohingya are living in fear, he said it was striking that Buddhist populations in neighbouring villages also appeared to be frightened. "You really get a sense that both communities are deeply scared of each other," he said. The United Nations has warned that abuses against the Rohingya in Myanmar could amount to ethnic cleansing. Stillhart refrained from commenting on the abuses but did say he had personally seen several burned villages. "You really see on both sides of the road, villages that are completely destroyed. It just gives you a bit of a sense of the scale of destruction," he said. Meanwhile, Red Cross staff in the area had not seen many wounded people in the hospitals, and surprisingly few people appeared to have been rounded up and detained, he said. "Apparently there wasn't a huge wave of people arrested. The wave is out to Bangladesh, and not into the detention centres." Stillhart also said the area did not seem heavily militarised at the moment, and there was no indication troops or police were restricting people's movement. Rather, it appeared that people were restricting their own movement, he said. "People are deeply traumatised by what has happened and they are full of fear and anxiety," he said, emphasising the need for "a very clear message from the authorities that it is fine" to move about and that all communities "will be protected". Until then, any large return movement from Bangladesh is unlikely. Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a repatriation deal last month, but so far, Stillhart said, basically no Muslims have returned home. There has been concern that Myanmar is planning to build camps to house returnees, as they did in central Rakhine state after a 2012 outbreak of violence. More than 100,000 Rohingya have been trapped in those squalid camps ever since. "One thing that we definitely don't wish to see is people being in camps," Stillhart said, saying the camps in central Rakhine were "clearly not a model to follow."

Life has 'stopped in tracks' in Myanmar's Rakhine state: Red Cross

Rohingya refugees continue to flee Myanmar for Bangladesh even though both countries set up a timetable last month to allow them to start to return home, the UN&nbsp;refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Thursday.

The number of refugees appears to have slowed. 625,000 have arrived since August 25.30,000 came last month and around 1,500 arrived last week, UNHCR said

&quot;The refugee emergency in Bangladesh is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world,&quot; said deputy high commissioner Kelly Clements. &quot;Conditions in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhaine state are not in place to enable a safe and sustainable return ... refugees are still fleeing.&quot;

&quot;Most have little or nothing to go back to. Their homes and villages have been destroyed. Deep divisions between communities remain unaddressed and human access is inadequate,&quot; she said.

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on November 23 to start the return of Rohingya within two months. It did not say when the process would be complete.

Myanmar&#39;s security forces may be guilty of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, according to the top UN&nbsp;human rights official this week. Mainly Buddhist Myanmar denies the Muslim Rohingya are its citizens and considers them foreigners.

UNHCR would make a fresh appeal to donors for funds after the end of February in next year, Kelly said.

Rohingya refugees continue to flee Myanmar for Bangladesh even though both countries set up a timetable last month to allow them to start to return home, the UN?refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Thursday

Rohingya refugees continue to flee Myanmar for Bangladesh even though both countries set up a timetable last month to allow them to start to return home, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Thursday. The number of refugees appears to have slowed. 625,000 have arrived since August 25.30,000 came last month and around 1,500 arrived last week, UNHCR said "The refugee emergency in Bangladesh is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world," said deputy high commissioner Kelly Clements. "Conditions in Myanmar's Rakhaine state are not in place to enable a safe and sustainable return ... refugees are still fleeing." "Most have little or nothing to go back to. Their homes and villages have been destroyed. Deep divisions between communities remain unaddressed and human access is inadequate," she said. Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on November 23 to start the return of Rohingya within two months. It did not say when the process would be complete. Myanmar's security forces may be guilty of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, according to the top UN human rights official this week. Mainly Buddhist Myanmar denies the Muslim Rohingya are its citizens and considers them foreigners. UNHCR would make a fresh appeal to donors for funds after the end of February in next year, Kelly said.

Rohingya refugees still fleeing from Myanmar to Bangladesh - UNHCR

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take help from the UN&nbsp;refugee agency to safely repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who had fled violence in Myanmar, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Saturday.

More than 600,000 Rohingya sought sanctuary in Bangladesh after the military in mostly Buddhist Myanmar launched a brutal counter-insurgency operation in their villages across the northern parts of Rakhine State following attacks by Rohingya militants on an army base and police posts on Aug. 25.

Faced with a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, the two governments signed a pact on Thursday agreeing that the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar should start in two months.

Uncertainty over whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would have a role had prompted rights groups to insist that outside monitors were needed to safeguard the Rohingya&#39;s return.

Addressing a news conference in Dhaka, the Bangladesh foreign minister gave assurances that the UNHCR would play some part.

&quot;Both countries agreed to take help from the UNHCR in the Rohingya repatriation process,&quot; Ali said. &quot;Myanmar will take its assistance as per their requirement.&quot;

The diplomatic breakthrough&nbsp;came just ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Myanmar and Bangladesh on Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 that is aimed at promoting &quot;reconciliation, forgiveness and peace&quot;. [nL8N1NS2HN]

While the violence in Rakhine has mostly ceased, Rohingya have continued to stream out of Myanmar, saying they have largely lost access to sources of livelihood such as their farms, fisheries and markets.

Thousands of Rohingya, most of them old people, women and children, remain stranded on beaches near the border, waiting for a boat to take them to Bangladesh.

From camp to camp

Ali said a joint working group, to be formed within three weeks, will fix the final terms to start the repatriation process.

After leaving the refugee camps in Bangladesh, Rohingya who opt to be voluntarily repatriated will be moved to makeshift camps in Myanmar near to their abandoned homes, he added.

&quot;Homes have been burnt to the ground in Rakhine, that need to be rebuilt. We have proposed Myanmar to take help from India and&nbsp;China&nbsp;for building camps for them,&quot; the minister said.

The U.N. and United States have described the Myanmar military&#39;s actions as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;, and rights groups have accused the security forces of committing atrocities, including mass rape, arson and killings.

The United States also warned it could impose sanctions on individuals responsible for alleged abuses.

Led by Nobel prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar is in the early stages of a transition to democracy after decades of military rule. But civilian government is less than two years old, and still shares power with the generals, who retain autonomy over matters of defence, security and borders.

The commander of Myanmar&#39;s armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has denied that soldiers committed any atrocities.

On Friday he met with&nbsp;China&#39;s President Xi Jinping in Beijing having been told earlier in the week by a top Chinese general that&nbsp;China&nbsp;wanted stronger ties with Myanmar&#39;s military.

Under the deal struck with Bangladesh, Myanmar will take measures to see that the returnees will not be settled in temporary places for a long time and Myanmar will issue them an identity card for national verification immediately on their return.

There were already nearly 400,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the latest exodus, and the Bangladesh minister said they could also be considered for the repatriation, under the terms of the agreement.

Some independent estimates suggest there were still a few hundred thousand Rohingya remaining in Rakhine.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take help from the UN?refugee agency to safely repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who had fled violence in Myanmar, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Saturday

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take help from the UN refugee agency to safely repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who had fled violence in Myanmar, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Saturday. More than 600,000 Rohingya sought sanctuary in Bangladesh after the military in mostly Buddhist Myanmar launched a brutal counter-insurgency operation in their villages across the northern parts of Rakhine State following attacks by Rohingya militants on an army base and police posts on Aug. 25. Faced with a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, the two governments signed a pact on Thursday agreeing that the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar should start in two months. Uncertainty over whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would have a role had prompted rights groups to insist that outside monitors were needed to safeguard the Rohingya's return. Addressing a news conference in Dhaka, the Bangladesh foreign minister gave assurances that the UNHCR would play some part. "Both countries agreed to take help from the UNHCR in the Rohingya repatriation process," Ali said. "Myanmar will take its assistance as per their requirement." The diplomatic breakthrough came just ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Myanmar and Bangladesh on Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 that is aimed at promoting "reconciliation, forgiveness and peace". [nL8N1NS2HN] While the violence in Rakhine has mostly ceased, Rohingya have continued to stream out of Myanmar, saying they have largely lost access to sources of livelihood such as their farms, fisheries and markets. Thousands of Rohingya, most of them old people, women and children, remain stranded on beaches near the border, waiting for a boat to take them to Bangladesh. From camp to camp Ali said a joint working group, to be formed within three weeks, will fix the final terms to start the repatriation process. After leaving the refugee camps in Bangladesh, Rohingya who opt to be voluntarily repatriated will be moved to makeshift camps in Myanmar near to their abandoned homes, he added. "Homes have been burnt to the ground in Rakhine, that need to be rebuilt. We have proposed Myanmar to take help from India and China for building camps for them," the minister said. The U.N. and United States have described the Myanmar military's actions as "ethnic cleansing", and rights groups have accused the security forces of committing atrocities, including mass rape, arson and killings. The United States also warned it could impose sanctions on individuals responsible for alleged abuses. Led by Nobel prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar is in the early stages of a transition to democracy after decades of military rule. But civilian government is less than two years old, and still shares power with the generals, who retain autonomy over matters of defence, security and borders. The commander of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has denied that soldiers committed any atrocities. On Friday he met with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing having been told earlier in the week by a top Chinese general that China wanted stronger ties with Myanmar's military. Under the deal struck with Bangladesh, Myanmar will take measures to see that the returnees will not be settled in temporary places for a long time and Myanmar will issue them an identity card for national verification immediately on their return. There were already nearly 400,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the latest exodus, and the Bangladesh minister said they could also be considered for the repatriation, under the terms of the agreement. Some independent estimates suggest there were still a few hundred thousand Rohingya remaining in Rakhine.

Bangladesh says agreed with Myanmar for UNHCR to assist Rohingya's return

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh from violence in Myanmar have been &ldquo;drained&rdquo; by the trauma they suffered during the crisis and a struggle to overcome desperate want, the United Nations refugee chief said on Wednesday.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar since late August this year for neighboring Bangladesh, driven out by a military clearance operation in Rakhine State.

The refugees&rsquo; suffering has caused an international outcry, spurring appeals by aid agencies for millions of dollars in funds to tackle the crisis.

&ldquo;I found this was a population that had almost no response. Very passive,&rdquo; said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, describing his visit late in September to camps where the refugees were staying.

&ldquo;You almost felt there was nothing left and that everything had been drained by this,&rdquo; he told Reuters in an interview in his first visit to the South Korean capital.

He saw the lassitude as a symptom of trauma, he added.

&ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t seen this kind of trauma for a very long, long time,&rdquo; the Italian diplomat said. &ldquo;Maybe I saw it in the &lsquo;90s in central Africa.&rdquo;

Grandi coordinated UN humanitarian activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo during its 1996-97 civil war.

The success of aid efforts by the United Nations and non-government bodies depends on the Myanmar government to defuse the hostility facing humanitarian workers in Rakhine, Grandi said.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not political work, it&rsquo;s not to favor one community over the other,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;On the contrary, it&rsquo;s directed to all those who are in need. And when members of the Buddhist community are in need, they certainly qualify for that. I think it&rsquo;s important that they stress that, they do that more,&rdquo; said Grandi.

