Nearly 100 Rohingya Muslims were forced back to Myanmar's Rakhine state after being detained at sea en route to Malaysia, police said Wednesday, stirring fears of a fresh refugee boat crisis.

Three vessels carrying fleeing Rohingya have now been seized and returned to Rakhine over the past two weeks, as the monsoon season gives way to more favourable, if still treacherous, sailing conditions.

All on board the third boat were being returned to camps around the capital Sittwe in the central part of the state, where more than 120,000 people have been confined since intercommunal violence in 2012.

A photo in local media showed the group huddled on the deck in the baking sun, a scene reminiscent of the boat crisis in 2015 that saw countless Rohingya abandoned by smugglers in the Andaman Sea after authorities shut down trafficking routes.

They were headed for Malaysia when stopped by navy officers on Sunday night off the southern town of Dawei, Police Major Min Lwin told AFP.

"They were all sent back to Sittwe on a navy boat last night," he said, adding that the group, two thirds of whom were under the age of 18, would arrive on Thursday or Friday.

The plight of Rohingya Muslims languishing in the central part of the state has been overshadowed by last year's mass exodus of more than 720,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine.

Those refugees fled over the border into Bangladesh to escape a brutal military crackdown.

UN investigators want Myanmar's top generals to be prosecuted for genocide over the crackdown, but Myanmar says it was defending itself against Rohingya militants.

Around 10 boats, carrying a total of several hundred people, have left the camps in central Rakhine since mid-October, said Arakan Project director Chris Lewa, whose group monitors abuses against the Rohingya.

"I'm worried about Bangladesh. The border guards say they won't let people leave but if people do then the numbers would be much bigger," she said. 
Desperation in the refugee camps across the border is also growing.

A repatriation deal has stalled, with Rohingya refusing to go home until their safety and rights are secured.

The stateless minority are denied citizenship in Myanmar and face severe restrictions on movement as well as a lack of access to work, healthcare and schools in what Amnesty International says amounts to apartheid.

One camp leader told AFP under the condition of anonymity that they try to explain to people about the dangers of leaving by boat but many are simply too desperate to listen.

"We are losing hope," he said. "Nothing has changed in the last six years."&nbsp;

Nearly 100 Rohingya Muslims were forced back to Myanmar's Rakhine state after being detained at sea en route to Malaysia, police said Wednesday, stirring fears of a fresh refugee boat crisis.

Nearly 100 Rohingya Muslims were forced back to Myanmar's Rakhine state after being detained at sea en route to Malaysia, police said Wednesday, stirring fears of a fresh refugee boat crisis. Three vessels carrying fleeing Rohingya have now been seized and returned to Rakhine over the past two weeks, as the monsoon season gives way to more favourable, if still treacherous, sailing conditions. All on board the third boat were being returned to camps around the capital Sittwe in the central part of the state, where more than 120,000 people have been confined since intercommunal violence in 2012. A photo in local media showed the group huddled on the deck in the baking sun, a scene reminiscent of the boat crisis in 2015 that saw countless Rohingya abandoned by smugglers in the Andaman Sea after authorities shut down trafficking routes. They were headed for Malaysia when stopped by navy officers on Sunday night off the southern town of Dawei, Police Major Min Lwin told AFP. "They were all sent back to Sittwe on a navy boat last night," he said, adding that the group, two thirds of whom were under the age of 18, would arrive on Thursday or Friday. The plight of Rohingya Muslims languishing in the central part of the state has been overshadowed by last year's mass exodus of more than 720,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine. Those refugees fled over the border into Bangladesh to escape a brutal military crackdown. UN investigators want Myanmar's top generals to be prosecuted for genocide over the crackdown, but Myanmar says it was defending itself against Rohingya militants. Around 10 boats, carrying a total of several hundred people, have left the camps in central Rakhine since mid-October, said Arakan Project director Chris Lewa, whose group monitors abuses against the Rohingya. "I'm worried about Bangladesh. The border guards say they won't let people leave but if people do then the numbers would be much bigger," she said. Desperation in the refugee camps across the border is also growing. A repatriation deal has stalled, with Rohingya refusing to go home until their safety and rights are secured. The stateless minority are denied citizenship in Myanmar and face severe restrictions on movement as well as a lack of access to work, healthcare and schools in what Amnesty International says amounts to apartheid. One camp leader told AFP under the condition of anonymity that they try to explain to people about the dangers of leaving by boat but many are simply too desperate to listen. "We are losing hope," he said. "Nothing has changed in the last six years."

93 Rohingya fleeing by boat sent back to Myanmar camps: Police

Myanmar immigration authorities detained more than 100 suspected Rohingya Muslims aboard a boat off Yangon on Friday, officials said, raising fears of a fresh wave of dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.

The boat carrying 106 people was stopped in the early morning some 30 km (20 miles) south of Myanmar's largest city and police were on the way to investigate, Kyaw Htay, an immigration officer from Kyauktan township, told Reuters by phone.

"It's possible that they are from Rakhine. Like in previous years, it is possible they are Bengali from Rakhine," Kyaw Htay said.

Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar refer to the Rohingya as "Bengali", implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state last year, according to United Nations agencies. The Rohingya say soldiers and local Buddhists massacred families, burned hundreds of villages, and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies almost all of the allegations, saying security forces were battling terrorists. Attacks by Rohingya insurgents calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army preceded the crackdown.

Officials and aid workers told Reuters last week that dozens of Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh had boarded boats to try to reach Malaysia in recent weeks after the end of the monsoon rains in early October.

Observers warn that because the smuggling routes to Thailand have been disrupted and the journey is treacherous and expensive, more and more Rohingya are opting for a cheaper and shorter trip along the Bay of Bengal coast south to Yangon.

Aye Mya Mya Myo, a lower house lawmaker for Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy party from Kyauktan, posted pictures of a rickety boat crammed with women wearing headscarves, men and children on Facebook. On some images police officials kept watch over squatting people from the boat.

She said there were 50 men, 31 women and 25 children on the boat.

It resembled vessels the Rohingya typically use to escape the apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine, where they are denied free movement and access to decent education and healthcare.

For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded boats organised by smugglers in the dry months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The perilous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded vessels, has cost many lives.

Thailand cracked down on the trade after discovering a series of mass graves in 2015, leading to a crisis when smugglers abandoned their human cargo and left boats adrift in the Andaman Sea.

Myanmar immigration authorities detained more than 100 suspected Rohingya Muslims aboard a boat off Yangon on Friday, officials said, raising fears of a fresh wave of dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.

Myanmar immigration authorities detained more than 100 suspected Rohingya Muslims aboard a boat off Yangon on Friday, officials said, raising fears of a fresh wave of dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers. The boat carrying 106 people was stopped in the early morning some 30 km (20 miles) south of Myanmar's largest city and police were on the way to investigate, Kyaw Htay, an immigration officer from Kyauktan township, told Reuters by phone. "It's possible that they are from Rakhine. Like in previous years, it is possible they are Bengali from Rakhine," Kyaw Htay said. Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar refer to the Rohingya as "Bengali", implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state last year, according to United Nations agencies. The Rohingya say soldiers and local Buddhists massacred families, burned hundreds of villages, and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all of the allegations, saying security forces were battling terrorists. Attacks by Rohingya insurgents calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army preceded the crackdown. Officials and aid workers told Reuters last week that dozens of Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh had boarded boats to try to reach Malaysia in recent weeks after the end of the monsoon rains in early October. Observers warn that because the smuggling routes to Thailand have been disrupted and the journey is treacherous and expensive, more and more Rohingya are opting for a cheaper and shorter trip along the Bay of Bengal coast south to Yangon. Aye Mya Mya Myo, a lower house lawmaker for Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy party from Kyauktan, posted pictures of a rickety boat crammed with women wearing headscarves, men and children on Facebook. On some images police officials kept watch over squatting people from the boat. She said there were 50 men, 31 women and 25 children on the boat. It resembled vessels the Rohingya typically use to escape the apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine, where they are denied free movement and access to decent education and healthcare. For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded boats organised by smugglers in the dry months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The perilous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded vessels, has cost many lives. Thailand cracked down on the trade after discovering a series of mass graves in 2015, leading to a crisis when smugglers abandoned their human cargo and left boats adrift in the Andaman Sea.

Myanmar holds 106 suspected Rohingya Muslims aboard boat: Official

Myanmar's government on Sunday insisted any delays to the repatriation of Rohingya refugees would be the fault of Bangladesh, just four days ahead of the controversial planned start date.

After repeated setbacks, the neighbouring countries declared that the first of more than 2,200 Rohingya Muslims would be repatriated on November 15, even though international NGOs and the United Nations have said conditions are not yet in place for a safe return.&nbsp;

More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state in a military crackdown in August last year.&nbsp;

Survivors brought with them testimony of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson and are fearful of going back to Rakhine state without guarantees of safety, freedom of movement and citizenship.&nbsp;

Myanmar and Bangladesh signed the deal last November but the UN has repeatedly said that any repatriations must be "safe, dignified and voluntary".&nbsp;

"We are ready," declared social welfare minister Win Myat Aye to reporters in Yangon on Sunday.

Provisions at a transit camp will include clothes and food rations and the refugees will also be provided with money to help them rebuild their homes in one of 42 locations, he added.&nbsp;

But he was unable to confirm who would be in the first group to return, insisting that it was down to Bangladesh to make sure they meet the deadline this week.&nbsp;

"It depends on the other country (Bangladesh) if the repatriations will start on 15 November," he said.&nbsp;

Both governments have been pushing ahead with this first large-scale repatriation effort, pledging to bring back a total of 2,251 Rohingya at the rate of 150 individuals a day.&nbsp;

This has prompted criticism from a group of 42 aid agencies -- including Oxfam, WorldVision and Save the Children -- who say that it would be dangerous for them.&nbsp;

UN investigators have called for the country's top military brass to be prosecuted for genocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the crackdown.&nbsp;

Myanmar vehemently rejects the court's jurisdiction over the country and insists the military campaign was justified to defend itself against Rohingya terrorists.&nbsp;

The UN fact-finding team also said that civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's government —- in a power-sharing agreement with the military —- were complicit in the atrocities against the Rohingya through their "acts and omissions".&nbsp;

She is due to speak to business leaders at a regional ASEAN forum in Singapore on Monday.&nbsp;

Myanmar's government on Sunday insisted any delays to the repatriation of Rohingya refugees would be the fault of Bangladesh, just four days ahead of the controversial planned start date.

