Myanmar on Saturday rejected the UN rights council&#39;s decision to investigate allegations that security officers have murdered, raped and tortured Rohingya Muslims, saying the probe would only &quot;inflame&quot; the conflict. &nbsp;

The Geneva-based body agreed Friday to &quot;urgently&quot; dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Southeast Asian country, focusing on claims that police and soldiers have carried out violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine state.

The army crackdown, launched in October after militants killed nine policemen, has sent tens of thousands of Rohingya fleeing across the border to Bangladesh.

Escapees have given UN investigators gruesome accounts of security officers stabbing babies to death, burning people alive and committing widespread gang rape.&nbsp;

The allegations have heaped enormous pressure on Myanmar&#39;s one-year-old civilian government, which has vigorously swatted back calls for an international investigation.&nbsp;

Myanmar&#39;s foreign affairs ministry on Saturday stopped short of saying it would block the UN-backed probe but said it &quot;has dissociated itself from the resolution as a whole&quot;.

&quot;The establishment of an international fact-finding mission would do more to inflame, rather than resolve the issues at this time,&quot; it added.&nbsp;

Myanmar is carrying out its own domestic inquiry into possible crimes in Rakhine.

But rights groups and the UN have dismissed the body, which is led by retired general turned Vice President Myint Swe, as toothless.

The recent crackdown is only the latest conflict to beleaguer the stateless Rohingya, who are denied citizenship and face brutal discrimination in the Buddhist-majority country.&nbsp;

More than 120,000 Rohingya have languished in grim displacement camps ever since bouts of religious violence between Muslims and Buddhists ripped through Rakhine state in 2012.

Most are not allowed to leave the squalid encampments, &nbsp;where they live in piecemeal shelters with little access to food, education and healthcare.

(AFP)

Yangon said UN's fact-finding team would only 'inflame' and not resolve the issues at this time

Myanmar on Saturday rejected the UN rights council's decision to investigate allegations that security officers have murdered, raped and tortured Rohingya Muslims, saying the probe would only "inflame" the conflict. The Geneva-based body agreed Friday to "urgently" dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Southeast Asian country, focusing on claims that police and soldiers have carried out violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine state. The army crackdown, launched in October after militants killed nine policemen, has sent tens of thousands of Rohingya fleeing across the border to Bangladesh. Escapees have given UN investigators gruesome accounts of security officers stabbing babies to death, burning people alive and committing widespread gang rape. The allegations have heaped enormous pressure on Myanmar's one-year-old civilian government, which has vigorously swatted back calls for an international investigation. Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry on Saturday stopped short of saying it would block the UN-backed probe but said it "has dissociated itself from the resolution as a whole". "The establishment of an international fact-finding mission would do more to inflame, rather than resolve the issues at this time," it added. Myanmar is carrying out its own domestic inquiry into possible crimes in Rakhine. But rights groups and the UN have dismissed the body, which is led by retired general turned Vice President Myint Swe, as toothless. The recent crackdown is only the latest conflict to beleaguer the stateless Rohingya, who are denied citizenship and face brutal discrimination in the Buddhist-majority country. More than 120,000 Rohingya have languished in grim displacement camps ever since bouts of religious violence between Muslims and Buddhists ripped through Rakhine state in 2012. Most are not allowed to leave the squalid encampments, where they live in piecemeal shelters with little access to food, education and healthcare. (AFP)

Myanmar rejects UN decision to probe Rohingya atrocity claims

Aung San Suu Kyi&nbsp;has denied the ethnic cleansing of Myanmar&#39;s Muslim minority, speaking to the BBC after the UN rights council agreed to investigate allegations against the army.

&quot;I don&#39;t think there is ethnic cleansing going on.&nbsp;I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening,&quot;&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;said in the interview televised on Wednesday.

Her one-year-old government has faced international condemnation for the treatment of the&nbsp;country&#39;s Rohingya Muslims, who are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, prompting the UN rights council to agree last month to launch an investigation into violations against the minority.

The Geneva-based body&#39;s fact-finding mission will examine allegations of torture, murder and rape allegedly committed by troops.

Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;told the BBC there was &quot;a lot of hostility&quot; in the western state of Rakhine, where more than one million Rohingya live.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Rohingya who have fled Myanmar have told UN rights office that soldiers executed babies in front of their mothers, as part of a campaign to terrorise the Muslim minority</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Rohingya who have fled Myanmar have told UN rights office that soldiers executed babies in front of their mothers, as part of a campaign to terrorise the Muslim minority" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

&quot;It is Muslims&nbsp;killing Muslims, as well, if they think they are collaborating with authorities.

&quot;It is not just a matter of ethnic cleansing.&nbsp;It is a matter of people on different sides of a divide, and this divide we are trying to close up. As best as possible and not to widen it further,&quot; she said.

Myanmar has launched its own domestic probe into possible crimes in Rahkine and appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to head a commission tasked with healing long-simmering divisions between Buddhists and Muslims.

Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;said the army was &quot;not free to rape, pillage and torture&quot;.

&quot;They are free to go in and fight.&nbsp;And of course, that is in the constitution... Military matters are to be left to the army,&quot; she said, adding that she aimed to amend the constitution.&nbsp;

Almost 75,000 people from the persecuted minority have escaped to Bangladesh after the military launched operations in the north of Rakhine state to find Rohingya militants who raided police border posts in October.

Rohingya who have fled have told UN rights office that soldiers executed babies in front of their mothers, as part of a campaign to terrorise the Muslim minority.

(AFP)

'I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening,' she told the BBC

Aung San Suu Kyi has denied the ethnic cleansing of Myanmar's Muslim minority, speaking to the BBC after the UN rights council agreed to investigate allegations against the army. "I don't think there is ethnic cleansing going on. I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening," Suu Kyi said in the interview televised on Wednesday. Her one-year-old government has faced international condemnation for the treatment of the country's Rohingya Muslims, who are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, prompting the UN rights council to agree last month to launch an investigation into violations against the minority. The Geneva-based body's fact-finding mission will examine allegations of torture, murder and rape allegedly committed by troops. Suu Kyi told the BBC there was "a lot of hostility" in the western state of Rakhine, where more than one million Rohingya live. Rohingya who have fled Myanmar have told UN rights office that soldiers executed babies in front of their mothers, as part of a campaign to terrorise the Muslim minority × "It is Muslims killing Muslims, as well, if they think they are collaborating with authorities. "It is not just a matter of ethnic cleansing. It is a matter of people on different sides of a divide, and this divide we are trying to close up. As best as possible and not to widen it further," she said. Myanmar has launched its own domestic probe into possible crimes in Rahkine and appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to head a commission tasked with healing long-simmering divisions between Buddhists and Muslims. Suu Kyi said the army was "not free to rape, pillage and torture". "They are free to go in and fight. And of course, that is in the constitution... Military matters are to be left to the army," she said, adding that she aimed to amend the constitution. Almost 75,000 people from the persecuted minority have escaped to Bangladesh after the military launched operations in the north of Rakhine state to find Rohingya militants who raided police border posts in October. Rohingya who have fled have told UN rights office that soldiers executed babies in front of their mothers, as part of a campaign to terrorise the Muslim minority. (AFP)

Suu Kyi denies ethnic cleansing of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims

Myanmar&#39;s police court has sentenced three senior officers to prison for negligence after Rohingya insurgents overran three border posts in October, killing nine policemen, a government official said on Friday.