Tension had been rising between the government and aid agencies even before the spasm of violence that began in late August.

Officials had accused the World Food Programme of aiding insurgents after high-energy biscuits were discovered in July at a forest encampment the authorities said belonged to a militant group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.

Longstanding antipathy among ethnic Rakhine Buddhists - who say the UN and nongovernment bodies favor the Rohingya with aid deliveries &ndash; spiked in August, with protesters demanding that aid agencies leave and the U.N. warning staff against rising hostility.

Since the Aug. 25 militant attacks in Rakhine, the government has barred most aid agencies, except for the Red Cross organizations, from working in the state&rsquo;s north, and curtailed their activities elsewhere in the state.

In several cases, aid deliveries have been forcibly blocked by Rakhine Buddhists.

The U.N.&rsquo;s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said the World Food Programme resumed some food distribution in northern Rakhine this month, but limited access meant agencies still do not know how many people were internally displaced over the last three months.

&ldquo;Access remains restricted for most humanitarian actors in northern Rakhine, preventing them from reaching many people in need,&rdquo; the agency said. &ldquo;In central Rakhine, humanitarian organizations also continue to face access constraints.&rdquo;

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar since late August this year for neighboring Myanmar, driven out by a military clearance operation in Rakhine State

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh from violence in Myanmar have been “drained” by the trauma they suffered during the crisis and a struggle to overcome desperate want, the United Nations refugee chief said on Wednesday. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar since late August this year for neighboring Bangladesh, driven out by a military clearance operation in Rakhine State. The refugees’ suffering has caused an international outcry, spurring appeals by aid agencies for millions of dollars in funds to tackle the crisis. “I found this was a population that had almost no response. Very passive,” said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, describing his visit late in September to camps where the refugees were staying. “You almost felt there was nothing left and that everything had been drained by this,” he told Reuters in an interview in his first visit to the South Korean capital. He saw the lassitude as a symptom of trauma, he added. “We haven’t seen this kind of trauma for a very long, long time,” the Italian diplomat said. “Maybe I saw it in the ‘90s in central Africa.” Grandi coordinated UN humanitarian activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo during its 1996-97 civil war. The success of aid efforts by the United Nations and non-government bodies depends on the Myanmar government to defuse the hostility facing humanitarian workers in Rakhine, Grandi said. “It’s not political work, it’s not to favor one community over the other,” he said. “On the contrary, it’s directed to all those who are in need. And when members of the Buddhist community are in need, they certainly qualify for that. I think it’s important that they stress that, they do that more,” said Grandi. Tension had been rising between the government and aid agencies even before the spasm of violence that began in late August. Officials had accused the World Food Programme of aiding insurgents after high-energy biscuits were discovered in July at a forest encampment the authorities said belonged to a militant group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Longstanding antipathy among ethnic Rakhine Buddhists - who say the UN and nongovernment bodies favor the Rohingya with aid deliveries – spiked in August, with protesters demanding that aid agencies leave and the U.N. warning staff against rising hostility. Since the Aug. 25 militant attacks in Rakhine, the government has barred most aid agencies, except for the Red Cross organizations, from working in the state’s north, and curtailed their activities elsewhere in the state. In several cases, aid deliveries have been forcibly blocked by Rakhine Buddhists. The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said the World Food Programme resumed some food distribution in northern Rakhine this month, but limited access meant agencies still do not know how many people were internally displaced over the last three months. “Access remains restricted for most humanitarian actors in northern Rakhine, preventing them from reaching many people in need,” the agency said. “In central Rakhine, humanitarian organizations also continue to face access constraints.”

Rohingya refugees 'drained' by trauma, says UN refugee chief

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson spoke on Thursday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/considering-sanctions-on-myanmar-over-treatment-of-rohingyas-us-22787">with Myanmar&#39;s army chief and expressed concern over reported atrocities </a>against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, the US&nbsp;State Department said in a statement.

Tillerson urged the army chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to support the Myanmar government in ending the violence and allowing the safe return of ethnic Rohingya who has fled the area, the statement said.

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, mostly to neighbouring Bangladesh, since security forces responded to Rohingya militants&#39; attacks on August 25 by launching a crackdown.

The State Department is considering formally declaring the crackdown on Rohingya Muslims to be ethnic cleansing.

In his call with Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson also urged the Myanmar military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people, allow media access and cooperate with a U.N. investigation into allegations of human rights abuses, the State Department said.

Pressure has mounted for a tougher US&nbsp;response to the Rohingya crisis ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s maiden visit to Asia next month when he will attend a summit of Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, in Manila.

&nbsp;

Tillerson urged the army chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to support the Myanmar government in ending the violence and allowing the safe return of ethnic Rohingya who have fled the area, the statement said.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson spoke on Thursday with Myanmar's army chief and expressed concern over reported atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, the US State Department said in a statement. Tillerson urged the army chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to support the Myanmar government in ending the violence and allowing the safe return of ethnic Rohingya who has fled the area, the statement said. More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, mostly to neighbouring Bangladesh, since security forces responded to Rohingya militants' attacks on August 25 by launching a crackdown. The State Department is considering formally declaring the crackdown on Rohingya Muslims to be ethnic cleansing. In his call with Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson also urged the Myanmar military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people, allow media access and cooperate with a U.N. investigation into allegations of human rights abuses, the State Department said. Pressure has mounted for a tougher US response to the Rohingya crisis ahead of President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to Asia next month when he will attend a summit of Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, in Manila.

US concerned about atrocities against Rohingyas: Tillerson to Myanmar army chief

The US State Department is considering<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-wants-myanmar-to-set-conditions-for-return-of-rohingya-22739"> a range steps including &quot;targeted sanctions&quot;&nbsp;against the Myanmar </a>government over its handling of the Rohingya crisis which has spiralled out of control in recent weeks.

&quot;We express our gravest concern <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-china-official-says-foreign-interference-doesnt-work-22687">with recent events in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state and the violent</a>, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured,&quot; US &nbsp;State Department said in a statement.

&quot;It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable,&quot; the statement added.

The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

The US State Department is considering a range steps including "targeted sanctions" against the Myanmar government over its handling of the Rohingya crisis which has spiralled out of control in recent weeks. "We express our gravest concern with recent events in Myanmar's Rakhine state and the violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured," US State Department said in a statement. "It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable," the statement added. The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

Considering sanctions on Myanmar over treatment of Rohingyas: US

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed&nbsp;the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with&nbsp;Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday.

Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising&nbsp;out of the&nbsp;influx of&nbsp;displacement of the Muslim minority population and&nbsp;the&nbsp;need for an early&nbsp;solution to it.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State &amp; need for early &amp; lasting solution: MEA
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/922090983042334722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country.&nbsp;

She praised PM Sheikh Hasina&#39;s of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting&nbsp;and also the progress made by her since her visit to India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA <a href="https://t.co/LrW55JBOXD">pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/922090774052741120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Swaraj met with the prime minister&nbsp;after her meeting with the country&#39;s foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali.

In the fourth JCC&nbsp;meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart.

The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population,&quot; she said.

On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, &quot;We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded&nbsp;countries.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror.

She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting&nbsp;violent extremism and terrorism.

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We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/922067177166987266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh <a href="https://t.co/W6eROF6f2W">pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/922067232724676608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving&nbsp;outstanding issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.

She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali &amp; High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) <a href="https://t.co/G2EAKknJHe">pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe</a>
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&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhaka</a>: EAM Sushma Swaraj &amp; FM of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting &amp; reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. <a href="https://t.co/NVckYBjAVZ">pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/922054430249201664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014.

This is Swaraj&#39;s second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier&nbsp;she visited the country in 2014.&nbsp;

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed?the issue of Rohingya displacement in her meeting with?Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday. Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising out of the influx of displacement of the Muslim minority population and the need for an early solution to it. EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State & need for early & lasting solution: MEA — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country. She praised PM Sheikh Hasina's of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting and also the progress made by her since her visit to India. EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Swaraj met with the prime minister after her meeting with the country's foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali. In the fourth JCC meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart. The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. "India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population," she said. On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, "We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded countries." We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror. She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting violent extremism and terrorism. We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × (cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving outstanding issues. Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India. EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by #Bangladesh Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali & High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × #Dhaka: EAM Sushma Swaraj & FM of #Bangladesh co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting & reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014. This is Swaraj's second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier she visited the country in 2014.

'Normalcy will only be restored with return of displaced people to Rakhine': Sushma Swaraj

Bangladesh today pitched for a greater Indian role in containing the influx of Rohingya Muslims escaping violence in Myanmar, saying the issue may not be directly affecting India now, but it may have an impact in future.

Bangladesh&#39;s High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said the &quot;fire in the neighbourhood&quot; has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in &quot;mutual interest&quot;.

&quot;It is a fire in our neighbourhood and before it engulfs in the entire region it needs to be put out. They (the refugees) are vulnerable to all sorts of radicalisation and it is in our mutual advantage to work together,&quot; Ali told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents&#39; Club here.

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<h5>Ali refused to comment on India&#39;s proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a &#39;matter of your country&#39;</h5>
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Responding to a question, he said New Delhi and Dhaka may not appear on the same page on the issue as Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State, the epicentre of the refugee exodus, does not have a common border with India.

&quot;You are safe for now but how long will that be? It is in our common interest to act together. It may burn my house today, but it may surely have an impact in your house tomorrow,&quot; he said, while applauding India&#39;s role in sending relief for the refugees housed in a number of camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar area.

He refused to comment on India&#39;s proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a &quot;matter of your country&quot;.

However, he reminded that &quot;60 per cent&quot; of the refugees who have crossed over to Bangladesh were women, children and elderly and living in &quot;unacceptable conditions&quot;.

He called the Rakhine State a breeding ground of radicalisation owing to alleged atrocities on the Rohingya community and their festering anger.

He suggested that reports of bodies of Hindu Rohingya people found in mass graves were an attempt by the Myanmar administration to &quot;intentionally&quot; drive a wedge between communities.

&quot;It is the inability of the Myanmarese authorities to recognise them (the Rohingya) as their own which is creating issues. The problem originated in Myanmar and needs to be resolved there,&quot; he said.

Referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj&#39;s upcoming visit to Dhaka, Ali said water sharing is one of the very few areas of common interest between the two countries which remains contentious.

&quot;The sooner we resolve the issue the better,&quot; he said.