Myanmar's government on Sunday insisted any delays to the repatriation of Rohingya refugees would be the fault of Bangladesh, just four days ahead of the controversial planned start date. After repeated setbacks, the neighbouring countries declared that the first of more than 2,200 Rohingya Muslims would be repatriated on November 15, even though international NGOs and the United Nations have said conditions are not yet in place for a safe return. More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state in a military crackdown in August last year. Survivors brought with them testimony of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson and are fearful of going back to Rakhine state without guarantees of safety, freedom of movement and citizenship. Myanmar and Bangladesh signed the deal last November but the UN has repeatedly said that any repatriations must be "safe, dignified and voluntary". "We are ready," declared social welfare minister Win Myat Aye to reporters in Yangon on Sunday. Provisions at a transit camp will include clothes and food rations and the refugees will also be provided with money to help them rebuild their homes in one of 42 locations, he added. But he was unable to confirm who would be in the first group to return, insisting that it was down to Bangladesh to make sure they meet the deadline this week. "It depends on the other country (Bangladesh) if the repatriations will start on 15 November," he said. Both governments have been pushing ahead with this first large-scale repatriation effort, pledging to bring back a total of 2,251 Rohingya at the rate of 150 individuals a day. This has prompted criticism from a group of 42 aid agencies -- including Oxfam, WorldVision and Save the Children -- who say that it would be dangerous for them. UN investigators have called for the country's top military brass to be prosecuted for genocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the crackdown. Myanmar vehemently rejects the court's jurisdiction over the country and insists the military campaign was justified to defend itself against Rohingya terrorists. The UN fact-finding team also said that civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's government —- in a power-sharing agreement with the military —- were complicit in the atrocities against the Rohingya through their "acts and omissions". She is due to speak to business leaders at a regional ASEAN forum in Singapore on Monday.

Bangladesh to blame if Rohingyas return delayed: Myanmar government

A plan to start repatriating Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar is premature and the refugees are "terrified" about leaving&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;where they sought refuge, dozens of aid agencies working in the region said Friday.

More than 720,000<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dozens-of-rohingya-flee-camps-by-boat-reviving-memories-of-2015-tragedy-176310"> Rohingya Muslims fled</a> Myanmar's northern Rakhine state after a heavy-handed army crackdown in August last year that survivors say involved mass rape and extrajudicial killings.

UN officials say the country's military leaders should be investigated for genocide but Myanmar has rebuffed the calls, arguing it was only defending itself against Rohingya militants who attacked police posts.

Both&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;and Myanmar signed a repatriation agreement in November last year to allow Rohingya to return but many fear going back without guarantees of citizenship, freedom of movement and safety.

However, the governments confirmed in recent weeks that they were pushing ahead with the first large-scale repatriation set for mid-November, prompting an outcry from activists who say conditions on the ground in Rakhine are not adequate to take the refugees back.

"They are terrified about what will happen to them if they are returned to Myanmar now, and distressed by the lack of information they have received," the group of 42 aid agencies and civil society groups said in a statement that referred to the push as "dangerous." &nbsp;

"They fled to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;to seek safety and they are very grateful to the Government of&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;for giving them a safe haven."&nbsp;

Oxfam, World Vision and Save the Children were among the groups working in Myanmar and&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;that signed the statement.

They said refugees fear living in enclosed settlements like the one in central Rakhine state, where more than 120,000 Rohingya have been confined to camps for six years since intercommunal violence erupted in the region in 2012.&nbsp;

Myint Khaing, the Maungdaw township administrator in northern Rakhine, told AFP that November 15 is the estimated repatriation start date and that the plan is to receive more than 2,200 people in total at a rate of 150 per day.

But he seemed unsure if it would go ahead.

"We can confirm only on the 15th whether the people from our given list are coming or not," he said.

Northern Rakhine has been largely sealed off since the crackdown except for tightly organised government trips for media and senior visiting diplomats.

The UN has been granted access to the area to assess conditions on the ground but the approvals have been slow and the amount of territory accessible has been limited.

Authorities in&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;worry that Rohingya may once again risk travelling to other parts of Southeast Asia by boat, a route previously popular with those seeking economic opportunities outside the grim camps.

This week&nbsp;Bangladesh's coast guard rescued 33 Rohingya and detained six alleged human traffickers from a fishing trawler headed for Malaysia in the Bay of Bengal.

A plan to start repatriating Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar is premature and the refugees are "terrified" about leaving Bangladesh where they sought refuge, dozens of aid agencies working in the region said Friday.

A plan to start repatriating Rohingya Muslims back to Myanmar is premature and the refugees are "terrified" about leaving Bangladesh where they sought refuge, dozens of aid agencies working in the region said Friday. More than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's northern Rakhine state after a heavy-handed army crackdown in August last year that survivors say involved mass rape and extrajudicial killings. UN officials say the country's military leaders should be investigated for genocide but Myanmar has rebuffed the calls, arguing it was only defending itself against Rohingya militants who attacked police posts. Both Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation agreement in November last year to allow Rohingya to return but many fear going back without guarantees of citizenship, freedom of movement and safety. However, the governments confirmed in recent weeks that they were pushing ahead with the first large-scale repatriation set for mid-November, prompting an outcry from activists who say conditions on the ground in Rakhine are not adequate to take the refugees back. "They are terrified about what will happen to them if they are returned to Myanmar now, and distressed by the lack of information they have received," the group of 42 aid agencies and civil society groups said in a statement that referred to the push as "dangerous." "They fled to Bangladesh to seek safety and they are very grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for giving them a safe haven." Oxfam, World Vision and Save the Children were among the groups working in Myanmar and Bangladesh that signed the statement. They said refugees fear living in enclosed settlements like the one in central Rakhine state, where more than 120,000 Rohingya have been confined to camps for six years since intercommunal violence erupted in the region in 2012. Myint Khaing, the Maungdaw township administrator in northern Rakhine, told AFP that November 15 is the estimated repatriation start date and that the plan is to receive more than 2,200 people in total at a rate of 150 per day. But he seemed unsure if it would go ahead. "We can confirm only on the 15th whether the people from our given list are coming or not," he said. Northern Rakhine has been largely sealed off since the crackdown except for tightly organised government trips for media and senior visiting diplomats. The UN has been granted access to the area to assess conditions on the ground but the approvals have been slow and the amount of territory accessible has been limited. Authorities in Bangladesh worry that Rohingya may once again risk travelling to other parts of Southeast Asia by boat, a route previously popular with those seeking economic opportunities outside the grim camps. This week Bangladesh's coast guard rescued 33 Rohingya and detained six alleged human traffickers from a fishing trawler headed for Malaysia in the Bay of Bengal.

Aid groups say Rohingya 'terrified' about Myanmar repatriation

Dozens of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Bangladesh have boarded boats to try to reach Malaysia, officials and aid workers said on Thursday, raising fears of a fresh wave of such dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.

One boat attempted to set sail from the southern coast of Bangladesh on Wednesday, the coast guard said, while several vessels left Rakhine state in western Myanmar, according to Rohingya leaders, aid workers and a monitoring group.&nbsp;

Officials detained 33 Rohingya and six Bangladeshis aboard a fishing boat bound for Malaysia in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, said Foyezul Islam Mondol, the head of the coast guard in southeastern Teknaf upazila.

Six Bangladeshis were also arrested, he said.

A spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency in Myanmar said the organization had heard "similar reports" of boats leaving the country but could not confirm their location.

"With the prospect of boat movements increasing following the end of the monsoon season, it is increasingly urgent for the authorities to take measures to address the root causes of displacement...and create conditions which foster social cohesion and economic opportunities for all communities," the spokeswoman said.

A Myanmar government spokesman could not be reached for comment. Kyaw Swar Tun, deputy director of the Rakhine state government, said he was unaware of any boats leaving.

More than 700,000 Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, fled Rakhine following an army-led crackdown in August last year, settling in sprawling Bangladeshi refugee camps, according to UN agency figures, while hundreds of thousands remain inside the country in internal displacement camps and villages.

Refugees say soldiers and local Buddhists carried out mass killings and rape during the violence last year, while the United Nations has accused the military of “genocidal intent”. Myanmar has denied almost all the allegations.

'Trapped'

For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded boats organised by smugglers in the dry months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The perilous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded, rickety vessels, has cost many lives.&nbsp;

Thailand cracked down on the trade after discovering a series of mass graves in 2015, leading to a crisis when smugglers abandoned their human cargo and left boats adrift in the Andaman Sea.

The new departures come as Myanmar prepares to take some of the refugees back after agreeing with Bangladesh to start repatriation on Nov. 15, despite widespread opposition from Rohingya, who say they will not return without guarantees of basic rights, including citizenship and freedom of movement.

The United Nations has said conditions in Rakhine, where Buddhists have protested against the repatriation, are not conducive for returns and the special envoy on human rights, Yanghee Lee, on Thursday urged a halt to the “rushed plans”.

Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which has a network of sources across Rohingya communities, said the threat of being sent back to Myanmar could be pushing refugees to turn to smugglers.

“The Rohingya are trapped,” she said when contacted by Reuters via phone. “They have nowhere to go. No one wants them, and now they face on top of that the threat of repatriation.”

On the other side of the border in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine, tens of thousands of Rohingya have been languishing in internal displacement camps since a previous wave of violence in 2012.

Accounts of how many boats had left Myanmar differed. A high level of secrecy surrounds the smuggling operations.

An aid worker in Sittwe said they had received information that at least four boats had departed since the start of October, and some of them had already arrived in Malaysia. Some of those boarding the boats were women and children joining other family members, the aid worker said.

“The living conditions in the camp are very bad and there’s not enough food to survive,” said Kyaw Hla, a Rohingya leader from Thae Chaung camp outside Sittwe, where he said one boat carrying some 80 people left last week.

“People are not able to stand against all these troubles, so they are deciding to leave,” he said. "There’s no hope for us here.”&nbsp;

Dozens of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Bangladesh have boarded boats to try to reach Malaysia, officials and aid workers said on Thursday, raising fears of a fresh wave of such dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.