Several hundred Rohingya men, from a Muslim minority that many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar view as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, attacked the border guard posts on October&nbsp;9. Most were armed only with sticks.

The attacks set off a crackdown on the minority, prompting more than 70,000 people to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

Information Ministry director Ye Naing told Reuters an official investigation probed how the poorly trained and barely armed insurgents could successfully stage the attacks.

The government says the militants, who stole weapons and ammunition in the raids, have links to radical Islamists abroad.

The court sentenced the three senior officers in the border town of Maungdaw to one to three years in prison, Ye Naing said.

&quot;They were jailed because they were guilty of negligence regarding security during the October&nbsp;9 attacks,&quot; he said.

Ye Naing could not specify the date of the sentencing or details of the investigation. Several other high-ranking police officers were still under investigation by the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs, he added.

About 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims live in apartheid-like conditions in northwestern Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship.

The United Nations has documented mass killings and rapes committed during the crackdown by security forces that it says may amount to crimes against humanity. No senior police or army officers have been found accountable for these alleged crimes.

The civilian government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly denied almost all allegations against the country&#39;s still-powerful armed forces during what it has said was a lawful counterinsurgency campaign that began in October.

(Reuters)

The attacks in October set off a crackdown on the minority, prompting more than 70,000 people to flee across the border to Bangladesh

Myanmar's police court has sentenced three senior officers to prison for negligence after Rohingya insurgents overran three border posts in October, killing nine policemen, a government official said on Friday. Several hundred Rohingya men, from a Muslim minority that many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar view as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, attacked the border guard posts on October 9. Most were armed only with sticks. The attacks set off a crackdown on the minority, prompting more than 70,000 people to flee across the border to Bangladesh. Information Ministry director Ye Naing told Reuters an official investigation probed how the poorly trained and barely armed insurgents could successfully stage the attacks. The government says the militants, who stole weapons and ammunition in the raids, have links to radical Islamists abroad. The court sentenced the three senior officers in the border town of Maungdaw to one to three years in prison, Ye Naing said. "They were jailed because they were guilty of negligence regarding security during the October 9 attacks," he said. Ye Naing could not specify the date of the sentencing or details of the investigation. Several other high-ranking police officers were still under investigation by the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs, he added. About 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims live in apartheid-like conditions in northwestern Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship. The United Nations has documented mass killings and rapes committed during the crackdown by security forces that it says may amount to crimes against humanity. No senior police or army officers have been found accountable for these alleged crimes. The civilian government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly denied almost all allegations against the country's still-powerful armed forces during what it has said was a lawful counterinsurgency campaign that began in October. (Reuters)

Senior Myanmar police jailed for negligence over Rohingya attacks

Myanmar&#39;s military has ended&nbsp;a &quot;clearance operation&quot; in the country&#39;s troubled Rakhine State, government officials said, ending a four-month sweep that the United Nations said may amount to crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing.

The security operation had been under way since nine policemen were killed in attacks on security posts near the Bangladesh border on October 9. Almost 69,000 Rohingyas have since fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, according to UN&nbsp;estimates.

The violence has renewed international criticism that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has done too little to help members of the Muslim minority. The government led by Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has denied almost all allegations of human rights abuses in Rakhine, including mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims, and said the operation was a lawful counterinsurgency campaign.

&quot;The situation in northern Rakhine has now stabilised. The clearance operations undertaken by the military have ceased, the curfew has been eased and there remains only a police presence to maintain the peace,&quot; newly-appointed national security advisor Thaung Tun was quoted as saying in a statement released by State Counselor&#39;s Office late on Wednesday.

&quot;There can be no excuse for excessive force, for abuses of fundamental human rights and basic criminality. We have shown that we are ready to act where there is clear evidence of abuses,&quot; he told a group of diplomats and UN&nbsp;representatives in a meeting, according to the statement.

Two senior officials from Myanmar&#39;s President Office and the Ministry of Information confirmed that the army operation in northern Rakhine had ended but said the military force remained in the region to maintain &quot;peace and security&quot;.

Myanmar military did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

The military and police have separately set up a team to investigate alleged crimes after Suu Kyi promised to probe UN&nbsp;allegations of atrocities against the Muslim minority.

More than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims may have been killed in the crackdown, two senior UN&nbsp;officials dealing with refugees fleeing the violence told Reuters last week.

A Myanmar presidential spokesman has said the latest reports from military commanders were that fewer than 100 people had been killed in the counterinsurgency operation.

Rohingya Muslims have faced discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for generations. They are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, entitled only to limited rights and some 1.1 million of them live in apartheid-like conditions in northwestern Myanmar.

(Reuters)

According to UN, almost 69,000 Rohingyas have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since the operation started

Myanmar's military has ended a "clearance operation" in the country's troubled Rakhine State, government officials said, ending a four-month sweep that the United Nations said may amount to crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing. The security operation had been under way since nine policemen were killed in attacks on security posts near the Bangladesh border on October 9. Almost 69,000 Rohingyas have since fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, according to UN estimates. The violence has renewed international criticism that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has done too little to help members of the Muslim minority. The government led by Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has denied almost all allegations of human rights abuses in Rakhine, including mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims, and said the operation was a lawful counterinsurgency campaign. "The situation in northern Rakhine has now stabilised. The clearance operations undertaken by the military have ceased, the curfew has been eased and there remains only a police presence to maintain the peace," newly-appointed national security advisor Thaung Tun was quoted as saying in a statement released by State Counselor's Office late on Wednesday. "There can be no excuse for excessive force, for abuses of fundamental human rights and basic criminality. We have shown that we are ready to act where there is clear evidence of abuses," he told a group of diplomats and UN representatives in a meeting, according to the statement. Two senior officials from Myanmar's President Office and the Ministry of Information confirmed that the army operation in northern Rakhine had ended but said the military force remained in the region to maintain "peace and security". Myanmar military did not immediately respond to requests for comments. The military and police have separately set up a team to investigate alleged crimes after Suu Kyi promised to probe UN allegations of atrocities against the Muslim minority. More than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims may have been killed in the crackdown, two senior UN officials dealing with refugees fleeing the violence told Reuters last week. A Myanmar presidential spokesman has said the latest reports from military commanders were that fewer than 100 people had been killed in the counterinsurgency operation. Rohingya Muslims have faced discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for generations. They are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, entitled only to limited rights and some 1.1 million of them live in apartheid-like conditions in northwestern Myanmar. (Reuters)

Myanmar ends 'military operation' against Rohingyas, UN claims may be ethnic cleansing

The Muslim Rohingya minority has urged Bangladesh to coerce neighbouring Myanmar to allow them to return to their ancestral land through international pressure.

Scores of thousands of Rohingyas are fleeing Myanmar for Bangladesh following a bloody army crackdown, especially in the riven western state of Rakhine --&nbsp;an action that has drawn widespread rebuke from the international community.

Around 70,000 Rohingya Muslims have entered Bangladesh since &quot;clearing operations&quot; began four months back, sparking a grievous refugee crisis in the Southasian nation.