In an oblique reference to West Bengal&#39;s position on the issue that during the lean season water availability in Teesta river was not enough to share, he said: &quot;It is like a person calling himself orphan after killing his own parents.&quot;&nbsp;

Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India said the 'fire in the neighbourhood' has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in 'mutual interest'

Bangladesh today pitched for a greater Indian role in containing the influx of Rohingya Muslims escaping violence in Myanmar, saying the issue may not be directly affecting India now, but it may have an impact in future. Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said the "fire in the neighbourhood" has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in "mutual interest". "It is a fire in our neighbourhood and before it engulfs in the entire region it needs to be put out. They (the refugees) are vulnerable to all sorts of radicalisation and it is in our mutual advantage to work together," Ali told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club here. Ali refused to comment on India's proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a 'matter of your country' × Responding to a question, he said New Delhi and Dhaka may not appear on the same page on the issue as Myanmar's Rakhine State, the epicentre of the refugee exodus, does not have a common border with India. "You are safe for now but how long will that be? It is in our common interest to act together. It may burn my house today, but it may surely have an impact in your house tomorrow," he said, while applauding India's role in sending relief for the refugees housed in a number of camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar area. He refused to comment on India's proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a "matter of your country". However, he reminded that "60 per cent" of the refugees who have crossed over to Bangladesh were women, children and elderly and living in "unacceptable conditions". He called the Rakhine State a breeding ground of radicalisation owing to alleged atrocities on the Rohingya community and their festering anger. He suggested that reports of bodies of Hindu Rohingya people found in mass graves were an attempt by the Myanmar administration to "intentionally" drive a wedge between communities. "It is the inability of the Myanmarese authorities to recognise them (the Rohingya) as their own which is creating issues. The problem originated in Myanmar and needs to be resolved there," he said. Referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's upcoming visit to Dhaka, Ali said water sharing is one of the very few areas of common interest between the two countries which remains contentious. "The sooner we resolve the issue the better," he said. In an oblique reference to West Bengal's position on the issue that during the lean season water availability in Teesta river was not enough to share, he said: "It is like a person calling himself orphan after killing his own parents."

Bangladesh for greater Indian role to contain Rohingya influx

Myanmar is committing crimes against humanity in its campaign against Muslim insurgents in Rakhine state, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday, calling for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions and an arms embargo.

Human Rights Watch said its research, supported by satellite imagery, had found crimes of deportation, forced population transfers, murder, and rape.

The UN Security Council and concerned countries should impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo, it said.

The UN refugee agency called for a redoubling of international aid for the 480,000 refugees, 60 per cent of the children, who have fled to Bangladesh since August 25 to escape the violence.

A Myanmar government spokesman rejected the accusation of crimes against humanity, saying there was no evidence.

The US government, which has worked hard to establish close ties with Myanmar&#39;s civilian government in the face of competition from strategic rival China, did not comment directly on the Human Rights Watch charge.

However, a spokeswoman said, &quot;We are closely monitoring the situation and the facts on the ground as they continue to unfold.

&quot;We are deeply troubled by reports of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and burning of Rohingya villages by security forces and non-Rohingya individuals.&quot;

US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told the US House Foreign Affairs Committee that the US ambassador to Myanmar would visit the border of Rakhine, to look into the crisis &quot;within the next two days.&quot;

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi invited foreign diplomats to visit the area in a speech last week.

Myanmar has also rejected UN accusations that its forces are engaged in ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in response to coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on the security forces on August 25.

Refugees arriving in Bangladesh have accused the army and Buddhist vigilantes of trying to drive Rohingya out of Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

&quot;The Burmese military is brutally expelling the Rohingya from northern Rakhine state,&quot; said James Ross, legal and policy director at New York-based Human Rights Watch.

&quot;The massacres of villagers and mass arson driving people from their homes are all crimes against humanity.&quot;

Myanmar, also known as Burma, says its forces are fighting insurgents responsible for attacking the police and the army, killing civilians and torching villages.

The International Criminal Court defines crimes against humanity as acts including murder, torture, rape and deportation &quot;when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack&quot;.

Government spokesman Zaw Htay said no Myanmar government had ever been as committed to the promotion of rights as the current one.

&quot;Accusations without any strong evidence are dangerous,&quot; he told Reuters. &quot;It makes it difficult for the government to handle things.&quot;

A coordinating group of aid organisations said the total number of refugees who have fled to Bangladesh since August 25 had been revised up to 480,000 after 35,000 people in two camps were found to have been missed out of the previous tally.

&quot;The massive influx of people seeking safety has been outpacing capacities to respond, and the situation for these refugees has still not stabilised,&quot; Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva.

&quot;UNHCR is calling for a redoubling of the international humanitarian response in Bangladesh.&quot;

Little Sympathy

The violence and the refugee exodus is the biggest crisis the government of Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi has faced since it came to power last year in a transition from nearly 50 years of military rule.

Myanmar regards the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and bouts of suppression and violence have flared for decades. Most Rohingya are stateless.

Suu Kyi has faced scathing criticism and calls for her Nobel prize to be withdrawn.

She denounced rights violations in an address to the nation last week and vowed that abusers would be prosecuted. She also said the government was trying to determine why so many people fled.

Seven UN experts, including Yanghee Lee, special rapporteur on rights in Myanmar, called on Suu Kyi to meet Rohingya to hear for herself the reasons for their exodus.

&quot;No one chooses, especially not in the hundreds of thousands, to leave their homes and ancestral land, no matter how poor the conditions, to flee to a strange land to live under plastic sheets and in dire circumstances, except in life-threatening situations,&quot; they said.

They called on Myanmar to provide humanitarian access to Rakhine state, where the military has been restricting entry.

Suu Kyi has little, if any, control over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution that also bars her from the presidency and gives the military veto power over political reform.

Myanmar has seen a surge of Buddhist nationalism in recent years, and the public is supportive of the campaign against the insurgents.

Since Sunday, the army has unearthed the bodies of 45 members of Myanmar&#39;s small Hindu community who authorities say were killed by the insurgents soon after the violence erupted.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which has claimed attacks on the security forces since October, denied killing the villagers.

Some Hindus have fled to Bangladesh. Others have taken refuge in Myanmar towns, accusing the insurgents of attacking them on suspicion of being government spies.

Human Rights Watch said its research, supported by satellite imagery, had found crimes of deportation, forced population transfers, murder, and rape

Myanmar is committing crimes against humanity in its campaign against Muslim insurgents in Rakhine state, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday, calling for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions and an arms embargo. Human Rights Watch said its research, supported by satellite imagery, had found crimes of deportation, forced population transfers, murder, and rape. The UN Security Council and concerned countries should impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo, it said. The UN refugee agency called for a redoubling of international aid for the 480,000 refugees, 60 per cent of the children, who have fled to Bangladesh since August 25 to escape the violence. A Myanmar government spokesman rejected the accusation of crimes against humanity, saying there was no evidence. The US government, which has worked hard to establish close ties with Myanmar's civilian government in the face of competition from strategic rival China, did not comment directly on the Human Rights Watch charge. However, a spokeswoman said, "We are closely monitoring the situation and the facts on the ground as they continue to unfold. "We are deeply troubled by reports of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and burning of Rohingya villages by security forces and non-Rohingya individuals." US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told the US House Foreign Affairs Committee that the US ambassador to Myanmar would visit the border of Rakhine, to look into the crisis "within the next two days." Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi invited foreign diplomats to visit the area in a speech last week. Myanmar has also rejected UN accusations that its forces are engaged in ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in response to coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on the security forces on August 25. Refugees arriving in Bangladesh have accused the army and Buddhist vigilantes of trying to drive Rohingya out of Buddhist-majority Myanmar. "The Burmese military is brutally expelling the Rohingya from northern Rakhine state," said James Ross, legal and policy director at New York-based Human Rights Watch. "The massacres of villagers and mass arson driving people from their homes are all crimes against humanity." Myanmar, also known as Burma, says its forces are fighting insurgents responsible for attacking the police and the army, killing civilians and torching villages. The International Criminal Court defines crimes against humanity as acts including murder, torture, rape and deportation "when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack". Government spokesman Zaw Htay said no Myanmar government had ever been as committed to the promotion of rights as the current one. "Accusations without any strong evidence are dangerous," he told Reuters. "It makes it difficult for the government to handle things." A coordinating group of aid organisations said the total number of refugees who have fled to Bangladesh since August 25 had been revised up to 480,000 after 35,000 people in two camps were found to have been missed out of the previous tally. "The massive influx of people seeking safety has been outpacing capacities to respond, and the situation for these refugees has still not stabilised," Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva. "UNHCR is calling for a redoubling of the international humanitarian response in Bangladesh." Little Sympathy The violence and the refugee exodus is the biggest crisis the government of Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi has faced since it came to power last year in a transition from nearly 50 years of military rule. Myanmar regards the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and bouts of suppression and violence have flared for decades. Most Rohingya are stateless. Suu Kyi has faced scathing criticism and calls for her Nobel prize to be withdrawn. She denounced rights violations in an address to the nation last week and vowed that abusers would be prosecuted. She also said the government was trying to determine why so many people fled. Seven UN experts, including Yanghee Lee, special rapporteur on rights in Myanmar, called on Suu Kyi to meet Rohingya to hear for herself the reasons for their exodus. "No one chooses, especially not in the hundreds of thousands, to leave their homes and ancestral land, no matter how poor the conditions, to flee to a strange land to live under plastic sheets and in dire circumstances, except in life-threatening situations," they said. They called on Myanmar to provide humanitarian access to Rakhine state, where the military has been restricting entry. Suu Kyi has little, if any, control over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution that also bars her from the presidency and gives the military veto power over political reform. Myanmar has seen a surge of Buddhist nationalism in recent years, and the public is supportive of the campaign against the insurgents. Since Sunday, the army has unearthed the bodies of 45 members of Myanmar's small Hindu community who authorities say were killed by the insurgents soon after the violence erupted. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which has claimed attacks on the security forces since October, denied killing the villagers. Some Hindus have fled to Bangladesh. Others have taken refuge in Myanmar towns, accusing the insurgents of attacking them on suspicion of being government spies.

Murder, rape of Rohingyas in Myanmar: Human Rights Watch

Myanmar government forces found on Sunday the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hindus-of-myanmar-suffer-as-much-as-the-rohingyas-20219"> bodies of 28 Hindu villagers </a>who authorities suspected were killed by Muslim insurgents last month, at the beginning of a spasm of violence that has sent 430,000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgent group denied killing the Hindus saying it did not attack civilians.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-violence-thousands-of-rohingyas-enter-bangladesh-more-stranded-in-no-mans-land-19554">The latest violence in western Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State began on Aug. 25</a> when ARSA militants attacked about 30 police posts and an army camp, killing about 12 people.

Thousands of Hindus have fled villages where they once lived alongside Muslims, alleging that they were targeted by militants whose August 25 raids plunged Rakhine into communal violence

The United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing a sweeping government offensive in the north of Rakhine State in response to those attacks.&nbsp;

The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar has said more than 400 people have been killed, most of the insurgents. It rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing, saying it is fighting terrorists.