Dozens of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Bangladesh have boarded boats to try to reach Malaysia, officials and aid workers said on Thursday, raising fears of a fresh wave of such dangerous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers. One boat attempted to set sail from the southern coast of Bangladesh on Wednesday, the coast guard said, while several vessels left Rakhine state in western Myanmar, according to Rohingya leaders, aid workers and a monitoring group. Officials detained 33 Rohingya and six Bangladeshis aboard a fishing boat bound for Malaysia in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, said Foyezul Islam Mondol, the head of the coast guard in southeastern Teknaf upazila. Six Bangladeshis were also arrested, he said. A spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency in Myanmar said the organization had heard "similar reports" of boats leaving the country but could not confirm their location. "With the prospect of boat movements increasing following the end of the monsoon season, it is increasingly urgent for the authorities to take measures to address the root causes of displacement...and create conditions which foster social cohesion and economic opportunities for all communities," the spokeswoman said. A Myanmar government spokesman could not be reached for comment. Kyaw Swar Tun, deputy director of the Rakhine state government, said he was unaware of any boats leaving. More than 700,000 Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, fled Rakhine following an army-led crackdown in August last year, settling in sprawling Bangladeshi refugee camps, according to UN agency figures, while hundreds of thousands remain inside the country in internal displacement camps and villages. Refugees say soldiers and local Buddhists carried out mass killings and rape during the violence last year, while the United Nations has accused the military of “genocidal intent”. Myanmar has denied almost all the allegations. 'Trapped' For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded boats organised by smugglers in the dry months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The perilous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded, rickety vessels, has cost many lives. Thailand cracked down on the trade after discovering a series of mass graves in 2015, leading to a crisis when smugglers abandoned their human cargo and left boats adrift in the Andaman Sea. The new departures come as Myanmar prepares to take some of the refugees back after agreeing with Bangladesh to start repatriation on Nov. 15, despite widespread opposition from Rohingya, who say they will not return without guarantees of basic rights, including citizenship and freedom of movement. The United Nations has said conditions in Rakhine, where Buddhists have protested against the repatriation, are not conducive for returns and the special envoy on human rights, Yanghee Lee, on Thursday urged a halt to the “rushed plans”. Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which has a network of sources across Rohingya communities, said the threat of being sent back to Myanmar could be pushing refugees to turn to smugglers. “The Rohingya are trapped,” she said when contacted by Reuters via phone. “They have nowhere to go. No one wants them, and now they face on top of that the threat of repatriation.” On the other side of the border in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine, tens of thousands of Rohingya have been languishing in internal displacement camps since a previous wave of violence in 2012. Accounts of how many boats had left Myanmar differed. A high level of secrecy surrounds the smuggling operations. An aid worker in Sittwe said they had received information that at least four boats had departed since the start of October, and some of them had already arrived in Malaysia. Some of those boarding the boats were women and children joining other family members, the aid worker said. “The living conditions in the camp are very bad and there’s not enough food to survive,” said Kyaw Hla, a Rohingya leader from Thae Chaung camp outside Sittwe, where he said one boat carrying some 80 people left last week. “People are not able to stand against all these troubles, so they are deciding to leave,” he said. "There’s no hope for us here.”

Dozens of Rohingya flee camps by boat, reviving memories of 2015 tragedy

A United Nations fact-finding team has claimed that Myanmar was still continuing with the genocide of Rohingya Muslims.&nbsp;

Calling for a probe by the International Criminal Court, the team presented a report at the Security Council on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The team had first disclosed the 444-page report to the public last month.&nbsp;

The fact-finding team which also proposed for the creation of an ad hoc international criminal tribunal stated that the&nbsp;conflict in Myanmar has resulted in the killing of 10,000 Rohingyas and the destruction of some 390 villages.&nbsp;

The report asked for the investigation of Myanmar's top general including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing for the genocide in Rakhine State.

Marzuki Darusman, chair of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said that beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracization of the targeted population, prevention of births, and widespread displacement in camps.

"It is an ongoing genocide, We consider the genocide intent can be reasonably inferred".

"The conditions are not in place for a safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh,"&nbsp;he warned, adding any attempt would just risk more deaths.&nbsp;

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He also said that Myanmar's internal investigation had "proven to be ineffective failures".

Myanmar has rejected accusations that its military committed atrocities in the crackdown last year that forced 720,000 Rohingya to flee over the border to Bangladesh. The country claims that the violence in Rakhine was triggered by Rohingya extremists who had attacked the border posts in August 2017.

Rejecting the UN mission's finding the Myanmar government also questioned its independence and pointed out that it was an&nbsp;independent investigative commission made up of Asian diplomats.&nbsp;

The Security Council team was called by the Western powers but was opposed by China and Russia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A United Nations fact-finding team has claimed that Myanmar was still continuing with the genocide of Rohingya Muslims. Calling for a probe by the International Criminal Court, the team presented a report at the Security Council on Wednesday.

A United Nations fact-finding team has claimed that Myanmar was still continuing with the genocide of Rohingya Muslims. Calling for a probe by the International Criminal Court, the team presented a report at the Security Council on Wednesday. The team had first disclosed the 444-page report to the public last month. The fact-finding team which also proposed for the creation of an ad hoc international criminal tribunal stated that the conflict in Myanmar has resulted in the killing of 10,000 Rohingyas and the destruction of some 390 villages. The report asked for the investigation of Myanmar's top general including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing for the genocide in Rakhine State. Marzuki Darusman, chair of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said that beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracization of the targeted population, prevention of births, and widespread displacement in camps. "It is an ongoing genocide, We consider the genocide intent can be reasonably inferred". "The conditions are not in place for a safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh," he warned, adding any attempt would just risk more deaths. × He also said that Myanmar's internal investigation had "proven to be ineffective failures". Myanmar has rejected accusations that its military committed atrocities in the crackdown last year that forced 720,000 Rohingya to flee over the border to Bangladesh. The country claims that the violence in Rakhine was triggered by Rohingya extremists who had attacked the border posts in August 2017. Rejecting the UN mission's finding the Myanmar government also questioned its independence and pointed out that it was an independent investigative commission made up of Asian diplomats. The Security Council team was called by the Western powers but was opposed by China and Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

'Ongoing genocide' underway against Rohingya in Myanmar: United Nations

JKNPP activists Sunday staged a protest in Jammu, seeking immediate deportation of illegally settled Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu and Kashmir winter capital.&nbsp;

Led by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh, over a dozen party activists assembled at the Exhibition ground and held a demonstration to press for early deportation of the foreign immigrants.

They burnt an effigy of the Centre alleging that it had failed to evict these unlawful foreigners and raised slogans 'Chodho Hamara Jammu Pradesh, Rohingyas Jaao Bangladesh' and 'Rohingyas, Bangladeshis go back'.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The natives of Myanmar and Bangladesh have already been identified in Jammu city and its adjacent areas, and as such they should be immediately deported from Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said.

"Don't pass statements, just act... Do not test the patience of the nationalist Dogras. Deport them (Rohingyas and Bangladeshis) otherwise the nasty situation could lead to devastating socio-political conflict between the hosts and the unlawful foreigners, the JKNPP leader warned.&nbsp;

Claiming that the people were sick of the stereotype statements issued by Central leaders for mere media consumption, Singh alleged that while the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were settled in Jammu during the Congress-National Conference rule, the BJP had been hand in glove with its erstwhile ally PDP in providing them all kinds of civic amenities to settle them in and around the city under a deep-rooted conspiracy to reduce Dogras to minority.

They had illegally built slums at some of the congested colonies in Jammu city and managed to procure permanent resident certificates, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, free water and electric connections, besides admissions of their children in government schools, he claimed.

Singh said despite proven "criminal antecedents"&nbsp;of Rohingyas, the Centre and the governor administration were not taking cognisance of the alarming situation which could explode and flare up tension in the entire Jammu province.

With the illegal settlement of these foreign immigrants, not only the demography of Jammu city and its peripheral areas are under threat but they had become a hub of serious crimes, he alleged.

The JKNPP leader claimed that the illegal immigrants described as "ticking time bombs" by the intelligentsia had been found active in fuelling narco-smuggling, human trafficking, child abductions, beggary, border crossing and other crimes.&nbsp;

Besides, they enjoy the patronage of various radical terror outfits active in the valley, he alleged.

JKNPP activists Sunday staged a protest in Jammu, seeking immediate deportation of illegally settled Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu and Kashmir winter capital.

JKNPP activists Sunday staged a protest in Jammu, seeking immediate deportation of illegally settled Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu and Kashmir winter capital. Led by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh, over a dozen party activists assembled at the Exhibition ground and held a demonstration to press for early deportation of the foreign immigrants. They burnt an effigy of the Centre alleging that it had failed to evict these unlawful foreigners and raised slogans 'Chodho Hamara Jammu Pradesh, Rohingyas Jaao Bangladesh' and 'Rohingyas, Bangladeshis go back'. The natives of Myanmar and Bangladesh have already been identified in Jammu city and its adjacent areas, and as such they should be immediately deported from Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said. "Don't pass statements, just act... Do not test the patience of the nationalist Dogras. Deport them (Rohingyas and Bangladeshis) otherwise the nasty situation could lead to devastating socio-political conflict between the hosts and the unlawful foreigners, the JKNPP leader warned. Claiming that the people were sick of the stereotype statements issued by Central leaders for mere media consumption, Singh alleged that while the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were settled in Jammu during the Congress-National Conference rule, the BJP had been hand in glove with its erstwhile ally PDP in providing them all kinds of civic amenities to settle them in and around the city under a deep-rooted conspiracy to reduce Dogras to minority. They had illegally built slums at some of the congested colonies in Jammu city and managed to procure permanent resident certificates, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, free water and electric connections, besides admissions of their children in government schools, he claimed. Singh said despite proven "criminal antecedents" of Rohingyas, the Centre and the governor administration were not taking cognisance of the alarming situation which could explode and flare up tension in the entire Jammu province. With the illegal settlement of these foreign immigrants, not only the demography of Jammu city and its peripheral areas are under threat but they had become a hub of serious crimes, he alleged. The JKNPP leader claimed that the illegal immigrants described as "ticking time bombs" by the intelligentsia had been found active in fuelling narco-smuggling, human trafficking, child abductions, beggary, border crossing and other crimes. Besides, they enjoy the patronage of various radical terror outfits active in the valley, he alleged.