Since then, Bangladesh has resurrected plans to relocate the thousands of refugess to a remote island called Thengar Char in the Bay of Bengal. But Dhaka&#39;s plan to shift them there has faced stiff controversy as critics say the island is inhabitable and prone to flooding.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bzxBOjkVwsw" width="560"></iframe>

President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation, Tun Khin, told WION Dhaka&#39;s plan to relocate the Rohingya Muslims&nbsp;would &quot;not solve the problem&quot;.

Instead, he felt that the problem would not be alleviated &quot;until the Burmese government do not stop these human rights abuses and restore their right to their native land&quot;.

Rohingya Muslims have lived in Myanmar for centuries but have faced persecution from the Burmese authorities.

There are 1.1 million Rohingya residing in Myanmar, many of whom who have stayed in the country for generations but they are still viewed by many Burmese as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Malaysian aid ship reaches Bangladesh

A Malaysian ship carrying aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a bloody army crackdown in Myanmar docked in Bangladesh Tuesday, days after it met with protests in Yangon.

Senior Bangladeshi officials and Malaysian diplomats gathered at Chittagong port as Nautical Aliya docked in the southern city, from where its aid cargo will be transported to Rohingya camps.

The shipment was received by local officials of the Red Crescent and International Organisation of Migration at the port&rsquo;s container terminal in a brief handover ceremony.

Trucks will carry the 1,472 tonnes of food, clothing and medical items to Cox&#39;s Bazar, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Chittagong for distribution to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Burmese Rohingya Organisation said Myanmar homecoming and not Bangladesh's refugees' relocation plan would solve the problem

The Muslim Rohingya minority has urged Bangladesh to coerce neighbouring Myanmar to allow them to return to their ancestral land through international pressure. Scores of thousands of Rohingyas are fleeing Myanmar for Bangladesh following a bloody army crackdown, especially in the riven western state of Rakhine -- an action that has drawn widespread rebuke from the international community. Around 70,000 Rohingya Muslims have entered Bangladesh since "clearing operations" began four months back, sparking a grievous refugee crisis in the Southasian nation. Since then, Bangladesh has resurrected plans to relocate the thousands of refugess to a remote island called Thengar Char in the Bay of Bengal. But Dhaka's plan to shift them there has faced stiff controversy as critics say the island is inhabitable and prone to flooding. President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation, Tun Khin, told WION Dhaka's plan to relocate the Rohingya Muslims would "not solve the problem". Instead, he felt that the problem would not be alleviated "until the Burmese government do not stop these human rights abuses and restore their right to their native land". Rohingya Muslims have lived in Myanmar for centuries but have faced persecution from the Burmese authorities. There are 1.1 million Rohingya residing in Myanmar, many of whom who have stayed in the country for generations but they are still viewed by many Burmese as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Malaysian aid ship reaches Bangladesh A Malaysian ship carrying aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a bloody army crackdown in Myanmar docked in Bangladesh Tuesday, days after it met with protests in Yangon. Senior Bangladeshi officials and Malaysian diplomats gathered at Chittagong port as Nautical Aliya docked in the southern city, from where its aid cargo will be transported to Rohingya camps. The shipment was received by local officials of the Red Crescent and International Organisation of Migration at the port’s container terminal in a brief handover ceremony. Trucks will carry the 1,472 tonnes of food, clothing and medical items to Cox's Bazar, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Chittagong for distribution to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Rohingya group urges Bangladesh to pressure Myanmar on return to ancestral land

Human Rights Watch on Monday called for Myanmar to punish army and police commanders if they allowed troops to rape and sexually assault women and girls of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The New York-based campaign group said it had documented rape, gang rape and other sexual violence against girls as young as 13 in interviews with some of the 69,000 Rohingya Muslims, who have fled to Bangladesh since Myanmar security forces responded to attacks on border posts four months ago.

&quot;The sexual violence did not appear to be random or opportunistic, but part of a coordinated and systematic attack against Rohingya, in part because of their ethnicity and religion,&quot; a Human Rights Watch (HRW) news release said. Reuters was unable to contact a Myanmar government spokesman to respond to the allegations.

An estimated 1.1 million Rohingya live in the western state of Rakhine&nbsp;but have their movements and access to services restricted. Rohingyas are barred from citizenship in Myanmar, where many call them &quot;Bengalis&quot; to suggest they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Independent journalists and observers have been barred from visiting the army&#39;s operation zone in northern Rakhine since the October 9 attacks that killed nine border police.

The government has so far dismissed most claims that soldiers raped, beat, killed and arbitrarily detained civilians while burning down villages, insisting instead that a lawful operation is underway against a group of armed Rohingya insurgents.

The HRW report comes just days after United Nations investigators said Myanmar&#39;s security forces had &quot;very likely&quot; committed crimes against humanity, posing a dilemma for de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner took charge of most civilian affairs in April after a historic transition from full military rule, but soldiers retain a quarter of seats in parliament and control ministries related to security.

UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein said on Friday that Suu Kyi had promised to investigate the UN&#39;s allegations.

HRW said it had gathered evidence on 28 separate sexual assaults, including interviews with nine women who said they were raped or gang raped at gunpoint by security forces during the army&#39;s so-called &quot;clearance operations&quot; in northern Rakhine.

The women and other witnesses said the perpetrators were Myanmar army troops or border police, who they identified by their uniforms, kerchiefs, armbands and patches, HRW said.

&ldquo;These horrific attacks on Rohingya women and girls by security forces add a new and brutal chapter to the Burmese military&rsquo;s long and sickening history of sexual violence against women,&rdquo; said HRW senior emergencies researcher Priyanka Motaparthy.

&ldquo;Military and police commanders should be held responsible for these crimes if they did not do everything in their power to stop them or punish those involved.&rdquo;

(Reuters)

The group said it had documented rape, gang rape and other sexual violence against girls as young as 13

Human Rights Watch on Monday called for Myanmar to punish army and police commanders if they allowed troops to rape and sexually assault women and girls of the Rohingya Muslim minority. The New York-based campaign group said it had documented rape, gang rape and other sexual violence against girls as young as 13 in interviews with some of the 69,000 Rohingya Muslims, who have fled to Bangladesh since Myanmar security forces responded to attacks on border posts four months ago. "The sexual violence did not appear to be random or opportunistic, but part of a coordinated and systematic attack against Rohingya, in part because of their ethnicity and religion," a Human Rights Watch (HRW) news release said. Reuters was unable to contact a Myanmar government spokesman to respond to the allegations. An estimated 1.1 million Rohingya live in the western state of Rakhine but have their movements and access to services restricted. Rohingyas are barred from citizenship in Myanmar, where many call them "Bengalis" to suggest they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Independent journalists and observers have been barred from visiting the army's operation zone in northern Rakhine since the October 9 attacks that killed nine border police. The government has so far dismissed most claims that soldiers raped, beat, killed and arbitrarily detained civilians while burning down villages, insisting instead that a lawful operation is underway against a group of armed Rohingya insurgents. The HRW report comes just days after United Nations investigators said Myanmar's security forces had "very likely" committed crimes against humanity, posing a dilemma for de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel Peace Prize winner took charge of most civilian affairs in April after a historic transition from full military rule, but soldiers retain a quarter of seats in parliament and control ministries related to security. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said on Friday that Suu Kyi had promised to investigate the UN's allegations. HRW said it had gathered evidence on 28 separate sexual assaults, including interviews with nine women who said they were raped or gang raped at gunpoint by security forces during the army's so-called "clearance operations" in northern Rakhine. The women and other witnesses said the perpetrators were Myanmar army troops or border police, who they identified by their uniforms, kerchiefs, armbands and patches, HRW said. “These horrific attacks on Rohingya women and girls by security forces add a new and brutal chapter to the Burmese military’s long and sickening history of sexual violence against women,” said HRW senior emergencies researcher Priyanka Motaparthy. “Military and police commanders should be held responsible for these crimes if they did not do everything in their power to stop them or punish those involved.” (Reuters)