Members of the small Hindu minority appear to have been caught in the middle. Some have fled to Bangladesh, complaining of violence against them by soldiers or Buddhist vigilantes. Others have complained of being attacked by the insurgents on suspicion of being government spies.

The government said a search was mounted near Ye Baw Kya village in the north of Rakhine State after a refugee in Bangladesh contacted a Hindu community leader in Myanmar. The refugee said about 300 ARSA militants had marched about 100 people out of the village on Aug. 25 and killed them.&nbsp;

Twenty of the dead were female and eight were male children, the government said.

Around 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists based in the area have also been displaced by the violence.&nbsp;

&quot;They forced eight female villagers to convert to the Islamic religion and took them to Bangladesh,&quot; the government said.

A government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the security forces were investigating.

Access to the area by journalists as well as human rights workers and aid workers is largely restricted and Reuters could not independently verify the report.

An ARSA spokesman said he believed Buddhist nationalists trying to divide Hindus and Muslims were behind the &quot;lies&quot; that ARSA militants had killed the villagers.

&quot;ARSA has internationally pledged not to target civilians and that remains unchanged no matter what,&quot; the spokesman, who is based in a neighbouring country and identified himself only as Abdullah, told Reuters through a messaging service.

MALAYSIAN OBJECTION

The violence in Rakhine State and the exodus of refugees is the biggest crisis the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has faced since it came to power last year as part of a transition away from nearly 50 years of harsh military rule.

Bangladesh and aid organisations are struggling to help the Rohingya refugees there, while aid agencies fear a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the north of Rakhine State, where rights groups say nearly half of all Muslim villages have been torched.

The United States and the United Nations have called for an end to the violence, unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone and for the right of those who have fled to go home safely.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi has faced a barrage of international criticism for not speaking out more forcefully against the violence or doing more to rein in security forces over which she has little power.

The chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, issued a statement urging all parties to avoid worsening the situation on the ground and calling for a &quot;viable and long-term solutions to the root causes of the conflict&quot;.

Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia have expressed concern about the situation, with Malaysia in particular being critical of Myanmar.

In a rare show of disagreement in the 10-member grouping, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman later said Malaysia disassociated itself from the statement as it misrepresented the &quot;reality of the situation&quot; and did not identify the Rohingya as one of the affected communities.

Myanmar objects to the term Rohingya, saying the Muslims of Rakhine State are not a distinct ethnic group but illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.&nbsp;

This month, Malaysia summoned Myanmar&#39;s ambassador to express displeasure over the violence in Myanmar. It also &quot;expressed grave concerns over such atrocities which have unleashed a full-scale humanitarian crisis&quot;.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgent group denied killing the Hindus saying it did not attack civilians.

Myanmar government forces found on Sunday the bodies of 28 Hindu villagers who authorities suspected were killed by Muslim insurgents last month, at the beginning of a spasm of violence that has sent 430,000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgent group denied killing the Hindus saying it did not attack civilians. The latest violence in western Myanmar's Rakhine State began on Aug. 25 when ARSA militants attacked about 30 police posts and an army camp, killing about 12 people. Thousands of Hindus have fled villages where they once lived alongside Muslims, alleging that they were targeted by militants whose August 25 raids plunged Rakhine into communal violence The United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing a sweeping government offensive in the north of Rakhine State in response to those attacks. The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar has said more than 400 people have been killed, most of the insurgents. It rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing, saying it is fighting terrorists. Members of the small Hindu minority appear to have been caught in the middle. Some have fled to Bangladesh, complaining of violence against them by soldiers or Buddhist vigilantes. Others have complained of being attacked by the insurgents on suspicion of being government spies. The government said a search was mounted near Ye Baw Kya village in the north of Rakhine State after a refugee in Bangladesh contacted a Hindu community leader in Myanmar. The refugee said about 300 ARSA militants had marched about 100 people out of the village on Aug. 25 and killed them. Twenty of the dead were female and eight were male children, the government said. Around 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists based in the area have also been displaced by the violence. "They forced eight female villagers to convert to the Islamic religion and took them to Bangladesh," the government said. A government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the security forces were investigating. Access to the area by journalists as well as human rights workers and aid workers is largely restricted and Reuters could not independently verify the report. An ARSA spokesman said he believed Buddhist nationalists trying to divide Hindus and Muslims were behind the "lies" that ARSA militants had killed the villagers. "ARSA has internationally pledged not to target civilians and that remains unchanged no matter what," the spokesman, who is based in a neighbouring country and identified himself only as Abdullah, told Reuters through a messaging service. MALAYSIAN OBJECTION The violence in Rakhine State and the exodus of refugees is the biggest crisis the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has faced since it came to power last year as part of a transition away from nearly 50 years of harsh military rule. Bangladesh and aid organisations are struggling to help the Rohingya refugees there, while aid agencies fear a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the north of Rakhine State, where rights groups say nearly half of all Muslim villages have been torched. The United States and the United Nations have called for an end to the violence, unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone and for the right of those who have fled to go home safely. Suu Kyi has faced a barrage of international criticism for not speaking out more forcefully against the violence or doing more to rein in security forces over which she has little power. The chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, issued a statement urging all parties to avoid worsening the situation on the ground and calling for a "viable and long-term solutions to the root causes of the conflict". Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia have expressed concern about the situation, with Malaysia in particular being critical of Myanmar. In a rare show of disagreement in the 10-member grouping, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman later said Malaysia disassociated itself from the statement as it misrepresented the "reality of the situation" and did not identify the Rohingya as one of the affected communities. Myanmar objects to the term Rohingya, saying the Muslims of Rakhine State are not a distinct ethnic group but illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. This month, Malaysia summoned Myanmar's ambassador to express displeasure over the violence in Myanmar. It also "expressed grave concerns over such atrocities which have unleashed a full-scale humanitarian crisis".

Myanmar says bodies of 28 Hindu villagers found in Rakhine State

&ldquo;This is not just a diplomatic briefing, but in some ways, a friendly appeal to all those who wish Myanmar well,&rdquo; said Myanmar&rsquo;s State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her characteristically sombre tone, at the end of her public address on 19 September.

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<h5>Suu Kyi categorically avoided touching upon specific allegations and counter-allegations with regard to the ground situation in northern Rakhine.</h5>
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The speech came at a time when the Nobel Peace laureate finds herself in a thick swamp over her passivity on the alleged use of disproportionate and extrajudicial force by state security forces against the stateless community of Rohingya Muslims.&nbsp;

Damage Control

The State Counsellor&rsquo;s speech, delivered in English for international consumption, came in lieu of her absence at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly held on the same date. In words that were heavily weighed, she offered a fairly broad and ostensibly neutral narrative aimed at damage-control.&nbsp;

Much unlike how the Tatmadaw (military) would have addressed criticism from the outside, the Lady&rsquo;s tone was one of conciliation rather than abrasive dismissal. She was fully aware of the importance of the global community of active and passive stakeholders that she was addressing in consolidating Myanmar&rsquo;s image as a progressive democracy. This was a target audience that the Lady does not wish to lose anytime soon.

However, the speech has been met with damning criticism from certain quarters of the international community. &ldquo;Too little, too late&rdquo;, &ldquo;disappointing&rdquo;, &ldquo;shameful&rdquo;, &quot;little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming&quot; are some of the phrases that were employed to describe it. As she herself conceded in an interview with ANI next day, Suu Kyi stuck to Naypyidaw&rsquo;s standard narrative on the Rakhine/Rohingya issue, the crux of which is that the situation is complex, warrants the time to resolve, and is being misrepresented in the international media.

Let&#39;s take a look at some of the key themes in her cautiously-framed narrative, and the veracity of the claims made under them.

Rule of Law and Human Rights Violations

Suu Kyi said that her government was committed to the rule of law and condemned all forms of human rights violations and unlawful violence. She said that the security forces were under instructions to adhere to a strict code of conduct and exercise maximum restraint insofar as their operations in northern Rakhine are concerned.

However, these statements carry little value without corresponding evidence from the ground which is impossible owing to the security lockdown imposed in the core conflict zone.

The closest to any &lsquo;evidence&rsquo; that we have at the moment are the countless eyewitness accounts of Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, which paint an entirely different picture. This is further backed up by satellite images released recently showing entire villages razed to the ground. The government, so far, has not furnished any solid material counter-evidence to thwart this accusatory narrative.

Further, &lsquo;rule of law&rsquo; is always a non-starter when serious allegations of human rights abuses by state forces are concerned. In fact, on many occasions, the law is used as a shield of legitimacy to carry out a draconian action. Such a broad mandate often leads to excessive use of force and overkill when combatants are diffused within a bigger non-combatant civilian population, like in this case. The situation is somewhat similar to India&rsquo;s use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in insurgent areas.

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<h5>Temporary resettlement in camps and aid provision, catered only to the non-Muslim population, including ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, sub-ethnic groups (like Mru), and Hindus. In fact, 4000 of them have already returned to their homes by now - an indication of effective but discriminatory crisis resettlement.&nbsp;</h5>
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The Situation on the Ground

Suu Kyi categorically avoided touching upon specific allegations and counter-allegations with regard to the ground situation in northern Rakhine. She, however, stated that 50 per cent of the Rohingya villages is intact. Even if we take this at face value without triangulating it with material evidence (which remains obscure for now), the obvious question that pops up is: what happened to the other 50 per cent? Who burnt them?&nbsp;

She also stated that the government had launched relief and resettlement programmes on 27 August, two days after the attack. However, almost all media reports tell us that these programmes, involving temporary resettlement in camps and aid provision, catered only to the non-Muslim population, including ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, sub-ethnic groups (like Mru), and Hindus. In fact, 4000 of them have already returned to their homes by now - an indication of effective but discriminatory crisis resettlement.&nbsp;

Exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh

Suu Kyi&rsquo;s comments on the continuing mass exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh were met with sharp criticism and apprehension by international observers. She said that &lsquo;most&rsquo; of the Muslims had not fled, and called upon the international community to visit northern Rakhine and speak to these Rohingyas who chose to stay back. She also stated that the government wants to find out why the exodus was happening and that it wants to talk to those who had fled.

These are, at best, tactical comments aimed at deflection. Fact remains that 4 lakh Rohingyas have already crossed the perilous border, at least according to UN agencies operating in the area. Considering that around 10 lakh Rohingyas live in northern Rakhine, the displaced indeed accounts for just a part of the entire Muslim population. But, 4 lakh is not a small figure in itself and neither is the proportion of displaced so paltry that it ought to be dismissed.

Her cautiously minced statement does not issue any clear invitation to talk to the displaced - something that it believes is reserved for the state authorities alone.