JKNPP demands immediate deportation of Rohingyas, Bangladeshis from Jammu

India to deport 7 Rohingya men today: Were in prison since 2012

Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release.

The two fathers, accused of breaching Myanmar's state secrets law while reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, were jailed for seven years earlier this month, fueling international outrage.

Clooney said the journalists' families had already submitted a request for their pardon, adding that the president can grant a pardon following consultation with Suu Kyi.

"The government can, if it wants to, end it today," the British-Lebanese lawyer told an event dedicated to press freedom on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

She held de facto leader Suu Kyi to her stated priority of releasing prisoners of conscience and of having spoken of the need for a free press if the country is to transition to a full democracy.

"She knows that mass murder is not a state secret and that exposing it doesn't turn a journalist into a spy," Clooney said.

Earlier this month, Suu Kyi defended the jailing of Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, hitting back at global criticism of a trial widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the free press.

"She holds the key, the key to their liberty, the key to reuniting them with their young children, the key to freedom of the press.

"The key to truth and accountability, and the key to a more democratic and prosperous Myanmar," Clooney said. "History will judge her on her response."

Clooney recalled that when she was a student at St Hugh's College, Oxford, the Nobel peace laureate, who studied at the same college 30 years earlier, had been "a hero to me."

"Aung Sang Suu Kyi knows better than anyone what it is like to be a political prisoner in Myanmar. She has slept in a cell at the prison where Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo now sleep," she said.

Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has come under intense pressure to use her moral authority inside Myanmar to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters.

Myanmar rejects ICC&nbsp;

The case, which sparked an international outcry, was seen as an attempt to muzzle reporting on last year's crackdown by Myanmar's security forces on the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine state.

Army-led "clearance operations" drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities -- rape, murder and arson -- by Myanmar police and troops.

The reporters say they were set up while exposing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in a Rakhine village last year.

Clooney, wife of Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, announced in March that she would join the legal team representing the journalists.

Myanmar government minister Kyaw Tint Swe told the General Assembly that his government "resolutely rejected" a decision by the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against the Rohingya.

The ICC ruled that the investigation could go ahead because Bangladesh is a signatory of the Rome statute that created the court. Myanmar has not signed the statute.

"Let me make it clear: while the government is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, we are fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is concrete evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine state," said the minister.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the fate of the Rohingya was a matter to be addressed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, suggesting that the United Nations should not intervene.

China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, has shielded the government in Naypyidaw from sanctions or other action by the UN Security Council.

Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release.

Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release. The two fathers, accused of breaching Myanmar's state secrets law while reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, were jailed for seven years earlier this month, fueling international outrage. Clooney said the journalists' families had already submitted a request for their pardon, adding that the president can grant a pardon following consultation with Suu Kyi. "The government can, if it wants to, end it today," the British-Lebanese lawyer told an event dedicated to press freedom on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. She held de facto leader Suu Kyi to her stated priority of releasing prisoners of conscience and of having spoken of the need for a free press if the country is to transition to a full democracy. "She knows that mass murder is not a state secret and that exposing it doesn't turn a journalist into a spy," Clooney said. Earlier this month, Suu Kyi defended the jailing of Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, hitting back at global criticism of a trial widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the free press. "She holds the key, the key to their liberty, the key to reuniting them with their young children, the key to freedom of the press. "The key to truth and accountability, and the key to a more democratic and prosperous Myanmar," Clooney said. "History will judge her on her response." Clooney recalled that when she was a student at St Hugh's College, Oxford, the Nobel peace laureate, who studied at the same college 30 years earlier, had been "a hero to me." "Aung Sang Suu Kyi knows better than anyone what it is like to be a political prisoner in Myanmar. She has slept in a cell at the prison where Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo now sleep," she said. Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has come under intense pressure to use her moral authority inside Myanmar to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters. Myanmar rejects ICC The case, which sparked an international outcry, was seen as an attempt to muzzle reporting on last year's crackdown by Myanmar's security forces on the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine state. Army-led "clearance operations" drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities -- rape, murder and arson -- by Myanmar police and troops. The reporters say they were set up while exposing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in a Rakhine village last year. Clooney, wife of Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, announced in March that she would join the legal team representing the journalists. Myanmar government minister Kyaw Tint Swe told the General Assembly that his government "resolutely rejected" a decision by the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against the Rohingya. The ICC ruled that the investigation could go ahead because Bangladesh is a signatory of the Rome statute that created the court. Myanmar has not signed the statute. "Let me make it clear: while the government is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, we are fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is concrete evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine state," said the minister. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the fate of the Rohingya was a matter to be addressed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, suggesting that the United Nations should not intervene. China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, has shielded the government in Naypyidaw from sanctions or other action by the UN Security Council.

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appeals to Suu Kyi for reporters' release

Myanmar's&nbsp;hardline&nbsp;monks&nbsp;will dodge&nbsp;bans on&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;and keep using it to "tell the truth", they said on Friday, after the social media giant barred several Buddhist nationalists for hate messages targeting Rohingya Muslims.

United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;have said&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;has been a source of propaganda against the minority in a country where it has become a near-ubiquitous communications tool as the economy opens up.

Myanmar's nationalist&nbsp;monks&nbsp;and activists, who have emerged as a political force in recent years, have been sharing violent and angry rhetoric on&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;targeting the minority, seen by many in the Buddhist-majority country as illegal immigrants.

"It is a violation of freedom of expression," Thuseitta, a member of the Patriotic&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;Monks' Union told Reuters hours after&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;identified him as a "hate figure".

"We will keep using&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;with different names and accounts to tell the truth to people."

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighbouring&nbsp;Bangladesh, the United Nations and aid agencies have said, following an army crackdown after Rohingya insurgent attacks last August.

Washington has called the army response "ethnic cleansing" - a charge&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;denies, saying its security forces have been waging a legitimate counter-insurgency operation against "Bengali terrorists".

Pinnyawenta, another monk from the union whose account was deactivated in May after repeatedly being asked by&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;to remove some posts, said he had registered again under another name and would "continue to write about the truth" on the site.

In an email message,&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;told Reuters it was "investing more in the teams who are working on&nbsp;Myanmar" as it seeks to "understand and respond to&nbsp;Myanmar's unique technical challenges".

"There's always more we can do to get ahead of these repeat offenders, and we are committed to improving our detection tools to remove them from&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;as quickly as possible," the company said.

The California-based company will invest more in artificial intelligence to deal with languages inMyanmar, it said.

Facebook&nbsp;added that it had designated as "hate figures and organizations" a radical Buddhist group, Ma Ba Tha, and several prominent&nbsp;monks&nbsp;known for vitriol towards Rohingya, blocking them from the platform.

The move had led to the removal of "a lot of harmful and violating content", it said.

Ei Myat Noe Khin, a manager of Yangon-based Phandeeyar, which helped&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;translate its Burmese-language community standards, urged the company to hire more people who are unbiased and understand&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;well.

That would be the only way for&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;to tackle the proliferating accounts behind the rumours spread to trigger violence, riots and conflict, she added.

United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar have said Facebook has been a source of propaganda against the minority in a country

Myanmar's hardline monks will dodge bans on Facebook and keep using it to "tell the truth", they said on Friday, after the social media giant barred several Buddhist nationalists for hate messages targeting Rohingya Muslims. United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar have said Facebook has been a source of propaganda against the minority in a country where it has become a near-ubiquitous communications tool as the economy opens up. Myanmar's nationalist monks and activists, who have emerged as a political force in recent years, have been sharing violent and angry rhetoric on Facebook targeting the minority, seen by many in the Buddhist-majority country as illegal immigrants. "It is a violation of freedom of expression," Thuseitta, a member of the Patriotic Myanmar Monks' Union told Reuters hours after Facebook identified him as a "hate figure". "We will keep using Facebook with different names and accounts to tell the truth to people." Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, the United Nations and aid agencies have said, following an army crackdown after Rohingya insurgent attacks last August. Washington has called the army response "ethnic cleansing" - a charge Myanmar denies, saying its security forces have been waging a legitimate counter-insurgency operation against "Bengali terrorists". Pinnyawenta, another monk from the union whose account was deactivated in May after repeatedly being asked by Facebook to remove some posts, said he had registered again under another name and would "continue to write about the truth" on the site. In an email message, Facebook told Reuters it was "investing more in the teams who are working on Myanmar" as it seeks to "understand and respond to Myanmar's unique technical challenges". "There's always more we can do to get ahead of these repeat offenders, and we are committed to improving our detection tools to remove them from Facebook as quickly as possible," the company said. The California-based company will invest more in artificial intelligence to deal with languages inMyanmar, it said. Facebook added that it had designated as "hate figures and organizations" a radical Buddhist group, Ma Ba Tha, and several prominent monks known for vitriol towards Rohingya, blocking them from the platform. The move had led to the removal of "a lot of harmful and violating content", it said. Ei Myat Noe Khin, a manager of Yangon-based Phandeeyar, which helped Facebook translate its Burmese-language community standards, urged the company to hire more people who are unbiased and understand Myanmar well. That would be the only way for Facebook to tackle the proliferating accounts behind the rumours spread to trigger violence, riots and conflict, she added.

Myanmar hardline monks vow to stay on Facebook despite ban

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday all states have been asked to <a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/ensure-measures-to-restrict-rohingyas-entry-centre-tells-jammu--kashmir-govt-141837">conduct a survey of Rohingya Muslims living in the country</a>, but have been cautioned against providing any legal documents to the community that would help the latter claim Indian citizenship.&nbsp

He was responding to questions about the steps taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deport the Rohingyas.&nbsp

"Advisory was issued to them (all states) that no document should be given to them (Rohingyas) so that they claim citizenship of the country in future," the minister told a press conference in Jammu.&nbsp

Singh said the process of deportation of the community would begin once the survey information from all the states reaches the ministry.&nbsp

"After getting the information from the state governments about the number of Rohingyas, we will hand over the case to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). We will talk to Burma (Myanmar) government for starting the process of their (Rohingyas) deportation," he said.