Myanmar commanders should be punished for rape of Rohingya women, girls: Human Rights Watch

A tragic&nbsp;picture circulated&nbsp;today of a 16-month-old Rohingyan&nbsp;boy named Mohammed Shohayet, who was killed as&nbsp;Burmese guards&nbsp;fired&nbsp;on refugees fleeing a genocide. The&nbsp;image&nbsp;recalls for many the heart-wrenching&nbsp;picture&nbsp;of Alan Kurdi, the dead Syrian refugee&nbsp;whose corpse&nbsp;washed up on Turkey&#39;s shore.&nbsp;

The impossibly sad picture of Kurdi reverberated around the world in the summer of 2016. It seemed to embody the epitome of the horror of war, and increased an already fierce&nbsp;public backlash against the Syrian civil&nbsp;war. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Tragic photo of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rohingya?src=hash">#Rohingya</a> baby reminds&nbsp;us&nbsp;Alan Kurdi. Burmese Border Guard indiscriminately opened fire as they were fleeing from genocide. <a href="https://t.co/JTBEo89tJe">pic.twitter.com/JTBEo89tJe</a>
&mdash; Alisha Binti Hamid (@jaan_alisha) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaan_alisha/status/806750114203082752">December 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Shohayet&#39;s family fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State. Mohammed, along with his mother, uncle and three-year-old brother drowned on the journey, leaving only the father alive, CNN reported.

&quot;When I see the picture, I feel like I would rather die. There is no point in me living in this world,&quot; Mohammed&#39;s father, Zafor Alam, told CNN.

Whereas the picture of the Syrian boy, Kurdi,&nbsp;seemed to make people feel agonizingly helpless&nbsp;in the face of a catastrophe the world was closely watching, many&nbsp;hope&nbsp;that the picture of Shohayet will increase attention to the plight of the Rohingya Muslims.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Dec 31, 2015, Alan Kurdi still alive with his mother and brother. Jan 2, 2016, all 3 were dead; 5,000 more died seeking safety in 2016. <a href="https://t.co/Z4Io42mBbz">pic.twitter.com/Z4Io42mBbz</a>
&mdash; Crawford Kilian (@Crof) <a href="https://twitter.com/Crof/status/815393936994775040">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Myanmar is carrying out <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-pursuing-ethnic-cleansing-of-rohingya-un-official-9298">&quot;ethnic cleansing</a>&quot; of Rohingya Muslims, a UN official has reportedly said, as horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Up to 30,000 of the impoverished ethnic group have abandoned their homes in Myanmar to escape the unfolding violence, the UN says, after troops poured into the narrow strip where they live earlier this month.

Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="videos-block">
<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8sjJi_Q2w8"></iframe></div>
</div>

<div class="media-description">
The Muslim minorities in Myanmar continue to flee the violence by security forces. Myanmar is accused of carrying out a systematic cleansing of the minority group also known as Rohingya. WION&#39;s Bangladesh correspondent Saad Hammadi sends this report. (WION)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

(WION)

The boy was killed as Burmese border guards fired indiscriminately on the Muslims fleeing genocide

A tragic picture circulated today of a 16-month-old Rohingyan boy named Mohammed Shohayet, who was killed as Burmese guards fired on refugees fleeing a genocide. The image recalls for many the heart-wrenching picture of Alan Kurdi, the dead Syrian refugee whose corpse washed up on Turkey's shore. The impossibly sad picture of Kurdi reverberated around the world in the summer of 2016. It seemed to embody the epitome of the horror of war, and increased an already fierce public backlash against the Syrian civil war. Tragic photo of #Rohingya baby reminds us Alan Kurdi. Burmese Border Guard indiscriminately opened fire as they were fleeing from genocide. pic.twitter.com/JTBEo89tJe — Alisha Binti Hamid (@jaan_alisha) December 8, 2016 × Shohayet's family fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Mohammed, along with his mother, uncle and three-year-old brother drowned on the journey, leaving only the father alive, CNN reported. "When I see the picture, I feel like I would rather die. There is no point in me living in this world," Mohammed's father, Zafor Alam, told CNN. Whereas the picture of the Syrian boy, Kurdi, seemed to make people feel agonizingly helpless in the face of a catastrophe the world was closely watching, many hope that the picture of Shohayet will increase attention to the plight of the Rohingya Muslims. Dec 31, 2015, Alan Kurdi still alive with his mother and brother. Jan 2, 2016, all 3 were dead; 5,000 more died seeking safety in 2016. pic.twitter.com/Z4Io42mBbz — Crawford Kilian (@Crof) January 1, 2017 × Myanmar is carrying out "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims, a UN official has reportedly said, as horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh. Up to 30,000 of the impoverished ethnic group have abandoned their homes in Myanmar to escape the unfolding violence, the UN says, after troops poured into the narrow strip where they live earlier this month. Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering. The Muslim minorities in Myanmar continue to flee the violence by security forces. Myanmar is accused of carrying out a systematic cleansing of the minority group also known as Rohingya. WION's Bangladesh correspondent Saad Hammadi sends this report. (WION) × (WION)

Rohingya infant washes up dead, reminds world of Syrian boy Alan Kurdi

Malaysia&#39;s national soccer team has cancelled two friendly under-22 matches with Myanmar, in protest against the Southeast Asian nation&#39;s bloody crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a team spokesman said on Thursday.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has been increasingly critical of Myanmar&#39;s handling of violence in northern Rakhine state that has sent hundreds of people fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, amid allegations of abuses by security forces.

The violence is the most serious bloodshed in Rakhine since communal clashes in 2012 that killed hundreds.

Referring to the cancellation of the games set for later this month, the spokesman told Reuters, &quot;It was a political decision because of the Rohingya issue.&quot; He declined to be identified because the topic is a sensitive one.

In a posting on social network Twitter on Wednesday, national football team Harimau Malaysia said, &quot;International matches between under-22 Harimau Malaysia vs Myanmar, which were scheduled to take place on Dec. 9 and 12 in Yangon, have been cancelled.&quot;

Last month, Malaysia said it was considering pulling out of a regional soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar over the Rohingya crackdown, but ministers later decided against this.

Such a withdrawal from the ASEAN Football Federation&#39;s Suzuki Cup would have run counter to the 10-nation grouping&#39;s long-standing policy of non-interference in other members&#39; affairs.