Observers have also accused her of sounding ignorant for wondering what the reasons for the exodus could be. While she might have been fed inaccurate information about the ground reality in northern Rakhine, this seems to be another strategically-framed narrative like the rest. In asking this question, Suu Kyi implicitly absolved the military of responsibility for the ongoing displacement and shifted the blame to elements beyond the control of her government. The idea that she wants to project is that if the refugee exodus was indeed because of the state&rsquo;s conduct, then she would certainly know the reason.

One of the most crucial elements under this theme that Suu Kyi talked about was her government&rsquo;s willingness to engage with the government of Bangladesh to resolve the refugee crisis. She stated that Myanmar is willing to begin the National Verification Process (NVP) - a policy to ascertain the citizenship of non-citizen Rakhine residents, Rohingyas included - and repatriate refugees in Bangladesh in adherence to the principles agreed upon by the two countries in 1993 under UN supervision.

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<h5>The futility of the NVP is reaffirmed by the fact that only 4000 of the 10 lakh Rohingyas have been accepted as citizens so far, with rest being given &ldquo;green cards&rdquo;</h5>
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This is a welcome move that addresses the root of the problem i.e. citizenship rights for Rohingyas. However, while the NVP has been termed as a nominal policy to partially rehabilitate roving refugees in Rakhine (without giving them full citizenship status), the 1993 guidelines earlier came under scrutiny for violating international law by repatriating refugees in Bangladesh against their own wishes. The futility of the NVP is reaffirmed by the fact that only 4000 of the 10 lakh Rohingyas have been accepted as citizens so far, with rest being given &ldquo;green cards&rdquo; (temporary resident status).&nbsp;

For now, the exact provisions of both remain, at best, dubious. Further, Suu Kyi said that all those who are legitimately accepted as &lsquo;refugees&rsquo; (in Myanmar) would receive full state entitlements, including security and access to humanitarian aid. What would happen to the rest remains unclear as ever?

An Exercise in Vain?

Clearly, the State Counsellor&rsquo;s speech was fraught with grave inconsistencies, those that third-party observers are ready to pounce on and expose. Thus, this exercise in damage control certainly falls short of its prime objective of placating international observers concerned about the situation in northern Rakhine.&nbsp;

However, the overall tone of the narrative was not of denial, which is a refreshing break from past official narratives. It was, nonetheless, ridden with passive omissions. Truth is that the Lady does not enjoy full autonomy when it comes to handling the ground situation in the affected conflict zone. The Tatmadaw is the key decision-making authority in this regard; and, thanks to the civilian government&rsquo;s delicate relationship with the ever-powerful army, Suu Kyi remains tied to the ground for now.

Aung Suu Kyi's attempt at damage control certainly falls short of its prime objective of placating international observers concerned about the Rohingya situation.

“This is not just a diplomatic briefing, but in some ways, a friendly appeal to all those who wish Myanmar well,” said Myanmar’s State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her characteristically sombre tone, at the end of her public address on 19 September. Suu Kyi categorically avoided touching upon specific allegations and counter-allegations with regard to the ground situation in northern Rakhine. × The speech came at a time when the Nobel Peace laureate finds herself in a thick swamp over her passivity on the alleged use of disproportionate and extrajudicial force by state security forces against the stateless community of Rohingya Muslims. Damage Control The State Counsellor’s speech, delivered in English for international consumption, came in lieu of her absence at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly held on the same date. In words that were heavily weighed, she offered a fairly broad and ostensibly neutral narrative aimed at damage-control. Much unlike how the Tatmadaw (military) would have addressed criticism from the outside, the Lady’s tone was one of conciliation rather than abrasive dismissal. She was fully aware of the importance of the global community of active and passive stakeholders that she was addressing in consolidating Myanmar’s image as a progressive democracy. This was a target audience that the Lady does not wish to lose anytime soon. However, the speech has been met with damning criticism from certain quarters of the international community. “Too little, too late”, “disappointing”, “shameful”, "little more than a mix of untruths and victim blaming" are some of the phrases that were employed to describe it. As she herself conceded in an interview with ANI next day, Suu Kyi stuck to Naypyidaw’s standard narrative on the Rakhine/Rohingya issue, the crux of which is that the situation is complex, warrants the time to resolve, and is being misrepresented in the international media. Let's take a look at some of the key themes in her cautiously-framed narrative, and the veracity of the claims made under them. Rule of Law and Human Rights Violations Suu Kyi said that her government was committed to the rule of law and condemned all forms of human rights violations and unlawful violence. She said that the security forces were under instructions to adhere to a strict code of conduct and exercise maximum restraint insofar as their operations in northern Rakhine are concerned. However, these statements carry little value without corresponding evidence from the ground which is impossible owing to the security lockdown imposed in the core conflict zone. The closest to any ‘evidence’ that we have at the moment are the countless eyewitness accounts of Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, which paint an entirely different picture. This is further backed up by satellite images released recently showing entire villages razed to the ground. The government, so far, has not furnished any solid material counter-evidence to thwart this accusatory narrative. Further, ‘rule of law’ is always a non-starter when serious allegations of human rights abuses by state forces are concerned. In fact, on many occasions, the law is used as a shield of legitimacy to carry out a draconian action. Such a broad mandate often leads to excessive use of force and overkill when combatants are diffused within a bigger non-combatant civilian population, like in this case. The situation is somewhat similar to India’s use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in insurgent areas. Temporary resettlement in camps and aid provision, catered only to the non-Muslim population, including ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, sub-ethnic groups (like Mru), and Hindus. In fact, 4000 of them have already returned to their homes by now - an indication of effective but discriminatory crisis resettlement. × The Situation on the Ground Suu Kyi categorically avoided touching upon specific allegations and counter-allegations with regard to the ground situation in northern Rakhine. She, however, stated that 50 per cent of the Rohingya villages is intact. Even if we take this at face value without triangulating it with material evidence (which remains obscure for now), the obvious question that pops up is: what happened to the other 50 per cent? Who burnt them? She also stated that the government had launched relief and resettlement programmes on 27 August, two days after the attack. However, almost all media reports tell us that these programmes, involving temporary resettlement in camps and aid provision, catered only to the non-Muslim population, including ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, sub-ethnic groups (like Mru), and Hindus. In fact, 4000 of them have already returned to their homes by now - an indication of effective but discriminatory crisis resettlement. Exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh Suu Kyi’s comments on the continuing mass exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh were met with sharp criticism and apprehension by international observers. She said that ‘most’ of the Muslims had not fled, and called upon the international community to visit northern Rakhine and speak to these Rohingyas who chose to stay back. She also stated that the government wants to find out why the exodus was happening and that it wants to talk to those who had fled. These are, at best, tactical comments aimed at deflection. Fact remains that 4 lakh Rohingyas have already crossed the perilous border, at least according to UN agencies operating in the area. Considering that around 10 lakh Rohingyas live in northern Rakhine, the displaced indeed accounts for just a part of the entire Muslim population. But, 4 lakh is not a small figure in itself and neither is the proportion of displaced so paltry that it ought to be dismissed. Her cautiously minced statement does not issue any clear invitation to talk to the displaced - something that it believes is reserved for the state authorities alone. Observers have also accused her of sounding ignorant for wondering what the reasons for the exodus could be. While she might have been fed inaccurate information about the ground reality in northern Rakhine, this seems to be another strategically-framed narrative like the rest. In asking this question, Suu Kyi implicitly absolved the military of responsibility for the ongoing displacement and shifted the blame to elements beyond the control of her government. The idea that she wants to project is that if the refugee exodus was indeed because of the state’s conduct, then she would certainly know the reason. One of the most crucial elements under this theme that Suu Kyi talked about was her government’s willingness to engage with the government of Bangladesh to resolve the refugee crisis. She stated that Myanmar is willing to begin the National Verification Process (NVP) - a policy to ascertain the citizenship of non-citizen Rakhine residents, Rohingyas included - and repatriate refugees in Bangladesh in adherence to the principles agreed upon by the two countries in 1993 under UN supervision. The futility of the NVP is reaffirmed by the fact that only 4000 of the 10 lakh Rohingyas have been accepted as citizens so far, with rest being given “green cards” × This is a welcome move that addresses the root of the problem i.e. citizenship rights for Rohingyas. However, while the NVP has been termed as a nominal policy to partially rehabilitate roving refugees in Rakhine (without giving them full citizenship status), the 1993 guidelines earlier came under scrutiny for violating international law by repatriating refugees in Bangladesh against their own wishes. The futility of the NVP is reaffirmed by the fact that only 4000 of the 10 lakh Rohingyas have been accepted as citizens so far, with rest being given “green cards” (temporary resident status). For now, the exact provisions of both remain, at best, dubious. Further, Suu Kyi said that all those who are legitimately accepted as ‘refugees’ (in Myanmar) would receive full state entitlements, including security and access to humanitarian aid. What would happen to the rest remains unclear as ever? An Exercise in Vain? Clearly, the State Counsellor’s speech was fraught with grave inconsistencies, those that third-party observers are ready to pounce on and expose. Thus, this exercise in damage control certainly falls short of its prime objective of placating international observers concerned about the situation in northern Rakhine. However, the overall tone of the narrative was not of denial, which is a refreshing break from past official narratives. It was, nonetheless, ridden with passive omissions. Truth is that the Lady does not enjoy full autonomy when it comes to handling the ground situation in the affected conflict zone. The Tatmadaw is the key decision-making authority in this regard; and, thanks to the civilian government’s delicate relationship with the ever-powerful army, Suu Kyi remains tied to the ground for now.

Rohingyas: Grave inconsistencies if not denial marks Aung Suu Kyi's speech

A military campaign to wipe out Rohingya insurgents has rained violence down on Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state, sending nearly 390,000 Muslim Rohingya refugees fleeing for sanctuary in Bangladesh.

Around 30,000 Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been displaced, as ethnic and religious hatreds carve through the western state.

Access to the epicentre of unrest -- the northern wedge of Rakhine -- has been blocked by the government as the crisis unfolds.

But the weary and wounded Rohingya arriving in Bangladesh have told consistent but unverifiable accounts of village massacres, with soldiers and vigilante mobs teaming up to empty out communities and burn them to the ground.

The UN has accused Myanmar of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya, a stateless group that the Buddhist-majority country refuses to recognise as citizens.&nbsp;

The government refutes the accusations, instead saying the army has carried out targeted operations to snuff out the militant group, whose attacks on police posts in late August unleashed the massive military response.

Here is what we know about who is left in violence-ravaged Rakhine, where tens of thousands of people are believed to still be on the move.

Empty villages

A census published in 2015 said three million people lived in Rakhine, including an estimated 1.1 million Rohingya.&nbsp;

Rakhine&#39;s northernmost Maungdaw district was home to around three quarters of that population, according to government figures.

But nearly forty percent of its Rohingya villages have been completely abandoned in the past three weeks, said government spokesman Zaw Htay.&nbsp;

&quot;There are 176 villages where the whole village fled,&quot; he told reporters Wednesday night, out of 471 Rohingya communities in total.