The MHA had written to all the states, asking them to identify the Rohingyas living in their respective states and a survey be conducted to know their numbers in order to start the deportation process.&nbsp

More than 10,000 Rohingya Muslims are living in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Their presence is most found in Jammu and Samba districts of the state.&nbsp

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had in January said in the state assembly that some madrasas were associated with the Rohingya Muslims in the state.

She said no Rohingya Muslim had been found involved in militancy-related incidents, but 17 FIRs have been registered against 38 Rohingyas for various offences, including those related to illegal border crossing.

Rohingyas belong to Rakhine province of Myanmar. Most of the community has left the country due to alleged persecution by the majority Buddhists

'After getting the information from the state governments about the number of Rohingyas, we will hand over the case to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). We will talk to Burma (Myanmar) government for starting the process of their (Rohingyas) deportation,'Rajnath Singh said

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday all states have been asked to conduct a survey of Rohingya Muslims living in the country, but have been cautioned against providing any legal documents to the community that would help the latter claim Indian citizenship. He was responding to questions about the steps taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deport the Rohingyas. "Advisory was issued to them (all states) that no document should be given to them (Rohingyas) so that they claim citizenship of the country in future," the minister told a press conference in Jammu. Singh said the process of deportation of the community would begin once the survey information from all the states reaches the ministry. "After getting the information from the state governments about the number of Rohingyas, we will hand over the case to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). We will talk to Burma (Myanmar) government for starting the process of their (Rohingyas) deportation," he said. The MHA had written to all the states, asking them to identify the Rohingyas living in their respective states and a survey be conducted to know their numbers in order to start the deportation process. More than 10,000 Rohingya Muslims are living in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Their presence is most found in Jammu and Samba districts of the state. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had in January said in the state assembly that some madrasas were associated with the Rohingya Muslims in the state. She said no Rohingya Muslim had been found involved in militancy-related incidents, but 17 FIRs have been registered against 38 Rohingyas for various offences, including those related to illegal border crossing. Rohingyas belong to Rakhine province of Myanmar. Most of the community has left the country due to alleged persecution by the majority Buddhists

Centre asks states not to give any documents to Rohingyas

Myanmar has claimed that several Rohingya Muslims have voluntarily returned to the&nbspcountry and will be sent to a transit centre pending resettlement.

Quoting a statement published from the office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a report said that about 58 Rohingyas have already crossed back to Myanmar after the situation in Bangladesh became unbearable.

It further added that the Rohingyas were detained for failing to follow proper repatriation procedures and on their return to Myanmar they would be&nbsp"temporarily" housed in a transit camp.

It said that in the last four months, the Rohingyas have returned to Myanmar in different stages.

While a Bangladeshi refugee commissioner has refused of having any knowledge of Rohingya refugees returning to Rakhine on their own.&nbsp

Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said, "We haven't heard of any such incidents of refugees returning to Rakhine through their own volition or under their own arrangement from the camps".

The UN has meanwhile stated that the condition in Myanmar was not yet favourable for the Rohingyas to return.

It said, "Safe, dignified and sustainable returns are of course impossible under current conditions."&nbsp

Myanmar has witnessed a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims due to alleged large-scale violence by the country's army. Consequently, over 700,000 people from the community fled from the country.

As the refugees began to arrive, Bangladesh requested Myanmar to take them resulting in an agreement between the two sides.

Myanmar said it was ready to take back the Rohingyas who had fled from the country last August.

The two countries are accusing each other of&nbspthe responsibility for the delay in implementing a repatriation deal.

The Rohingya Muslims who had fled Myanmar to avoid persecution have been unwilling to return to their land without assurance of basic rights and protections.

They also wanted the right to return to their old villages rather than to transit camps. 
 
&nbsp

(With inputs from AFP)

 
 
&nbsp

&nbsp

Quoting a statement published from the office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a report said that about 58 Rohingyas have already crossed back to Myanmar after the situation in Bangladesh became unbearable

Myanmar has claimed that several Rohingya Muslims have voluntarily returned to the&nbspcountry and will be sent to a transit centre pending resettlement. Quoting a statement published from the office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a report said that about 58 Rohingyas have already crossed back to Myanmar after the situation in Bangladesh became unbearable. It further added that the Rohingyas were detained for failing to follow proper repatriation procedures and on their return to Myanmar they would be "temporarily" housed in a transit camp. It said that in the last four months, the Rohingyas have returned to Myanmar in different stages. While a Bangladeshi refugee commissioner has refused of having any knowledge of Rohingya refugees returning to Rakhine on their own. Bangladesh refugee commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said, "We haven't heard of any such incidents of refugees returning to Rakhine through their own volition or under their own arrangement from the camps". The UN has meanwhile stated that the condition in Myanmar was not yet favourable for the Rohingyas to return. It said, "Safe, dignified and sustainable returns are of course impossible under current conditions." Myanmar has witnessed a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims due to alleged large-scale violence by the country's army. Consequently, over 700,000 people from the community fled from the country. As the refugees began to arrive, Bangladesh requested Myanmar to take them resulting in an agreement between the two sides. Myanmar said it was ready to take back the Rohingyas who had fled from the country last August. The two countries are accusing each other of&nbspthe responsibility for the delay in implementing a repatriation deal. The Rohingya Muslims who had fled Myanmar to avoid persecution have been unwilling to return to their land without assurance of basic rights and protections. They also wanted the right to return to their old villages rather than to transit camps. (With inputs from AFP)

Myanmar says some Rohingya refugees returned voluntarily

Owing to the holy month of Ramzan, a Turkish aid group organised Iftar for Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh.

According to Turkey`s Anadolu news agency, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) said it had sent food aid to 25,000 Rohingyas and organised an Iftar for approximately 1,500 people.

TIKA`s head of the Balkans and South Europe department Mahmut Cevik, during the programme, recalled the hardships of Rohingya and assured them that Turkey is with them.

The aid agency serves food to 6,000 Rohingya Muslims at the refugee camps on a daily basis.

About 750,000 Rohingya had fled Myanmar after country`s forces began a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.

According to an NGO, Doctors Without Borders, from August 25 to September 24 in 2017, at least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in Myanmar`s Rakhine state.

The aid agency serves food to 6,000 Rohingya Muslims at the refugee camps on a daily basis

Owing to the holy month of Ramzan, a Turkish aid group organised Iftar for Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh. According to Turkey`s Anadolu news agency, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) said it had sent food aid to 25,000 Rohingyas and organised an Iftar for approximately 1,500 people. TIKA`s head of the Balkans and South Europe department Mahmut Cevik, during the programme, recalled the hardships of Rohingya and assured them that Turkey is with them. The aid agency serves food to 6,000 Rohingya Muslims at the refugee camps on a daily basis. About 750,000 Rohingya had fled Myanmar after country`s forces began a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017. According to an NGO, Doctors Without Borders, from August 25 to September 24 in 2017, at least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in Myanmar`s Rakhine state.

Turkish agency organises Iftar for Rohingya refugees

Around 60 babies a day are being born in vast refugee camps in Bangladesh, sheltering hundreds of thousands of mainly Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar, the United Nations children`s agency UNICEF said&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Cox`s Bazar in Bangladesh in the past nine months after a Myanmar military crackdown that the United Nations, the United States and Britain have denounced as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has denied that any ethnic cleansing occurred.

UNICEF said in a statement that since the crisis began more than 16,000 babies had been born in the camps, of which only about 3,000 were delivered in health facilities.

"Around 60 babies a day are taking their first breath in appalling conditions, away from home, to mothers who have survived displacement, violence, trauma and, at times, rape," said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF`s Representative in Bangladesh.

UN&nbsp;Security Council envoys visited the refugee camps in April.

"It is impossible to know the true number of babies who have been or will be born as a result of sexual violence," Beigbeder said. "It is vital that each and every new and expectant mother and every new-born receive all the help and support they need."

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Myanmar`s Rakhine state last August sparked a military operation that Myanmar has said was legitimate. Last November, Myanmar`s military released a report in which it denied all accusations of rape by security forces.&nbsp;

A senior Bangladesh health ministry official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said last week that so far 18,300 pregnant women had been identified in the camps and the rough total estimate was around 25,000.

In March the United Nations launched an appeal for $951 million to help the Rohingya refugees for the rest of the year, but it is less than 20 percent funded.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M-p15ndfm6s" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

UNICEF said in a statement that since the crisis began more than 16,000 babies had been born in the camps, of which only about 3,000 were delivered in health facilities

Around 60 babies a day are being born in vast refugee camps in Bangladesh, sheltering hundreds of thousands of mainly Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar, the United Nations children`s agency UNICEF said on Wednesday. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Cox`s Bazar in Bangladesh in the past nine months after a Myanmar military crackdown that the United Nations, the United States and Britain have denounced as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has denied that any ethnic cleansing occurred. UNICEF said in a statement that since the crisis began more than 16,000 babies had been born in the camps, of which only about 3,000 were delivered in health facilities. "Around 60 babies a day are taking their first breath in appalling conditions, away from home, to mothers who have survived displacement, violence, trauma and, at times, rape," said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF`s Representative in Bangladesh. UN Security Council envoys visited the refugee camps in April. "It is impossible to know the true number of babies who have been or will be born as a result of sexual violence," Beigbeder said. "It is vital that each and every new and expectant mother and every new-born receive all the help and support they need." Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Myanmar`s Rakhine state last August sparked a military operation that Myanmar has said was legitimate. Last November, Myanmar`s military released a report in which it denied all accusations of rape by security forces. A senior Bangladesh health ministry official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said last week that so far 18,300 pregnant women had been identified in the camps and the rough total estimate was around 25,000. In March the United Nations launched an appeal for $951 million to help the Rohingya refugees for the rest of the year, but it is less than 20 percent funded.

In Bangladesh, some 60 babies a day born in Rohingya camps: United Nations

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

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

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

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

China resists push at UN for Myanmar probe of Rohingya attacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting.

During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also noted Myanmar's difficulties transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment.

Myanmar National Security Advisor Thaung Tun said Suu Kyi has always insisted on the rule of law.

"She has always said nobody is above the law and we intend to implement that. She told the Security Council members 'please bring to our notice any infringement of these laws and we will do whatever is necessary to take the action'," he told Reuters on Monday after the meeting.