Myanmar&#39;s membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should be reviewed because of the &quot;cruelty&quot; imposed on its ethnic Muslim community, Malaysia&#39;s sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Wednesday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to attend a gathering on Sunday to express concern over the Rohingya issue.

(Agencies)

Malaysia's protest comes as Rohingya Muslims flee to Bangladesh amid the most violence they've faced since clashes in 2012 killed hundreds

Malaysia's national soccer team has cancelled two friendly under-22 matches with Myanmar, in protest against the Southeast Asian nation's bloody crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a team spokesman said on Thursday. Muslim-majority Malaysia has been increasingly critical of Myanmar's handling of violence in northern Rakhine state that has sent hundreds of people fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, amid allegations of abuses by security forces. The violence is the most serious bloodshed in Rakhine since communal clashes in 2012 that killed hundreds. Referring to the cancellation of the games set for later this month, the spokesman told Reuters, "It was a political decision because of the Rohingya issue." He declined to be identified because the topic is a sensitive one. In a posting on social network Twitter on Wednesday, national football team Harimau Malaysia said, "International matches between under-22 Harimau Malaysia vs Myanmar, which were scheduled to take place on Dec. 9 and 12 in Yangon, have been cancelled." Last month, Malaysia said it was considering pulling out of a regional soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar over the Rohingya crackdown, but ministers later decided against this. Such a withdrawal from the ASEAN Football Federation's Suzuki Cup would have run counter to the 10-nation grouping's long-standing policy of non-interference in other members' affairs. Myanmar's membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should be reviewed because of the "cruelty" imposed on its ethnic Muslim community, Malaysia's sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Wednesday. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to attend a gathering on Sunday to express concern over the Rohingya issue. (Agencies)

Malaysia cancels two soccer matches with Myanmar over Rohingya crackdown

Tragedy struck Myanmar&rsquo;s Rohingya Muslim refugees on Friday night when a massive fire engulfed their shanties leaving four people including three children dead and reducing their colony to ashes at the Narwal area of Jammu.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered an enquiry to find out the cause of the fire.

The incident occurred on Friday night when the refugees were in deep sleep. Fire emanated from one of the shanties and within no time, flames engulfed the entire colony. Four people, including three children and a woman, were charred to death as they could not be rescued as huge flames were shooting up into the air.&nbsp;

Nearly 70 shanties were reduced to ashes.

Deputy inspector general of police, Jammu-Kathua range, Ashkoor Wani told DNA that the fire started at around 1 am and engulfed the entire juggies. &ldquo;Four people have died and five are injured. All of them are from Myanmar&rdquo;, he said.

District development commissioner of Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said the plot of land was rented out by a local on which they had set up juggies. &ldquo;It was not a colony. They (Rohingyas) were kept on rent by a private person&rdquo;, he said.

Singh said an enquiry has been launched to find out the cause of the fire. &ldquo;Action will be taken against the person who had kept them on rent&rdquo;, he said.

Statistics reveal more than 5,000 Rohingya refugees are living in different parts of Jammu. Data available reveals there are 1,219 Rohingya families -- comprising 5,107 members -- staying in Jammu district.

Official figures reveal as many as 14 Rohingya Muslims, who are living as refugees in Jammu, have married the locals. Information provided in the state&#39;s legislative assembly recently revealed that the state is playing host to as many as 13384 foreigners.&nbsp;

Ladakh region, Jammu and Samba districts are the main areas where the foreigners, mostly Tibetan refugees, live. 10 of these refugees are being held in jails under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and three of them are facing trial.

Figures reveal that around 36,000 Rohingyas are living in different parts of the country after they fled the persecution in Myanmar.

(WION) 
&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered an enquiry to find out the cause of the fire

Tragedy struck Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim refugees on Friday night when a massive fire engulfed their shanties leaving four people including three children dead and reducing their colony to ashes at the Narwal area of Jammu. The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered an enquiry to find out the cause of the fire. The incident occurred on Friday night when the refugees were in deep sleep. Fire emanated from one of the shanties and within no time, flames engulfed the entire colony. Four people, including three children and a woman, were charred to death as they could not be rescued as huge flames were shooting up into the air. Nearly 70 shanties were reduced to ashes. Deputy inspector general of police, Jammu-Kathua range, Ashkoor Wani told DNA that the fire started at around 1 am and engulfed the entire juggies. “Four people have died and five are injured. All of them are from Myanmar”, he said. District development commissioner of Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said the plot of land was rented out by a local on which they had set up juggies. “It was not a colony. They (Rohingyas) were kept on rent by a private person”, he said. Singh said an enquiry has been launched to find out the cause of the fire. “Action will be taken against the person who had kept them on rent”, he said. Statistics reveal more than 5,000 Rohingya refugees are living in different parts of Jammu. Data available reveals there are 1,219 Rohingya families -- comprising 5,107 members -- staying in Jammu district. Official figures reveal as many as 14 Rohingya Muslims, who are living as refugees in Jammu, have married the locals. Information provided in the state's legislative assembly recently revealed that the state is playing host to as many as 13384 foreigners. Ladakh region, Jammu and Samba districts are the main areas where the foreigners, mostly Tibetan refugees, live. 10 of these refugees are being held in jails under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and three of them are facing trial. Figures reveal that around 36,000 Rohingyas are living in different parts of the country after they fled the persecution in Myanmar. (WION)

Jammu: 3 Rohingya refugees killed, 70 slums gutted in fire

Myanmar is carrying out &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of Rohingya Muslims, a UN official has reportedly said, as horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Up to 30,000 of the impoverished ethnic group have abandoned their homes in Myanmar to escape the unfolding violence, the UN says, after troops poured into the narrow strip where they live earlier this month.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

&nbsp;

John McKissick, head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in the Bangladeshi border town of Cox&#39;s Bazar, told the BBC that troops were &quot;killing men, shooting them, slaughtering children, raping women, burning and looting houses, forcing these people to cross the river&quot; into Bangladesh.

Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering.

&quot;It&#39;s very difficult for the Bangladeshi government to say the border is open because this would further encourage the government of Myanmar to continue the atrocities and push them out until they have achieved their ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar,&quot; McKissick said.

A spokesman for Myanmar President Htin Kyaw slammed the comments. &nbsp;

&#39;&#39;I would like to question the professionalism and ethics which should be followed and respected by UN staff. He should speak based on concrete and true facts, he shouldn&#39;t make accusations,&quot; Zaw Htay told AFP.

It&#39;s not the first time such claims have been made against Myanmar.&nbsp;

In April 2013 Human Rights Watch said it was conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya - an accusation rejected by then president Thein Sein as a &quot;smear campaign&quot;.

&#39;They shot my wife&#39;

But the scale of human suffering was becoming clear on Thursday, as desperate people like Mohammad Ayaz told how troops attacked his village and killed his pregnant wife.

Cradling his two-year-old son, he said troops killed at least 300 men in the village market and gang-raped dozens of women before setting fire to around 300 houses, Muslim-owned shops and the mosque where he served as imam.

&quot;They shot dead my wife, Jannatun Naim. She was 25 and seven months pregnant. I took refuge at a canal with my two-year-old son, who was hit by a rifle butt,&quot; Ayaz told AFP.&nbsp;

Ayaz sold his watch and shoes to pay for the journey and has taken shelter at a camp for unregistered Rohingya refugees.