The recent refugee arrivals in Bangladesh amount to more than a third of the total number of Rohingya once based in Myanmar.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been driven from their homes since late August, saying they were targeted by the Rohingya militants.

On Thursday Myanmar&#39;s government said some 4,000 people had started trickling back to their villages in Maungdaw as clashes between the army and militants ebbed, without specifying their ethnicity.&nbsp;

Raging fires

Myanmar&#39;s Information Committee has said over 7,000 homes have been destroyed by fire across at least 59 villages -- the vast majority belonging to &quot;Bengalis&quot; as the government pejoratively calls the Rohingya.

New satellite images released by Amnesty International on Friday showed that more than two dozen villages in the Rohingya-majority area had been set alight since August 25, with patches of grey ash marking the area where structures had stood.

AFP reporters on government-steered press trips have seen abandoned villages and homes reduced to ashes.

Columns of smoke from the gutted villages have also been visible almost daily from across the Naf river in Bangladesh, where the Rohingya refugees are massing in ramshackle camps.&nbsp;

Rohingya refugees say Myanmar officers and Buddhist vigilantes started the fires after driving them out of their homes with gunshots and other threats, a tactic that Amnesty has described as an &quot;orchestrated campaign&quot; of ethnic cleansing.&nbsp;

Myanmar authorities deny that, saying the militants have torched the villages in a bid to attract global sympathy.

People on the move

Tens of thousands of Rohingya are believed to still be trekking through the monsoon-soaked area.

For those fleeing fire-hit areas further south, it may take weeks to cross over difficult terrain, blanketed by security forces, to reach the Bangladesh border.&nbsp;

Aid groups have been unable to access northern Rakhine since the violence erupted in late August, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

&quot;Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, may be trapped in remote areas far from the border with limited food and medical supplies and are unable to reach safety,&quot; said Pierre Peron, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Rohingya who have stayed in their villages are living in fear and struggling to survive without the food deliveries that have supported their impoverished communities for years, said Laura Haigh from Amnesty International.

&quot;They are essentially locked in and markets are not functioning,&quot; she told AFP.

Myanmar has said it will establish camps in Rohingya-majority areas of Maungdaw to provide relief, but details of the project are scant.

On Thursday the Information Committee said shelters will be set up for Muslims &quot;who can guarantee they are no way connected to the terrorists&quot;.

Government spokesman Zaw Htay has also said the country would not allow all of those who crossed into Bangladesh to return -- comments likely to fuel allegations Myanmar is intentionally ejecting the Rohingya, whose presence in Myanmar has incensed powerful Buddhist nationalists for years.&nbsp;

&quot;Some reached the other side of border. If they come back, we cannot accept all of them,&quot; Zaw Htay said, adding that returnees would need to be &quot;scrutinised&quot;.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Rohingyas are fleeing the violence-hit Rakhine state and seeking safety in Bangladesh

A military campaign to wipe out Rohingya insurgents has rained violence down on Myanmar's Rakhine state, sending nearly 390,000 Muslim Rohingya refugees fleeing for sanctuary in Bangladesh. Around 30,000 Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been displaced, as ethnic and religious hatreds carve through the western state. Access to the epicentre of unrest -- the northern wedge of Rakhine -- has been blocked by the government as the crisis unfolds. But the weary and wounded Rohingya arriving in Bangladesh have told consistent but unverifiable accounts of village massacres, with soldiers and vigilante mobs teaming up to empty out communities and burn them to the ground. The UN has accused Myanmar of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya, a stateless group that the Buddhist-majority country refuses to recognise as citizens. The government refutes the accusations, instead saying the army has carried out targeted operations to snuff out the militant group, whose attacks on police posts in late August unleashed the massive military response. Here is what we know about who is left in violence-ravaged Rakhine, where tens of thousands of people are believed to still be on the move. Empty villages A census published in 2015 said three million people lived in Rakhine, including an estimated 1.1 million Rohingya. Rakhine's northernmost Maungdaw district was home to around three quarters of that population, according to government figures. But nearly forty percent of its Rohingya villages have been completely abandoned in the past three weeks, said government spokesman Zaw Htay. "There are 176 villages where the whole village fled," he told reporters Wednesday night, out of 471 Rohingya communities in total. The recent refugee arrivals in Bangladesh amount to more than a third of the total number of Rohingya once based in Myanmar. Tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been driven from their homes since late August, saying they were targeted by the Rohingya militants. On Thursday Myanmar's government said some 4,000 people had started trickling back to their villages in Maungdaw as clashes between the army and militants ebbed, without specifying their ethnicity. Raging fires Myanmar's Information Committee has said over 7,000 homes have been destroyed by fire across at least 59 villages -- the vast majority belonging to "Bengalis" as the government pejoratively calls the Rohingya. New satellite images released by Amnesty International on Friday showed that more than two dozen villages in the Rohingya-majority area had been set alight since August 25, with patches of grey ash marking the area where structures had stood. AFP reporters on government-steered press trips have seen abandoned villages and homes reduced to ashes. Columns of smoke from the gutted villages have also been visible almost daily from across the Naf river in Bangladesh, where the Rohingya refugees are massing in ramshackle camps. Rohingya refugees say Myanmar officers and Buddhist vigilantes started the fires after driving them out of their homes with gunshots and other threats, a tactic that Amnesty has described as an "orchestrated campaign" of ethnic cleansing. Myanmar authorities deny that, saying the militants have torched the villages in a bid to attract global sympathy. People on the move Tens of thousands of Rohingya are believed to still be trekking through the monsoon-soaked area. For those fleeing fire-hit areas further south, it may take weeks to cross over difficult terrain, blanketed by security forces, to reach the Bangladesh border. Aid groups have been unable to access northern Rakhine since the violence erupted in late August, compounding the humanitarian crisis. "Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, may be trapped in remote areas far from the border with limited food and medical supplies and are unable to reach safety," said Pierre Peron, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Rohingya who have stayed in their villages are living in fear and struggling to survive without the food deliveries that have supported their impoverished communities for years, said Laura Haigh from Amnesty International. "They are essentially locked in and markets are not functioning," she told AFP. Myanmar has said it will establish camps in Rohingya-majority areas of Maungdaw to provide relief, but details of the project are scant. On Thursday the Information Committee said shelters will be set up for Muslims "who can guarantee they are no way connected to the terrorists". Government spokesman Zaw Htay has also said the country would not allow all of those who crossed into Bangladesh to return -- comments likely to fuel allegations Myanmar is intentionally ejecting the Rohingya, whose presence in Myanmar has incensed powerful Buddhist nationalists for years. "Some reached the other side of border. If they come back, we cannot accept all of them," Zaw Htay said, adding that returnees would need to be "scrutinised". (AFP)

Empty villages, Rohingya on the run: Who is left in Myanmar's Rakhine?

About <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmars-suu-kyi-under-pressure-as-almost-125000-rohingya-flee-violence-19909">270,000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing violence in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;</a>have sought refuge in Bangladesh in the past two weeks, a spokeswoman for the UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday.

This has brought to 357,000 the number of Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since October 2016.

The exodus has put pressure on aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands of refugees from previous violence in&nbsp;Myanmar.

Following are some details on the crisis gathered from UN&nbsp;sources working in the Cox&#39;s Bazar district of Bangladesh, on the&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;border.

- The number of new arrivals has increased considerably in part because of a survey carried out on September&nbsp;6 and 7, when inter-agency teams visited host communities previously left out of calculations. About 75,000 people were identified in previously unvisited communities at nine locations.

- There is immediate need for food for the majority of the new arrivals, who do not have, or have finished, their own supplies, and are getting food from host communities or refugees who came across the border last year.

- Most of the food being distributed is high-energy biscuits with 47,522 new arrivals getting them. Supplies of rice are scheduled to go out from September&nbsp;9.

- Water is scarce while sanitation and hygiene facilities in all makeshift settlements and refugee camps, especially at Shamlapur and Leda, where the number of fresh arrivals is increasing rapidly, are stretched. Limited space to build new facilities is a chronic problem.

- There are serious concerns about malnutrition, especially among children under five and pregnant or lactating women, some of whom are being enrolled in targeted feeding programmes.

- Many pregnant women are very hungry, some having not eaten for several days. Seven babies have been born.

- There is also a need for safe spaces for women with eight reported cases of gender-based violence, including 2 cases of sexual violence.

- As of September&nbsp;7, a total of 299 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been identified and registered since August&nbsp;25.

- An estimated 51,100 children need schooling.

They have sought refuge in Bangladesh, the United Nations said

About 270,000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar have sought refuge in Bangladesh in the past two weeks, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday. This has brought to 357,000 the number of Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since October 2016. The exodus has put pressure on aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands of refugees from previous violence in Myanmar. Following are some details on the crisis gathered from UN sources working in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh, on the Myanmar border. - The number of new arrivals has increased considerably in part because of a survey carried out on September 6 and 7, when inter-agency teams visited host communities previously left out of calculations. About 75,000 people were identified in previously unvisited communities at nine locations. - There is immediate need for food for the majority of the new arrivals, who do not have, or have finished, their own supplies, and are getting food from host communities or refugees who came across the border last year. - Most of the food being distributed is high-energy biscuits with 47,522 new arrivals getting them. Supplies of rice are scheduled to go out from September 9. - Water is scarce while sanitation and hygiene facilities in all makeshift settlements and refugee camps, especially at Shamlapur and Leda, where the number of fresh arrivals is increasing rapidly, are stretched. Limited space to build new facilities is a chronic problem. - There are serious concerns about malnutrition, especially among children under five and pregnant or lactating women, some of whom are being enrolled in targeted feeding programmes. - Many pregnant women are very hungry, some having not eaten for several days. Seven babies have been born. - There is also a need for safe spaces for women with eight reported cases of gender-based violence, including 2 cases of sexual violence. - As of September 7, a total of 299 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been identified and registered since August 25. - An estimated 51,100 children need schooling.

270,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar in two weeks: UN

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi came under more pressure on Tuesday from countries with Muslim populations to halt violence against Rohingya&nbsp;Muslims that has sent nearly 125,000 of them fleeing over the border to Bangladesh in just over 10 days.

Reuters reporters saw hundreds more exhausted&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;arriving on boats near the Bangladeshi border village of Shamlapur on Tuesday, suggesting the exodus was far from over.

Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday the country is ready to ease the burden of Bangladesh in dealing with the&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;Muslims fleeing from Myanmar, but the help is likely to be only humanitarian, not financial.

&quot;We will continue to discuss what sort of support Indonesia could make to ease the burden of the Bangladesh government,&quot; Marsudi told a news conference after she met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka.

&quot;This humanitarian crisis shall be ended. I want to repeat, this humanitarian crisis shall be ended&quot;, she told reporters in Dhaka, a day after meetings in the Myanmar capital.