Earlier this month, Suu Kyi - marking two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote - said in a televised speech that Myanmar was "struggling to develop politics, society and economy."

Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military. The council envoys also met behind closed doors for two hours with military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing in the country's capital Naypyitaw.

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked a military operation that Myanmar said was a legitimate response. Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale.

The Security Council envoys are due to travel to Rakhine on Tuesday.

'Whatever is necessary'

Britain, the United States and others have denounced the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity. Suu Kyi's government expressed "serious concern" over the move.

The US government is conducting an intensive examination of alleged atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar's military for crimes against humanity, US officials told Reuters.

Earlier on Monday the council envoys met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the country's capital Dhaka, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens."

"That's what we want," Hasina told reporters. "They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role."

UN supervised return?

Hasina added that the refugees should return "under UN supervision where security and safety should be ensured". When asked if UN supervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: "Not exactly, well, that the UN will decide".

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 are ready and willing but it will take two to tango," Thaung Tun told Reuters. "I hope that (the Security Council) will see we are really serious on trying to find a solution for this."

Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement released on Monday after the meeting that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees.

The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season.

Kuwait's UN Ambassador 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 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".

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting. During the nearly hour-long meeting, Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also noted Myanmar's difficulties transitioning to rule of law after decades of military dictatorship, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity. Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay was not immediately available for comment. Myanmar National Security Advisor Thaung Tun said Suu Kyi has always insisted on the rule of law. "She has always said nobody is above the law and we intend to implement that. She told the Security Council members 'please bring to our notice any infringement of these laws and we will do whatever is necessary to take the action'," he told Reuters on Monday after the meeting. Earlier this month, Suu Kyi - marking two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote - said in a televised speech that Myanmar was "struggling to develop politics, society and economy." Suu Kyi's civilian government has no control over the military. The council envoys also met behind closed doors for two hours with military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing in the country's capital Naypyitaw. Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked a military operation that Myanmar said was a legitimate response. Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. The Security Council envoys are due to travel to Rakhine on Tuesday. 'Whatever is necessary' Britain, the United States and others have denounced the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity. Suu Kyi's government expressed "serious concern" over the move. The US government is conducting an intensive examination of alleged atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar's military for crimes against humanity, US officials told Reuters. Earlier on Monday the council envoys met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the country's capital Dhaka, who asked them to press Myanmar to take back "their citizens." "That's what we want," Hasina told reporters. "They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role." UN supervised return? Hasina added that the refugees should return "under UN supervision where security and safety should be ensured". When asked if UN supervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: "Not exactly, well, that the UN will decide". 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 are ready and willing but it will take two to tango," Thaung Tun told Reuters. "I hope that (the Security Council) will see we are really serious on trying to find a solution for this." Suu Kyi's office also said in a statement released on Monday after the meeting that cooperation was needed from Bangladesh on the repatriation of refugees. The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season. Kuwait's UN Ambassador 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 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". 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.

UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over refugee crisis

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

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

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

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

Bangladesh officials said Monday a fishing boat carrying Rohingya Muslims to Southeast Asia did not set sail from its shores, where close to one million refugees live in congested camps.

Police in Bangladesh's southeast said they were investigating after a boat moored at a Thai island with dozens of Rohingya aboard, but were adamant their coast guard would have spotted the vessel.

"The boat didn't leave from Bangladesh," said Afrujul Haq Tutul, deputy police chief in Cox's Bazar district where the Rohingya camps are located.

"But, in light of the news, we are investigating this matter."

The boat, en route to Malaysia where there is a sizeable Rohingya community, stopped at an island off the west coast of Thailand early Sunday due to bad weather.

Thai officials said there were about 56 women, men and children on board and that the Rohingya would continue towards their destination.

Rohingya migrants attempting the boat routes south have been a rare sighting since Thai authorities clamped down on regional trafficking networks in 2015, leaving thousands of migrants abandoned in open waters or jungle camps.

Since then successive waves of violence in Myanmar have driven close to 800,000 Rohingya into southern Bangladesh, where they have joined hundreds of thousands who fled previous bouts of persecution.

Those who fled an army crackdown described by UN and US officials as ethnic cleansing arrived to find squalid camps and army blockades preventing them from leaving the immediate area in Cox's Bazar.

Bangladesh's refugee commissioner, Mohammad Abul Kalam, said local authorities had "no such information" about Rohingya trying their luck once again on the open ocean.

"We don't have any such intelligence about anyone leaving Bangladeshi shores for Malaysia by boat," he said.

A senior coast guard official said it was "impossible" that a captain would be able to evade patrols, which have been stepped up in recent months to combat drug trafficking and prevent people smuggling.

"They (boats) are not allowed to go out. It would be very hard to sneak out of our coastal patrol. I don't think these people sailed away from here," coast guard spokesman Abdullah Al Maruf.

Many of the Rohingya ensnared in the 2015 boat crisis wound up in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia as Thailand stuck to a policy of not accepting the vessels.&nbsp 
&nbsp

Bangladesh officials said Monday a fishing boat carrying Rohingya Muslims to Southeast Asia did not set sail from its shores

Bangladesh officials said Monday a fishing boat carrying Rohingya Muslims to Southeast Asia did not set sail from its shores, where close to one million refugees live in congested camps. Police in Bangladesh's southeast said they were investigating after a boat moored at a Thai island with dozens of Rohingya aboard, but were adamant their coast guard would have spotted the vessel. "The boat didn't leave from Bangladesh," said Afrujul Haq Tutul, deputy police chief in Cox's Bazar district where the Rohingya camps are located. "But, in light of the news, we are investigating this matter." The boat, en route to Malaysia where there is a sizeable Rohingya community, stopped at an island off the west coast of Thailand early Sunday due to bad weather. Thai officials said there were about 56 women, men and children on board and that the Rohingya would continue towards their destination. Rohingya migrants attempting the boat routes south have been a rare sighting since Thai authorities clamped down on regional trafficking networks in 2015, leaving thousands of migrants abandoned in open waters or jungle camps. Since then successive waves of violence in Myanmar have driven close to 800,000 Rohingya into southern Bangladesh, where they have joined hundreds of thousands who fled previous bouts of persecution. Those who fled an army crackdown described by UN and US officials as ethnic cleansing arrived to find squalid camps and army blockades preventing them from leaving the immediate area in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh's refugee commissioner, Mohammad Abul Kalam, said local authorities had "no such information" about Rohingya trying their luck once again on the open ocean. "We don't have any such intelligence about anyone leaving Bangladeshi shores for Malaysia by boat," he said. A senior coast guard official said it was "impossible" that a captain would be able to evade patrols, which have been stepped up in recent months to combat drug trafficking and prevent people smuggling. "They (boats) are not allowed to go out. It would be very hard to sneak out of our coastal patrol. I don't think these people sailed away from here," coast guard spokesman Abdullah Al Maruf. Many of the Rohingya ensnared in the 2015 boat crisis wound up in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia as Thailand stuck to a policy of not accepting the vessels.

Bangladesh denies Rohingya boat docked at Thai island set sail from its shores

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Sunday for her people to remain united, saying the Southeast Asian country faces "challenges" at home and abroad, as she marked two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote.

In a televised speech, Suu Kyi made only a passing reference to the crisis in Rakhine state, where her government faces mounting international condemnation for a military operation against Rohingya Muslims that has sent nearly 700,000 members of the minority community fleeing to Bangladesh.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has also struggled to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power in 2016, and is struggling to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and continued fighting with ethnic armed groups.

In the televised address, Suu Kyi urged people to be united. "The world's focus in on Rakhine right now, but we also need to peacefully develop the country."

"We are facing challenges from inside and outside of the country, as we are struggling to develop politics, society and economy," she said.

She also urged people to "respect the intentions and vision of the international community." She did not elaborate.

The civilian government led by Suu Kyi has no control over the military, which launched the crackdown in Rakhine in response to insurgent attacks on security forces in August.

The United States and United Nations have described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies.

Suu Kyi also talked about her number one priority - to end decades of fighting between ethnic rebels and the military, which has kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war since independence in 1948.

"While building peace and stability is the most important requirement for our country, we need the strength of unity," she said.

Two ethnic armed groups in Myanmar signed a ceasefire with the government in February as Suu Kyi sought to revive the stuttering peace process. The Buddhist-majority country has seen the worst fighting with rebels in years since she took office.

Myanmar on Friday swore in a close ally of Suu Kyi as the country's new president after the outgoing president retired. Analysts said the move was unlikely to affect a delicate balance of power between Suu Kyi and the military.

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

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Sunday for her people to remain united, saying the Southeast Asian country faces "challenges" at home and abroad, as she marked two years since her party swept to power in a historic vote. In a televised speech, Suu Kyi made only a passing reference to the crisis in Rakhine state, where her government faces mounting international condemnation for a military operation against Rohingya Muslims that has sent nearly 700,000 members of the minority community fleeing to Bangladesh. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has also struggled to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power in 2016, and is struggling to rebut criticism over slower economic growth and continued fighting with ethnic armed groups. In the televised address, Suu Kyi urged people to be united. "The world's focus in on Rakhine right now, but we also need to peacefully develop the country." "We are facing challenges from inside and outside of the country, as we are struggling to develop politics, society and economy," she said. She also urged people to "respect the intentions and vision of the international community." She did not elaborate. The civilian government led by Suu Kyi has no control over the military, which launched the crackdown in Rakhine in response to insurgent attacks on security forces in August. The United States and United Nations have described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Suu Kyi also talked about her number one priority - to end decades of fighting between ethnic rebels and the military, which has kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war since independence in 1948. "While building peace and stability is the most important requirement for our country, we need the strength of unity," she said. Two ethnic armed groups in Myanmar signed a ceasefire with the government in February as Suu Kyi sought to revive the stuttering peace process. The Buddhist-majority country has seen the worst fighting with rebels in years since she took office. Myanmar on Friday swore in a close ally of Suu Kyi as the country's new president after the outgoing president retired. Analysts said the move was unlikely to affect a delicate balance of power between Suu Kyi and the military.