Many of those seeking shelter say they walked for days and used rickety boats to cross into Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of registered Rohingya refugees have been living for decades.

The Rohingya are loathed by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar who see them as illegal immigrants and call them &quot;Bengali&quot;, even though many have lived there for generations.

Most live in impoverished western Rakhine state, but are denied citizenship and smothered by restrictions on movement and work.

As the crisis deepened, Bangladesh said Wednesday it had summoned Myanmar&#39;s ambassador to express &quot;deep concern&quot;.

&quot;Despite our border guards&#39; sincere effort to prevent the influx, thousands of distressed Myanmar citizens including women, children and elderly people continue to cross (the) border into Bangladesh,&quot; it said. &nbsp;

&quot;Thousands more have been reported to be gathering at the border crossing.&quot;

Torture and rape

Since the latest violence flared up, Bangladesh border guards have intensified patrols and coast guards have deployed extra ships. Officials say they have stopped around a thousand Rohingya at the border since Monday.

Farmer Deen Mohammad was among the thousands who evaded the patrols, sneaking into the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf four days ago with his wife, two of their children and three other families.

&quot;They (Myanmar&#39;s military) took my two boys, aged nine and 12 when they entered my village. I don&#39;t know what happened to them,&quot; Mohammad, 50, told AFP.

&quot;They took women in rooms and then locked them from inside. Up to 50 women and girls of our village were tortured and raped.&quot;

Mohammad said houses in his village were burned, echoing similar testimony from other recent arrivals.

Human Rights Watch said this week it had identified more than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages that had been razed in northwestern Myanmar using satellite images.

Myanmar&#39;s military has denied burning villages and even blamed the Rohingya themselves.

Rohingya community leaders said hundreds of families had taken shelter in camps in the border towns of Teknaf and Ukhia, many hiding for fear they would be sent back to Myanmar.

Police on Wednesday detained 70 Rohingya, including women and children, who they say will be sent back across the border.

&quot;They handcuffed even young girls and children and then took them away with a view to pushing them back to Myanmar,&quot; said one community leader who asked not to be named, adding they faced &quot;certain death&quot; if made to return.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder have emerged from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh

Myanmar is carrying out "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims, a UN official has reportedly said, as horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh. Up to 30,000 of the impoverished ethnic group have abandoned their homes in Myanmar to escape the unfolding violence, the UN says, after troops poured into the narrow strip where they live earlier this month. Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering × John McKissick, head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in the Bangladeshi border town of Cox's Bazar, told the BBC that troops were "killing men, shooting them, slaughtering children, raping women, burning and looting houses, forcing these people to cross the river" into Bangladesh. Dhaka has resisted urgent international appeals to open its border to avert a humanitarian crisis, instead telling Myanmar it must do more to prevent the stateless Rohingya minority from entering. "It's very difficult for the Bangladeshi government to say the border is open because this would further encourage the government of Myanmar to continue the atrocities and push them out until they have achieved their ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar," McKissick said. A spokesman for Myanmar President Htin Kyaw slammed the comments. ''I would like to question the professionalism and ethics which should be followed and respected by UN staff. He should speak based on concrete and true facts, he shouldn't make accusations," Zaw Htay told AFP. It's not the first time such claims have been made against Myanmar. In April 2013 Human Rights Watch said it was conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya - an accusation rejected by then president Thein Sein as a "smear campaign". 'They shot my wife' But the scale of human suffering was becoming clear on Thursday, as desperate people like Mohammad Ayaz told how troops attacked his village and killed his pregnant wife. Cradling his two-year-old son, he said troops killed at least 300 men in the village market and gang-raped dozens of women before setting fire to around 300 houses, Muslim-owned shops and the mosque where he served as imam. "They shot dead my wife, Jannatun Naim. She was 25 and seven months pregnant. I took refuge at a canal with my two-year-old son, who was hit by a rifle butt," Ayaz told AFP. Ayaz sold his watch and shoes to pay for the journey and has taken shelter at a camp for unregistered Rohingya refugees. Many of those seeking shelter say they walked for days and used rickety boats to cross into Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of registered Rohingya refugees have been living for decades. The Rohingya are loathed by many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar who see them as illegal immigrants and call them "Bengali", even though many have lived there for generations. Most live in impoverished western Rakhine state, but are denied citizenship and smothered by restrictions on movement and work. As the crisis deepened, Bangladesh said Wednesday it had summoned Myanmar's ambassador to express "deep concern". "Despite our border guards' sincere effort to prevent the influx, thousands of distressed Myanmar citizens including women, children and elderly people continue to cross (the) border into Bangladesh," it said. "Thousands more have been reported to be gathering at the border crossing." Torture and rape Since the latest violence flared up, Bangladesh border guards have intensified patrols and coast guards have deployed extra ships. Officials say they have stopped around a thousand Rohingya at the border since Monday. Farmer Deen Mohammad was among the thousands who evaded the patrols, sneaking into the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf four days ago with his wife, two of their children and three other families. "They (Myanmar's military) took my two boys, aged nine and 12 when they entered my village. I don't know what happened to them," Mohammad, 50, told AFP. "They took women in rooms and then locked them from inside. Up to 50 women and girls of our village were tortured and raped." Mohammad said houses in his village were burned, echoing similar testimony from other recent arrivals. Human Rights Watch said this week it had identified more than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages that had been razed in northwestern Myanmar using satellite images. Myanmar's military has denied burning villages and even blamed the Rohingya themselves. Rohingya community leaders said hundreds of families had taken shelter in camps in the border towns of Teknaf and Ukhia, many hiding for fear they would be sent back to Myanmar. Police on Wednesday detained 70 Rohingya, including women and children, who they say will be sent back across the border. "They handcuffed even young girls and children and then took them away with a view to pushing them back to Myanmar," said one community leader who asked not to be named, adding they faced "certain death" if made to return. (AFP)

Myanmar pursuing 'ethnic cleansing' of Rohingya: UN official

More than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages have been razed in northwestern Myanmar, according to an analysis of satellite images from Human Rights Watch released on Monday that fly in the face of government denials.

Troops have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since a series of coordinated and deadly attacks on police border posts last month.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Myanmar&#39;s new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by &#39;terrorists&#39;</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Myanmar's new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by 'terrorists'" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

&nbsp;

Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, according to the UN, half of them over a two-day period when dozens died after the military brought in helicopter gunships.

Security forces have killed almost 70 people and arrested more than 400 since the lockdown began six weeks ago, according to state media reports, but activists say the number could be far higher.

Hundreds of Rohingya, who have long been persecuted by the state, have tried to flee the violence to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Witnesses and activists have reported troops killing Rohingya, raping women and looting and burning their houses but the government has refused to allow in international observers to investigate.&nbsp;

Instead, Myanmar&#39;s new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by &quot;terrorists&quot;.

Independently verifying facts on the ground has been hampered by significant restrictions placed on journalists and aid agencies reaching the area. &nbsp;

But evidence of the&nbsp;widespread destruction to villages is mounting.&nbsp;

Human Rights Watch said Monday it had identified 820 more structures that had been destroyed in five Rohingya villages between November 10-18 using satellite imagery.