On Wednesday, Indonesia&#39;s ambassador to Bangladesh will meet the foreign minister to discuss relief assistance, which she said will be more on the humanitarian side than monetary, she told Reuters on the sidelines of the brief press meeting.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-12-dead-in-violence-by-rohingya-militants-in-rakhine-19477">The latest violence in Myanmar&#39;s northwestern Rakhine state began on Aug. 25, when&nbsp;Rohingya insurgents attacked dozens of police posts and an army base. The ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive have killed at least 400 people and triggered the exodus of villagers to Bangladesh.</a>

The treatment of Buddhist-majority Myanmar&#39;s roughly 1.1 million Muslim&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;is the biggest challenge facing Suu Kyi, who has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out for the minority that has long complained of persecution.

Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against &quot;terrorists&quot; responsible for a string of attacks on police posts and the army since last October.

Myanmar officials blamed&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;militants for the burning of homes and civilian deaths but rights monitors and&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh say the Myanmar army is trying to force them out with a campaign of arson and killings.

&quot;Indonesia is taking the lead, and ultimately there is a possibility of ASEAN countries joining in,&quot; H T&nbsp;Imam, a political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters.

He was referring to the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations that includes both Myanmar and Indonesia.

&quot;If we can keep the pressure on Myanmar from ASEAN, from India as well, that will be good ... If the international conscience is awakened, that would put pressure on Myanmar.&quot;

Malaysia, another ASEAN member, summoned Myanmar&#39;s ambassador to express displeasure over the violence and scolded Myanmar for making &quot;little, if any&quot; progress on the problem.

&quot;Malaysia believes that the matter of sustained violence and discrimination against the&nbsp;Rohingyas should be elevated to a higher international forum,&quot; Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement.

Turkey&#39;s President Tayyip Erdogan, who has said the violence against&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;Muslims constituted genocide, told Suu Kyi the violence was of deep concern to the Muslim world, and he was sending his foreign minister to Bangladesh.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a visit to Myanmar on Tuesday, during which he will meet top officials, including Suu Kyi.

Pakistan, home to a large&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;community, has expressed &quot;deep anguish&quot;.

Full camp

The latest estimate of the numbers who have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, based on calculations byUN workers, is 123,600.

That takes to about 210,000 the number of&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since October, when&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;insurgents staged smaller attacks on security posts, triggering a major Myanmar army counteroffensive and sending about 87,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh.

Refugees arriving in Shamlapur, and residents of the village, said hundreds of boats had arrived on Monday and Tuesday with several thousand people.

Reuters reporters saw men, women, children and a few possessions, including chickens, disembark from one boat.

&quot;The army set fire to houses,&quot; said Salim Ullah, 28, a farmer from Myanmar&#39;s village of Kyauk Pan Du, gripping a sack of belongings.

&quot;We got on the boat at daybreak. I came with my mother, wife and two children. There were 40 people on the boat, including 25 women.&quot;

The new arrivals - many sick or wounded - have strained the resources of aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands of refugees from previous spasms of violence in Myanmar.

Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the UN&nbsp;refugee agency, UNHCR, said one camp in Bangladesh, Kutupalong, had reached &quot;full capacity&quot; and resources at others were being stretched.

&quot;We are doing what we can, but will need to seek more resources,&quot; Tan said.

Bangladesh is concerned about Myanmar army activity on the border and would lodge a complaint if Bangladeshi territory was violated, an interior ministry official said.

A Bangladesh border guard officer said two blasts were heard on Tuesday on the Myanmar side, after two on Monday fuelled speculation Myanmar forces had laid land mines.

One boy had his left leg blown off near a border crossing before being brought to Bangladesh for treatment, while another boy suffered minor injuries, the officer, Manzurul Hassan Khan, said, adding the blast could have been a mine explosion.

The Myanmar army has not commented on the blasts near the border but said in a statement on Tuesday&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;insurgents were planning bomb attacks in Myanmar cities including the capital, Naypyitaw, Yangon and Mandalay to &quot;attract more attention from the world&quot;.

Hundreds more exhausted?Rohingya?arrived on boats near the Bangladeshi border village of Shamlapur on Tuesday, suggesting the exodus was far from over

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi came under more pressure on Tuesday from countries with Muslim populations to halt violence against Rohingya Muslims that has sent nearly 125,000 of them fleeing over the border to Bangladesh in just over 10 days. Reuters reporters saw hundreds more exhausted Rohingya arriving on boats near the Bangladeshi border village of Shamlapur on Tuesday, suggesting the exodus was far from over. Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday the country is ready to ease the burden of Bangladesh in dealing with the Rohingya Muslims fleeing from Myanmar, but the help is likely to be only humanitarian, not financial. "We will continue to discuss what sort of support Indonesia could make to ease the burden of the Bangladesh government," Marsudi told a news conference after she met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka. "This humanitarian crisis shall be ended. I want to repeat, this humanitarian crisis shall be ended", she told reporters in Dhaka, a day after meetings in the Myanmar capital. On Wednesday, Indonesia's ambassador to Bangladesh will meet the foreign minister to discuss relief assistance, which she said will be more on the humanitarian side than monetary, she told Reuters on the sidelines of the brief press meeting. The latest violence in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine state began on Aug. 25, when Rohingya insurgents attacked dozens of police posts and an army base. The ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive have killed at least 400 people and triggered the exodus of villagers to Bangladesh. The treatment of Buddhist-majority Myanmar's roughly 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya is the biggest challenge facing Suu Kyi, who has been accused by Western critics of not speaking out for the minority that has long complained of persecution. Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against "terrorists" responsible for a string of attacks on police posts and the army since last October. Myanmar officials blamed Rohingya militants for the burning of homes and civilian deaths but rights monitors and Rohingya fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh say the Myanmar army is trying to force them out with a campaign of arson and killings. "Indonesia is taking the lead, and ultimately there is a possibility of ASEAN countries joining in," H T Imam, a political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters. He was referring to the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations that includes both Myanmar and Indonesia. "If we can keep the pressure on Myanmar from ASEAN, from India as well, that will be good ... If the international conscience is awakened, that would put pressure on Myanmar." Malaysia, another ASEAN member, summoned Myanmar's ambassador to express displeasure over the violence and scolded Myanmar for making "little, if any" progress on the problem. "Malaysia believes that the matter of sustained violence and discrimination against the Rohingyas should be elevated to a higher international forum," Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, who has said the violence against Rohingya Muslims constituted genocide, told Suu Kyi the violence was of deep concern to the Muslim world, and he was sending his foreign minister to Bangladesh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a visit to Myanmar on Tuesday, during which he will meet top officials, including Suu Kyi. Pakistan, home to a large Rohingya community, has expressed "deep anguish". Full camp The latest estimate of the numbers who have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, based on calculations byUN workers, is 123,600. That takes to about 210,000 the number of Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh since October, when Rohingya insurgents staged smaller attacks on security posts, triggering a major Myanmar army counteroffensive and sending about 87,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh. Refugees arriving in Shamlapur, and residents of the village, said hundreds of boats had arrived on Monday and Tuesday with several thousand people. Reuters reporters saw men, women, children and a few possessions, including chickens, disembark from one boat. "The army set fire to houses," said Salim Ullah, 28, a farmer from Myanmar's village of Kyauk Pan Du, gripping a sack of belongings. "We got on the boat at daybreak. I came with my mother, wife and two children. There were 40 people on the boat, including 25 women." The new arrivals - many sick or wounded - have strained the resources of aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands of refugees from previous spasms of violence in Myanmar. Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said one camp in Bangladesh, Kutupalong, had reached "full capacity" and resources at others were being stretched. "We are doing what we can, but will need to seek more resources," Tan said. Bangladesh is concerned about Myanmar army activity on the border and would lodge a complaint if Bangladeshi territory was violated, an interior ministry official said. A Bangladesh border guard officer said two blasts were heard on Tuesday on the Myanmar side, after two on Monday fuelled speculation Myanmar forces had laid land mines. One boy had his left leg blown off near a border crossing before being brought to Bangladesh for treatment, while another boy suffered minor injuries, the officer, Manzurul Hassan Khan, said, adding the blast could have been a mine explosion. The Myanmar army has not commented on the blasts near the border but said in a statement on Tuesday Rohingya insurgents were planning bomb attacks in Myanmar cities including the capital, Naypyitaw, Yangon and Mandalay to "attract more attention from the world".

Myanmar's Suu Kyi under pressure as almost 125,000 Rohingya flee violence

In order to tackle the huge <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-violence-thousands-of-rohingyas-enter-bangladesh-more-stranded-in-no-mans-land-19554">refugee influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar, the Bangladesh </a>government has proposed to fight jointly with Myanmar against the insurgents in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.

Thousands of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-witnesses-fresh-influx-of-rohingya-muslims-from-myanmar-19108">Rohingyas, who fled their homes in the violence-hit state</a>, are waiting on the borders to seek shelter in Bangladesh.

The influx was triggered by a dramatic escalation in violence between the security forces and the insurgents.

More than 100 people have been killed in the violence so far.

Around 27,400 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar during the past week and a further 20,000 are marooned in no man&#39;s land between the two countries, three UN&nbsp;sources said on Thursday.

Rohingyas face discrimination in Myanmar as the government does not consider them citizens.

Thousands of Rohingyas are waiting to cross over to Bangladesh fleeing violence in their home state

In order to tackle the huge refugee influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar, the Bangladesh government has proposed to fight jointly with Myanmar against the insurgents in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Thousands of Rohingyas, who fled their homes in the violence-hit state, are waiting on the borders to seek shelter in Bangladesh. The influx was triggered by a dramatic escalation in violence between the security forces and the insurgents. More than 100 people have been killed in the violence so far. Around 27,400 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar during the past week and a further 20,000 are marooned in no man's land between the two countries, three UN sources said on Thursday. Rohingyas face discrimination in Myanmar as the government does not consider them citizens.

WATCH: Bangladesh proposes to fight alongside Myanmar to fight insurgents

Around 9,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled north-west Myanmar, which has been hit by violence triggered by coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar&#39;s security forces.

Many are still stuck at the Bangladesh border hoping to flee the violence-hit Rakhine state.

Authorities in Myanmar have evacuated thousands of Rohingya Buddhists.&nbsp;

United Nations, while taking note of the violence, asked the Myanmar government to protect civilian lives without discrimination, Reuters said in a report.

In one of the worst incidents of violence in Myanmar involving Rohingyas, 109 people have been killed so far in the clashes.

&quot;The situation is very terrifying, houses are burning, all the people ran away from their homes, parents and children were divided, some were lost, some are dead,&quot; Reuters quoted one of the Rohingyas as saying.

Rohingya Muslims face discrimination in Myanmar. The government in Myanmar calls them illegal immigrants and denies citizenship rights to them.