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

Australia&#39;s attorney general said that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has diplomatic immunity, rejecting a bid by activist lawyers to prosecute her for crimes against humanity over the country&#39;s treatment of minority Rohingya Muslims.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh after militant attacks on Aug. 25 last year sparked a crackdown led by security forces in the western state of Rakhine that the United Nations and United States have said constituted ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies the charge. It has asked for &quot;clear evidence&quot; of abuses by security forces. After repeated attempts, neither Suu Kyi&#39;s spokesman nor the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was available for comment.

Australian Attorney General Christian Porter said he would not allow the prosecution of Suu Kyi, who arrived in Sydney on Saturday for regional talks, because heads of state cannot be arrested, detained or served with court proceedings.

&quot;Aung San Suu Kyi has complete immunity, including from being served with court documents, because under customary international law, heads of state, heads of government and ministers of foreign affairs are immune from foreign criminal proceedings and are inviolable,&quot; Porter told Reuters by email.

The legal action in Australia coincided with the start of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings.

Australia is hosting the meetings, despite not being a member of the 10-nation bloc, as it seeks to tighten political and trade ties in the region amid China&#39;s rising influence.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi&#39;s invitation has sparked protests, which included about 100 activists gathering in Sydney&#39;s Hyde Park where they chanted &quot;Aung San Suu Kyi, shame on you&quot;.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Friday he would raise the issue of human rights abuses with Suu Kyi during her three-day visit.

Australian Attorney General Christian Porter said he would not allow the prosecution of Suu Kyi, who arrived in Sydney on Saturday for regional talks, because heads of state cannot be arrested, detained or served with court proceedings.

Australia's attorney general said that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has diplomatic immunity, rejecting a bid by activist lawyers to prosecute her for crimes against humanity over the country's treatment of minority Rohingya Muslims. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh after militant attacks on Aug. 25 last year sparked a crackdown led by security forces in the western state of Rakhine that the United Nations and United States have said constituted ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies the charge. It has asked for "clear evidence" of abuses by security forces. After repeated attempts, neither Suu Kyi's spokesman nor the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was available for comment. Australian Attorney General Christian Porter said he would not allow the prosecution of Suu Kyi, who arrived in Sydney on Saturday for regional talks, because heads of state cannot be arrested, detained or served with court proceedings. "Aung San Suu Kyi has complete immunity, including from being served with court documents, because under customary international law, heads of state, heads of government and ministers of foreign affairs are immune from foreign criminal proceedings and are inviolable," Porter told Reuters by email. The legal action in Australia coincided with the start of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings. Australia is hosting the meetings, despite not being a member of the 10-nation bloc, as it seeks to tighten political and trade ties in the region amid China's rising influence. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi's invitation has sparked protests, which included about 100 activists gathering in Sydney's Hyde Park where they chanted "Aung San Suu Kyi, shame on you". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Friday he would raise the issue of human rights abuses with Suu Kyi during her three-day visit.

Australia's attorney general rejects lawyers' bid to prosecute Myanmar's Suu Kyi

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

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

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

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

Bangladesh summoned Myanmar&#39;s ambassador on Thursday over an increased security presence near their border, where thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been sheltering just inside Myanmar, Bangladesh&#39;s foreign ministry said.

The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern that thousands of people staying on the strip of land, dubbed &quot;no man&rsquo;s land&quot; because it is beyond Myanmar&rsquo;s border fence but on Myanmar&rsquo;s side of a creek that marks the international border, would be forcibly returned without enough care for their safety.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh after insurgent attacks on Aug. 25 sparked a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounted to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape.

About 5,300 people had been staying in a makeshift camp on the borderline since late August, but roughly half moved to camps inside Bangladesh after the neighbours met to discuss possible repatriation on Feb. 20.&nbsp;

Several hundred of them have been moved back to the borderline, two border guards said.

On Thursday, Myanmar armed soldiers and police, estimated to number more than 200, came to the border fence and appeared to be moving in heavy weapons, including mortars, said a Bangladesh army official and the two guards, all three of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dil Mohammed, a community leader among the roughly 950 Rohingya families staying at the border, said Myanmar officials used loudspeakers to tell them to move from the area.

An official of Bangladesh&#39;s border guard said Myanmar security forces fired one round on Thursday evening in an apparent attempt to scare those on the border, but no one was injured.

&quot;It looks like they attempted to push the Rohingya people on the zero line to Bangladesh,&quot; Major Iqbal Ahmed told Reuters.

Protest note

The movement of troops so close to the border violated international norms, another Bangladesh border guard official,

Brigadier General Mujibur Rahman, told Reuters.

&quot;We are sending them a protest note. We have already asked for a flag meeting,&quot; said Rahman, the force&#39;s additional director general in charge of operations, referring to a meeting of border guards of both countries.

&quot;They have removed heavy weapons, such as machine guns and mortars, from the area after our verbal protests.&quot;

In Dhaka, the foreign ministry said Acting Foreign Secretary Khurshed Alam had asked Myanmar envoy Lwin Oo to ensure that security forces pulled back from the border, as a military build-up would create confusion in Bangladesh and escalate border tension.

The action could also hamper the agreed repatriation of refugees, the ministry said in a statement, adding that it handed a diplomatic note to the ambassador.

A Myanmar official, Myint Thu, on Friday, confirmed the ambassador&#39;s meeting and said the two countries were &quot;coordinating&quot; on patrolling the border and resolving the issue of those staying there.

Asked about the troop movements, Myint Thu, the permanent secretary at the foreign ministry, said, &quot;This happens due to security concerns.&quot;

He did not elaborate, and also declined to comment on whether Myanmar forces fired shots at the border on Thursday.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay has said &quot;terrorists&quot; with links to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which had attacked 30 police posts and an army base in August, were sheltering in the border area.

Zaw Htay said he believed people were staying there to put political pressure on the government and &quot;create a situation where Myanmar security forces and government officials will remove them&quot;.

There was no plan to collect information on the people in the border area, Win Kyaing, the permanent secretary at Myanmar&#39;s immigration ministry, said on Friday, but added that the country had set up two reception centres for returnees.

&quot;They stay there illegally,&quot; he said. &quot;They are leaving for Bangladesh in an illegal way.&quot;

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh after insurgent attacks on Aug. 25 sparked a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounted to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape.

Bangladesh summoned Myanmar's ambassador on Thursday over an increased security presence near their border, where thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been sheltering just inside Myanmar, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said. The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern that thousands of people staying on the strip of land, dubbed "no man’s land" because it is beyond Myanmar’s border fence but on Myanmar’s side of a creek that marks the international border, would be forcibly returned without enough care for their safety. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh after insurgent attacks on Aug. 25 sparked a military crackdown that the United Nations has said amounted to ethnic cleansing, with reports of arson attacks, murder and rape. About 5,300 people had been staying in a makeshift camp on the borderline since late August, but roughly half moved to camps inside Bangladesh after the neighbours met to discuss possible repatriation on Feb. 20. Several hundred of them have been moved back to the borderline, two border guards said. On Thursday, Myanmar armed soldiers and police, estimated to number more than 200, came to the border fence and appeared to be moving in heavy weapons, including mortars, said a Bangladesh army official and the two guards, all three of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. Dil Mohammed, a community leader among the roughly 950 Rohingya families staying at the border, said Myanmar officials used loudspeakers to tell them to move from the area. An official of Bangladesh's border guard said Myanmar security forces fired one round on Thursday evening in an apparent attempt to scare those on the border, but no one was injured. "It looks like they attempted to push the Rohingya people on the zero line to Bangladesh," Major Iqbal Ahmed told Reuters. Protest note The movement of troops so close to the border violated international norms, another Bangladesh border guard official, Brigadier General Mujibur Rahman, told Reuters. "We are sending them a protest note. We have already asked for a flag meeting," said Rahman, the force's additional director general in charge of operations, referring to a meeting of border guards of both countries. "They have removed heavy weapons, such as machine guns and mortars, from the area after our verbal protests." In Dhaka, the foreign ministry said Acting Foreign Secretary Khurshed Alam had asked Myanmar envoy Lwin Oo to ensure that security forces pulled back from the border, as a military build-up would create confusion in Bangladesh and escalate border tension. The action could also hamper the agreed repatriation of refugees, the ministry said in a statement, adding that it handed a diplomatic note to the ambassador. A Myanmar official, Myint Thu, on Friday, confirmed the ambassador's meeting and said the two countries were "coordinating" on patrolling the border and resolving the issue of those staying there. Asked about the troop movements, Myint Thu, the permanent secretary at the foreign ministry, said, "This happens due to security concerns." He did not elaborate, and also declined to comment on whether Myanmar forces fired shots at the border on Thursday. Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay has said "terrorists" with links to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which had attacked 30 police posts and an army base in August, were sheltering in the border area. Zaw Htay said he believed people were staying there to put political pressure on the government and "create a situation where Myanmar security forces and government officials will remove them". There was no plan to collect information on the people in the border area, Win Kyaing, the permanent secretary at Myanmar's immigration ministry, said on Friday, but added that the country had set up two reception centres for returnees. "They stay there illegally," he said. "They are leaving for Bangladesh in an illegal way."

Bangladesh protests against Myanmar troops at border where Rohingya shelter

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

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

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

Rohingya refugees test Bangladeshi welcome as prices rise and repatriation stalls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myanmar today unveiled its three-stage plan for return and rehabilitation of around 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims, who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in what the UN called &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; by the Myanmar Army.

Myanmar Home Minister Kyaw Swe, who is on a three-day visit to Dhaka, today met his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and discussed along with senior officials the repatriation plan for Rohingya refugees.

&ldquo;Myanmar said they planned a three-stage process &ndash; taking them (Rohingyas) back, ensuring their livelihood and then awarding them with the nationality,&rdquo; Kamal told a news briefing following a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart.

He said Naypyidaw (Myanmar capital) appeared to be sincere in their comments as they acknowledged to the facts involving the situation what Bangladesh side pointed out and &ldquo;we are getting some confidence they will take their nationals back in line with the Kofi Annan Commission Report&rdquo;.

Kamal, however, said the Bangladesh side repeatedly expressed concerns about the hostile situation in Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine state, the scene of atrocities, and said unless the safety and food supplies for the refugees were ensured, the Rohingyas would again come back while the number of these forcibly displaced Myanmar people in Bangladesh now stood at more than a million.

&ldquo;We also told them till now nearly 150 of them (Rohingyas) are entering into Bangladesh daily while some 6,500 Rohingyas have taken refuge at a makeshift camp on the Myanmar side of the border,&rdquo; he said.