Many are still stuck at the Bangladesh border hoping to flee the violence-hit Rakhine state

Around 9,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled north-west Myanmar, which has been hit by violence triggered by coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar's security forces. Many are still stuck at the Bangladesh border hoping to flee the violence-hit Rakhine state. Authorities in Myanmar have evacuated thousands of Rohingya Buddhists. United Nations, while taking note of the violence, asked the Myanmar government to protect civilian lives without discrimination, Reuters said in a report. In one of the worst incidents of violence in Myanmar involving Rohingyas, 109 people have been killed so far in the clashes. "The situation is very terrifying, houses are burning, all the people ran away from their homes, parents and children were divided, some were lost, some are dead," Reuters quoted one of the Rohingyas as saying. Rohingya Muslims face discrimination in Myanmar. The government in Myanmar calls them illegal immigrants and denies citizenship rights to them.

Thousands of Rohingyas seek safety in Bangladesh as clashes in Myanmar intensify

Hundreds of people gathered in Yangon, one of Myanmar&#39;s largest cities, on Wednesday (August 30) to protest against the latest insurgent attack in northwestern Rakhine State and the findings and recommendations of Kofi Annan&#39;s Rakhine State Advisory Commission on the Rohingya crisis.

Nationalists who joined the protest have called for the Tatmadaw, Myanmar&#39;s military, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-unrest-villagers-aid-workers-escape-violence-19579">to &#39;take control&#39; in the Rakhine state after Friday&#39;s (August 25)</a> series of coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security forces in the north of Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.

The attack and ensuing clashes triggered the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-of-rohingyas-seek-safety-in-bangladesh-as-clashes-in-myanamr-intensify-19661">Rohingya exodus with more than 18,000 Rohingya Muslims</a> fleeing into Bangladesh and the government evacuated thousands of Rakhine Buddhists.

The former UN chief&#39;s commission, appointed last year by leader Aung San Suu Kyi to come up with long-term solutions for the violence-driven, ethnically and religiously divided Rakhine state, said perpetrators of rights abuses should be held accountable or risk the deteriorating of the situation.

The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar and regarded as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots that date back centuries.

People gathered in hundreds in protest against the insurgent attack in Rakhine state

Hundreds of people gathered in Yangon, one of Myanmar's largest cities, on Wednesday (August 30) to protest against the latest insurgent attack in northwestern Rakhine State and the findings and recommendations of Kofi Annan's Rakhine State Advisory Commission on the Rohingya crisis. Nationalists who joined the protest have called for the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military, to 'take control' in the Rakhine state after Friday's (August 25) series of coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security forces in the north of Myanmar's Rakhine state. The attack and ensuing clashes triggered the Rohingya exodus with more than 18,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing into Bangladesh and the government evacuated thousands of Rakhine Buddhists. The former UN chief's commission, appointed last year by leader Aung San Suu Kyi to come up with long-term solutions for the violence-driven, ethnically and religiously divided Rakhine state, said perpetrators of rights abuses should be held accountable or risk the deteriorating of the situation. The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar and regarded as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots that date back centuries.

Myanmar nationalists call for military to 'take control' in Rakhine

Bangladesh has increased its vigilance across the borders with Myanmar following counter-attacks by Myanmar&rsquo;s security forces on Monday after terrorists killed nine border police officials, Colonel Zillur Rahman, director of operations at Border Guard Bangladesh told WION.

&ldquo;We are alert. We have increased our patrol activities,&rdquo; said Col&nbsp;Rahman.

Myanmar&rsquo;s security forces killed eight suspected attackers on Monday in raids across Maungdaw, in retaliation for&nbsp;both&nbsp;the killing of nine members of the country&rsquo;s police and seisure of a large stash of weapons and ammunition a day before, reported Reuters.

The region, home to Myanmar&rsquo;s Rohingya Muslim population, is close to the border shared with Bangladesh, where many Rohingya members have become&nbsp;refugees due to repression and ethnic cleansing of the community in the Buddhist-majority country.

Reuters reported more than 100 people were killed on Sunday in clashes between Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, making the incident the bloodiest since 2012. At least 300 Rohingya Muslims were killed and thousands sought shelter in Bangladesh after a sectarian clash set off by the rape and killing of a Buddhist woman in 2012.

&ldquo;It is not happening all of a sudden. There has to be a political objective behind this. I find this ominous because it is a concern for both countries,&rdquo; said Rashed Zaman, a professor of International Relations at the University of Dhaka.

Separatist groups, such as Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, carried out attacks in August at a border outpost in Bangladesh and looted arms and ammunition.

&ldquo;Smuggling of drugs and weapons will have border implications,&rdquo; Zaman tells WION, adding that this will create tensions in the bilateral relation between the two countries. Attacks&nbsp;by Buddhist nationalists on the Rohingya population in the past have&nbsp;resulted in pushback of thousands of the minority group into Bangladesh.

Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar classify stateless Rohingyas as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even while members of the community say they have lived in Myanmar for generations. In August, Aung San Suu Kyi&rsquo;s government formed an advisory committee headed by former UN Secretary General&nbsp;Kofi Anan to alleviate sectarian tension in the Rakhine State.&nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

Deaths resulting due to recent sectarian tensions in Myanmar have raised fears of border crossings into neighbouring Bangladesh

Bangladesh has increased its vigilance across the borders with Myanmar following counter-attacks by Myanmar’s security forces on Monday after terrorists killed nine border police officials, Colonel Zillur Rahman, director of operations at Border Guard Bangladesh told WION. “We are alert. We have increased our patrol activities,” said Col Rahman. Myanmar’s security forces killed eight suspected attackers on Monday in raids across Maungdaw, in retaliation for both the killing of nine members of the country’s police and seisure of a large stash of weapons and ammunition a day before, reported Reuters. The region, home to Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim population, is close to the border shared with Bangladesh, where many Rohingya members have become refugees due to repression and ethnic cleansing of the community in the Buddhist-majority country. Reuters reported more than 100 people were killed on Sunday in clashes between Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, making the incident the bloodiest since 2012. At least 300 Rohingya Muslims were killed and thousands sought shelter in Bangladesh after a sectarian clash set off by the rape and killing of a Buddhist woman in 2012. “It is not happening all of a sudden. There has to be a political objective behind this. I find this ominous because it is a concern for both countries,” said Rashed Zaman, a professor of International Relations at the University of Dhaka. Separatist groups, such as Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, carried out attacks in August at a border outpost in Bangladesh and looted arms and ammunition. “Smuggling of drugs and weapons will have border implications,” Zaman tells WION, adding that this will create tensions in the bilateral relation between the two countries. Attacks by Buddhist nationalists on the Rohingya population in the past have resulted in pushback of thousands of the minority group into Bangladesh. Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar classify stateless Rohingyas as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even while members of the community say they have lived in Myanmar for generations. In August, Aung San Suu Kyi’s government formed an advisory committee headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan to alleviate sectarian tension in the Rakhine State. (WION)

Bangladesh tightens security as ethnic tensions fuel in Myanmar's border region

A group of men from a village in central Myanmar destroyed a mosque in the first serious outburst of inter-religious violence in months, coinciding with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, the country&#39;s persecuted Muslim minority. 
 
Villagers from Thayethamin, a remote settlement a two-hours&#39; drive northeast of Myanmar&#39;s largest city, Yangon, destroyed the mosque on Thursday after a dispute over its construction, and beat up at least one Muslim man, media and a police spokesman said. 
 
Religious tensions simmered in Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012, just a year after a semi-civilian government took power. 
 
Hundreds died in clashes in northwestern Rakhine State between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, leading to the organised expulsion of Rohingya by Rakhine mobs. More violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other parts of the country followed in 2013. 
 
Photographs that circulated on social media on Friday, purportedly from the village, showed a seriously damaged building, furniture scattered along the streets and a large group of men roaming around, some armed with sticks. 
 
Further details of the incident were unclear. Reuters was unable to verify the photographs. 
 
&quot;Things are well under control now and action hasn&#39;t been taken against anyone yet,&quot; said colonel Zaw Khin Aung, spokesman of the Police Headquarters based in Myanmar&#39;s capital, Naypyitaw. 
 
The violence coincides with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, a 1.1-million group of Muslims living in apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine since the 2012 violence. 
 
Country leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won in a landslide in historic November elections, faces a daunting task of resolving ethnic and religious tensions and ending human rights abuses in the state. 
 
On Monday, she told the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, that the government would not use the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; because it viewed it as inflammatory. 
 
The Rohingya identify themselves by that name. Many have lived in Myanmar for generations, but many Myanmar Buddhists call them &quot;Bengali&quot; - a term implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. 
 
Suu Kyi has appealed to people not to use either term, and instead refer to the &quot;Muslim community in Rakhine State&quot;. 
 
The UN on Monday called on the Nobel peace prize winner to make putting an end to the abuses the government&#39;s &quot;top priority&quot;. It said that the violations, which include executions and torture, may amount to crimes against humanity. 
 
(Reuters)

Abuses against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya population include executions and torture, and may amount to crimes against humanity

A group of men from a village in central Myanmar destroyed a mosque in the first serious outburst of inter-religious violence in months, coinciding with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, the country's persecuted Muslim minority. Villagers from Thayethamin, a remote settlement a two-hours' drive northeast of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, destroyed the mosque on Thursday after a dispute over its construction, and beat up at least one Muslim man, media and a police spokesman said. Religious tensions simmered in Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012, just a year after a semi-civilian government took power. Hundreds died in clashes in northwestern Rakhine State between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, leading to the organised expulsion of Rohingya by Rakhine mobs. More violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other parts of the country followed in 2013. Photographs that circulated on social media on Friday, purportedly from the village, showed a seriously damaged building, furniture scattered along the streets and a large group of men roaming around, some armed with sticks. Further details of the incident were unclear. Reuters was unable to verify the photographs. "Things are well under control now and action hasn't been taken against anyone yet," said colonel Zaw Khin Aung, spokesman of the Police Headquarters based in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw. The violence coincides with a rise in tensions over how to refer to the Rohingya, a 1.1-million group of Muslims living in apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine since the 2012 violence. Country leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won in a landslide in historic November elections, faces a daunting task of resolving ethnic and religious tensions and ending human rights abuses in the state. On Monday, she told the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, that the government would not use the term "Rohingya" because it viewed it as inflammatory. The Rohingya identify themselves by that name. Many have lived in Myanmar for generations, but many Myanmar Buddhists call them "Bengali" - a term implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Suu Kyi has appealed to people not to use either term, and instead refer to the "Muslim community in Rakhine State". The UN on Monday called on the Nobel peace prize winner to make putting an end to the abuses the government's "top priority". It said that the violations, which include executions and torture, may amount to crimes against humanity. (Reuters)

Mosque demolished in Myanmar as religious, ethnic tension rise

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