The Bangladesh minister said his counterpart acknowledged the fact and &ldquo;we planned a meeting on February 20 in a bordering Myanmar district to make immediate arrangements at least to ensure the return of the Rohingyas languishing on borders&rdquo;.

Swe yesterday called on Bangladesh president Abdul Hamid and apprised him that Naypyidaw was ready to take back Rohingyas under a deal the countries signed late last year.

The repatriation was scheduled to begin last month but Bangladesh said it needed more time to prepare and the security situation was a concern while Khan told reporters that Dhaka earlier handed over Myanmar a complete list of

Rohingyas and &ldquo;today gave another list as they sought seeking the names on the basis of the areas they lived in (Rakhine)&rdquo;.

Myanmar ambassador to the UN Hau Do Suan said it had given Bangladesh a list of 508 Hindus and 750 Muslims &ldquo;verified as Myanmar residents, to be included in the first batch of repatriation&rdquo; and set up two reception centers and a transit camp to accommodate them before permanent resettlement.

About 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled their home to take refuge in Bangladesh in the latest and biggest spate of exodus since late August when Myanmar&rsquo;s military launched a security crackdown in northern Rakhine state.

Myanmar has said it launched &ldquo;clearance&rdquo; operations against terrorists and has dismissed as false allegations from witnesses and survivors that troops and Buddhist mobs engaged in killings and rapes of Rohingya and set fires that wiped out villages.

The bilateral meeting came three days after UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council that conditions were not right for the voluntarily return of Rohingyas as Myanmar did not address their exclusion and denial of rights and citizenship.

Grandi said Rohingyas continued to flee Myanmar and thousands more were expected still to try to leave.

Bangladesh had appealed to the international community to mount a sustained pressure on Myanmar for a safe, dignified and immediate return of the Rohingyas as the international aid for the refugees appeared to be dwindling ahead of the monsoon season when flooding will also pose a threat and water-borne diseases could become more prevalent.

Myanmar Home Minister Kyaw Swe, who is on a three-day visit to Dhaka, today met his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and discussed along with senior officials the repatriation plan for Rohingya refugees

Myanmar today unveiled its three-stage plan for return and rehabilitation of around 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims, who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in what the UN called "ethnic cleansing" by the Myanmar Army. Myanmar Home Minister Kyaw Swe, who is on a three-day visit to Dhaka, today met his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and discussed along with senior officials the repatriation plan for Rohingya refugees. “Myanmar said they planned a three-stage process – taking them (Rohingyas) back, ensuring their livelihood and then awarding them with the nationality,” Kamal told a news briefing following a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart. He said Naypyidaw (Myanmar capital) appeared to be sincere in their comments as they acknowledged to the facts involving the situation what Bangladesh side pointed out and “we are getting some confidence they will take their nationals back in line with the Kofi Annan Commission Report”. Kamal, however, said the Bangladesh side repeatedly expressed concerns about the hostile situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, the scene of atrocities, and said unless the safety and food supplies for the refugees were ensured, the Rohingyas would again come back while the number of these forcibly displaced Myanmar people in Bangladesh now stood at more than a million. “We also told them till now nearly 150 of them (Rohingyas) are entering into Bangladesh daily while some 6,500 Rohingyas have taken refuge at a makeshift camp on the Myanmar side of the border,” he said. The Bangladesh minister said his counterpart acknowledged the fact and “we planned a meeting on February 20 in a bordering Myanmar district to make immediate arrangements at least to ensure the return of the Rohingyas languishing on borders”. Swe yesterday called on Bangladesh president Abdul Hamid and apprised him that Naypyidaw was ready to take back Rohingyas under a deal the countries signed late last year. The repatriation was scheduled to begin last month but Bangladesh said it needed more time to prepare and the security situation was a concern while Khan told reporters that Dhaka earlier handed over Myanmar a complete list of Rohingyas and “today gave another list as they sought seeking the names on the basis of the areas they lived in (Rakhine)”. Myanmar ambassador to the UN Hau Do Suan said it had given Bangladesh a list of 508 Hindus and 750 Muslims “verified as Myanmar residents, to be included in the first batch of repatriation” and set up two reception centers and a transit camp to accommodate them before permanent resettlement. About 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled their home to take refuge in Bangladesh in the latest and biggest spate of exodus since late August when Myanmar’s military launched a security crackdown in northern Rakhine state. Myanmar has said it launched “clearance” operations against terrorists and has dismissed as false allegations from witnesses and survivors that troops and Buddhist mobs engaged in killings and rapes of Rohingya and set fires that wiped out villages. The bilateral meeting came three days after UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council that conditions were not right for the voluntarily return of Rohingyas as Myanmar did not address their exclusion and denial of rights and citizenship. Grandi said Rohingyas continued to flee Myanmar and thousands more were expected still to try to leave. Bangladesh had appealed to the international community to mount a sustained pressure on Myanmar for a safe, dignified and immediate return of the Rohingyas as the international aid for the refugees appeared to be dwindling ahead of the monsoon season when flooding will also pose a threat and water-borne diseases could become more prevalent.

Myanmar outlines 3 stages for Rohingya repatriation: Bangladesh minister

The United States on Tuesday described Myanmar denials of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims as &quot;preposterous&quot; as it called on the UN&nbsp;Security Council to hold the military accountable and pressure leader Aung San Suu Kyi &quot;to acknowledge these horrific acts that are taking place in her country.&quot;

&quot;Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State,&quot; US&nbsp;Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council.

&quot;To make sure no one contradicts their preposterous denials, they are preventing access to Rakhine to anyone or any organization that might bear witness to their atrocities, including the UN&nbsp;Security Council,&quot; Haley said.

Haley also called for the release of Reuters news agency reporters arrested for reporting on the massacre of Rohingya Muslims.

&quot;We strongly call for their immediate and unconditional release,&quot; she said. In a reference to Myanmar`s reason for detaining the journalists, Haley added, &quot;On top of it all, they have the gall to blame the media.&quot;

The Reuters special report, published last week, lays out events leading up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men from Inn Din village in Rakhine state who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

French UN&nbsp;Ambassador Francois Delattre also told the Security Council that a massacre of Rohingya Muslims reported by Reuters could &quot;constitute crimes against humanity.&quot; 
Myanmar has denied that ethnic cleansing has taken place.

Any push for UN&nbsp;Security Council action is likely to face resistance from council veto powers Russia and China, who both said on Tuesday the situation in Rakhine state was stable and under control.

&quot;Using labels and attempts to use contradictory and subjective reports of the media ... to find out who`s guilty and condemn them only move us farther away from a solution,&quot; Russia`s Deputy UN&nbsp;Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy warned.&nbsp;

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since last August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

&quot;Conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees,&quot; UN&nbsp;refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council.

Calls for journalists release

While Myanmar UN&nbsp;Ambassador Hau Do Suan said that some diplomats had been able to travel to Rakhine state but also told the UN&nbsp;Security Council not to visit during February because it was &quot;not the right time,&quot; Kuwait`s UN&nbsp;Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi said this month.&nbsp;

Myanmar`s Hau Do Suan said that an inquiry by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, had found that 10 Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants had been arrested in Inn Din and executed and buried a day later.

&quot;Actions are being taken against 16 individuals, including army and police officers and some villagers who had acted in violation of standard operating procedures and the rules of engagement. This action of the Tatmadaw is positive step forward in taking responsibility and deserves encouragement,&quot; he said.

With reference to Reuters journalists arrested for reporting on the Rohingya, Hau Do Suan said Myanmar recognises freedom of the press and the journalists were not arrested in December for reporting a story, but were accused of &quot;illegally possessing confidential government documents.&quot;

&quot;Every citizen is bound by the existing law of the land. It is important that the actions of the journalists must also within the bound of the law,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan all called for the release of the Reuters journalists during the Security Council meeting on Tuesday.&nbsp;

'Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State,' US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council

The United States on Tuesday described Myanmar denials of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims as "preposterous" as it called on the UN Security Council to hold the military accountable and pressure leader Aung San Suu Kyi "to acknowledge these horrific acts that are taking place in her country." "Powerful forces in the Burmese government have denied the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Security Council. "To make sure no one contradicts their preposterous denials, they are preventing access to Rakhine to anyone or any organization that might bear witness to their atrocities, including the UN Security Council," Haley said. Haley also called for the release of Reuters news agency reporters arrested for reporting on the massacre of Rohingya Muslims. "We strongly call for their immediate and unconditional release," she said. In a reference to Myanmar`s reason for detaining the journalists, Haley added, "On top of it all, they have the gall to blame the media." The Reuters special report, published last week, lays out events leading up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men from Inn Din village in Rakhine state who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre also told the Security Council that a massacre of Rohingya Muslims reported by Reuters could "constitute crimes against humanity." Myanmar has denied that ethnic cleansing has taken place. Any push for UN Security Council action is likely to face resistance from council veto powers Russia and China, who both said on Tuesday the situation in Rakhine state was stable and under control. "Using labels and attempts to use contradictory and subjective reports of the media ... to find out who`s guilty and condemn them only move us farther away from a solution," Russia`s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy warned. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since last August when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. "Conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees," UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told the Security Council. Calls for journalists release While Myanmar UN Ambassador Hau Do Suan said that some diplomats had been able to travel to Rakhine state but also told the UN Security Council not to visit during February because it was "not the right time," Kuwait`s UN Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi said this month. Myanmar`s Hau Do Suan said that an inquiry by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, had found that 10 Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants had been arrested in Inn Din and executed and buried a day later. "Actions are being taken against 16 individuals, including army and police officers and some villagers who had acted in violation of standard operating procedures and the rules of engagement. This action of the Tatmadaw is positive step forward in taking responsibility and deserves encouragement," he said. With reference to Reuters journalists arrested for reporting on the Rohingya, Hau Do Suan said Myanmar recognises freedom of the press and the journalists were not arrested in December for reporting a story, but were accused of "illegally possessing confidential government documents." "Every citizen is bound by the existing law of the land. It is important that the actions of the journalists must also within the bound of the law," he said. Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan all called for the release of the Reuters journalists during the Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

US urges UN to hold Myanmar military accountable for 'ethnic cleansing'

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

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

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

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