In total, the rights group said its analysis showed 1,250 buildings had been destroyed during the military lockdown.

&quot;Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts,&quot; said HRW&#39;s Asia director Brad Adams.

The government has said fewer than 300 houses have been destroyed in attacks by militants who want to &quot;sow a seed of misunderstanding between the government troops and the people&quot;.

The resurgence of violence in western Rakhine state has deepened a crisis that already posed a critical challenge to Suu Kyi&#39;s administration seven months after it took power.

More than 100 people died in 2012 in clashes between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya, and tens of thousands of them were driven into displacement camps.

On Friday, the UN&#39;s special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, criticised the government&#39;s handling of the crisis and called for &quot;urgent action&quot; to protect civilians.

&quot;The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations,&quot; she said in a statement.

(AFP)

Witnesses and activists have reported troops killing Rohingya, raping women, and looting and burning their houses

More than 1,000 houses in Rohingya villages have been razed in northwestern Myanmar, according to an analysis of satellite images from Human Rights Watch released on Monday that fly in the face of government denials. Troops have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since a series of coordinated and deadly attacks on police border posts last month. Myanmar's new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by 'terrorists' × Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, according to the UN, half of them over a two-day period when dozens died after the military brought in helicopter gunships. Security forces have killed almost 70 people and arrested more than 400 since the lockdown began six weeks ago, according to state media reports, but activists say the number could be far higher. Hundreds of Rohingya, who have long been persecuted by the state, have tried to flee the violence to neighbouring Bangladesh. Witnesses and activists have reported troops killing Rohingya, raping women and looting and burning their houses but the government has refused to allow in international observers to investigate. Instead, Myanmar's new administration, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has dismissed the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by "terrorists". Independently verifying facts on the ground has been hampered by significant restrictions placed on journalists and aid agencies reaching the area. But evidence of the widespread destruction to villages is mounting. Human Rights Watch said Monday it had identified 820 more structures that had been destroyed in five Rohingya villages between November 10-18 using satellite imagery. In total, the rights group said its analysis showed 1,250 buildings had been destroyed during the military lockdown. "Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams. The government has said fewer than 300 houses have been destroyed in attacks by militants who want to "sow a seed of misunderstanding between the government troops and the people". The resurgence of violence in western Rakhine state has deepened a crisis that already posed a critical challenge to Suu Kyi's administration seven months after it took power. More than 100 people died in 2012 in clashes between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya, and tens of thousands of them were driven into displacement camps. On Friday, the UN's special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, criticised the government's handling of the crisis and called for "urgent action" to protect civilians. "The security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations," she said in a statement. (AFP)

Over 1,000 Rohingya homes razed in Myanmar's Rakhine: HRW

At least 28 insurgents were killed over two days of fighting in western Rakhine state on Sunday, Myanmar&#39;s military said.&nbsp;

The military said 22 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died and another six killed were killed elsewhere.

&nbsp;Rohingya activists uploaded a video late Saturday which showed eight corpses dressed in civilian clothes, including a small baby.&nbsp;

The narrator, speaking in Rohingya said the victims were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village, some bodies riddled with bullets.&nbsp;

According to AFP, the authenticity of the video could not be verified.&nbsp;

The latest clashes come&nbsp;after satellite images released by Human Rights Watch showed more than 400 buildings torched in three Rohingya villages.&nbsp;

Brad Adams, the group&#39;s Asia director, said the new photos showed &quot;widespread destruction&quot; that was &quot;greater than we first thought&quot;.

&quot;Burmese authorities should promptly establish a UN-assisted investigation as a first step toward ensuring justice and security for the victims,&quot; he said in a statement.

The government and the military denied any involvement and accused the Rohingya&#39;s.&nbsp;

The region is home to Rohingya Muslims, who are in conflict with the majority Buddhists.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The military said 28 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died

At least 28 insurgents were killed over two days of fighting in western Rakhine state on Sunday, Myanmar's military said. The military said 22 insurgents were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village after they attacked soldiers of which two died and another six killed were killed elsewhere. Rohingya activists uploaded a video late Saturday which showed eight corpses dressed in civilian clothes, including a small baby. The narrator, speaking in Rohingya said the victims were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village, some bodies riddled with bullets. According to AFP, the authenticity of the video could not be verified. The latest clashes come after satellite images released by Human Rights Watch showed more than 400 buildings torched in three Rohingya villages. Brad Adams, the group's Asia director, said the new photos showed "widespread destruction" that was "greater than we first thought". "Burmese authorities should promptly establish a UN-assisted investigation as a first step toward ensuring justice and security for the victims," he said in a statement. The government and the military denied any involvement and accused the Rohingya's. The region is home to Rohingya Muslims, who are in conflict with the majority Buddhists. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Myanmar: Dozens killed in fresh clash in Rakhine

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

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

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

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

Myanmar&#39;s state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Wednesday became country&#39;s first civilian leader in over five decades to address the UN General Assembly.&nbsp; 
 
Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, without referring to the Rohingyas by name, spoke about the situation in Rakhine state where tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are living in poor conditions in makeshift camps. The persecution of the minority community has drawn world&#39;s attention.&nbsp; 
 
Suu Kyi,who has been criticised for ignoring the plight of the Rohingyas, defended her government by saying that Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state. Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short and long-term programmes aimed at promoting understanding and trust.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
She also pointed out that she had appointed former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to chair a commission which will look into the issue.&nbsp; 
 
Suu Kyi also insisted, according to international news agency Reuters, that her government faced &quot;persistent opposition from some quarters&quot; to the establishment of the commission.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person,&quot; she added.&nbsp; 
 
She also spoke on the issue of migration, saying lack of peace and development forced people to migrate. And terrorism is also born out of lack of social and economic security which forces youths to be enamored by ideologies which promise security.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;&quot;We also need to consider the possibility that lack of purpose, of a sense of direction in life, could also be a force that drives many, especially the young into the snare of ideologies that appear to offer certainty.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about the situation in Rakhine state where thousands of Rohingyas are living

Myanmar's state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Wednesday became country's first civilian leader in over five decades to address the UN General Assembly. Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, without referring to the Rohingyas by name, spoke about the situation in Rakhine state where tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are living in poor conditions in makeshift camps. The persecution of the minority community has drawn world's attention. Suu Kyi,who has been criticised for ignoring the plight of the Rohingyas, defended her government by saying that Myanmar does not fear international scrutiny. "We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within the state. Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short and long-term programmes aimed at promoting understanding and trust." She also pointed out that she had appointed former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to chair a commission which will look into the issue. Suu Kyi also insisted, according to international news agency Reuters, that her government faced "persistent opposition from some quarters" to the establishment of the commission. "By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person," she added. She also spoke on the issue of migration, saying lack of peace and development forced people to migrate. And terrorism is also born out of lack of social and economic security which forces youths to be enamored by ideologies which promise security. "We also need to consider the possibility that lack of purpose, of a sense of direction in life, could also be a force that drives many, especially the young into the snare of ideologies that appear to offer certainty." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Myanmar's first civilian leader addresses UN in over 50 years

Hundreds of Buddhist hardliners rallied against the former United Nations chief Kofi Annan who visited the Rakhine state of Myanmar today to find a sustainable solution to the religious conflict between the country&#39;s Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.&nbsp; 
 
Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh, has been fraught with religious and ethnic tensions since 2012 when violence between the Rakhine Buddhists and the minority muslim community first flared up. 
 
The conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, who have been denied citizenship and are not identified as ethnic Muslim minorities.&nbsp; 
 
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the country as state counselor and foreign minister since March, has drawn criticism for not being able to alleviate the Rohingya plight. Questions have also been raised on her stance on human rights. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the country as state counselor and foreign minister since March, has drawn criticism for not being able to alleviate the Rohingya plight. She had asked Kofi Annan to lead the&nbsp;advisory commission.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the country as state counselor and foreign minister since March, has drawn criticism for not being able to alleviate the Rohingya plight. She had asked Kofi Annan to lead an advisory commission. " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
 
Suu Kyi had asked Annan to lead an advisory commission. The protesters denounced the panel and even followed the convoy into the town where Annan will deliver a speech during his two-day visit in the capital state Sittwe. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;I don&#39;t want to see foreigners involved in this commission. I want to see a commission involving people of the Rakhine nationality,&quot; Kyaw Zin Wai, a 52-year-old carpenter told Reuters, adding that the two ethnic Rakhine commission members were not &quot;representative&quot; of people in the state.&nbsp; 
 
The protest was called by some leaders in the state&#39;s powerful Arakan National Party (ANP), which has criticised the commission, insisting that foreigners cannot understand the history of the area, according to Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We want him to come,&quot; Hla Kyaw, a Rohingya man living in The Chaung IDP camp, told AFP.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;If he comes, we will raise the issue of our citizenship status and our plight of staying in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps for four years,&quot; he added. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Buddhist hardliners rallied against an advisory commission that aims to find a sustainable solution between them and Rohingya Muslims

Hundreds of Buddhist hardliners rallied against the former United Nations chief Kofi Annan who visited the Rakhine state of Myanmar today to find a sustainable solution to the religious conflict between the country's Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh, has been fraught with religious and ethnic tensions since 2012 when violence between the Rakhine Buddhists and the minority muslim community first flared up. The conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, who have been denied citizenship and are not identified as ethnic Muslim minorities. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the country as state counselor and foreign minister since March, has drawn criticism for not being able to alleviate the Rohingya plight. Questions have also been raised on her stance on human rights. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the country as state counselor and foreign minister since March, has drawn criticism for not being able to alleviate the Rohingya plight. She had asked Kofi Annan to lead the advisory commission. Suu Kyi had asked Annan to lead an advisory commission. The protesters denounced the panel and even followed the convoy into the town where Annan will deliver a speech during his two-day visit in the capital state Sittwe. "I don't want to see foreigners involved in this commission. I want to see a commission involving people of the Rakhine nationality," Kyaw Zin Wai, a 52-year-old carpenter told Reuters, adding that the two ethnic Rakhine commission members were not "representative" of people in the state. The protest was called by some leaders in the state's powerful Arakan National Party (ANP), which has criticised the commission, insisting that foreigners cannot understand the history of the area, according to Reuters. "We want him to come," Hla Kyaw, a Rohingya man living in The Chaung IDP camp, told AFP. "If he comes, we will raise the issue of our citizenship status and our plight of staying in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps for four years," he added. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Myanmar Buddhists protest against ex-UN chief Kofi Annan's peace mission

Myanmar is cracking down on Buddhist extremism, aiming to curb ethnic and religious tension that saw two mosques destroyed and scores of Muslim residents fleeing their villages in recent weeks. 
 
Nobel Peace Prize winner and government leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under criticism from human rights activists and lawyers for not cracking down on the perpetrators of the attacks aimed at the Muslim minority. 
 
In an apparent response to the criticism, the government has made a surprisingly decisive move against an organisation of radical nationalist monks, known as the Ma Ba Tha, threatening legal action if it spread hate speech and incites violence. 
 
Today the government launched a taskforce to prevent violent protests as part of a broader push to stop religious violence. 
 
Religious tension simmered in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012 in the west of the country into clashes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. 
 
Violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other areas followed in 2013 and 2014. 
 
President Htin Kyaw said in a statement the taskforce will not only move against violent protesters, but also investigate and hold accountable anyone inciting violence. 
 
&quot;We do not want to disturb peaceful protests, but we do not allow violence while protesting,&quot; said Zaw Htay, spokesman of the state councillor&#39;s office occupied by Suu Kyi. 
 
A government-appointed body that oversees Myanmar&#39;s Buddhist monkhood, the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, issued a statement this week, saying it had never endorsed the nationalist and anti-Muslim Ma Ba Tha. 
 
In June, a group of 200 villagers destroyed a mosque and injured a Muslim man in central Myanmar after a dispute over the construction of a Muslim school. 
 
In a separate incident in northern Myanmar in early July, nearly 500 Buddhists burned down a Muslim prayer hall. Police arrested five in connection with the attack, media said. 
 
In both incidents, Muslim residents fled from their homes fearing more widespread violence. 
 
Some 125,000 Rohingya Muslims displaced by the 2012 violence remain in camps in the west. 
 
(Reuters)

Myanmar has threatened legal action against radical Buddhist organisation, Ma Ba Tha, if it spreads hate speech and incites violence

Myanmar is cracking down on Buddhist extremism, aiming to curb ethnic and religious tension that saw two mosques destroyed and scores of Muslim residents fleeing their villages in recent weeks. Nobel Peace Prize winner and government leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under criticism from human rights activists and lawyers for not cracking down on the perpetrators of the attacks aimed at the Muslim minority. In an apparent response to the criticism, the government has made a surprisingly decisive move against an organisation of radical nationalist monks, known as the Ma Ba Tha, threatening legal action if it spread hate speech and incites violence. Today the government launched a taskforce to prevent violent protests as part of a broader push to stop religious violence. Religious tension simmered in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012 in the west of the country into clashes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. Violence between Muslims and Buddhists in other areas followed in 2013 and 2014. President Htin Kyaw said in a statement the taskforce will not only move against violent protesters, but also investigate and hold accountable anyone inciting violence. "We do not want to disturb peaceful protests, but we do not allow violence while protesting," said Zaw Htay, spokesman of the state councillor's office occupied by Suu Kyi. A government-appointed body that oversees Myanmar's Buddhist monkhood, the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, issued a statement this week, saying it had never endorsed the nationalist and anti-Muslim Ma Ba Tha. In June, a group of 200 villagers destroyed a mosque and injured a Muslim man in central Myanmar after a dispute over the construction of a Muslim school. In a separate incident in northern Myanmar in early July, nearly 500 Buddhists burned down a Muslim prayer hall. Police arrested five in connection with the attack, media said. In both incidents, Muslim residents fled from their homes fearing more widespread violence. Some 125,000 Rohingya Muslims displaced by the 2012 violence remain in camps in the west. (Reuters)

After violence, Myanmar moves to curb religious extremism

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has a moral responsibility to try to ease tensions between majority Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims, her fellow Nobel laureate, the Dalai Lama, said on Monday. 
 
The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had stressed the issue in meetings with Suu Kyi, who came to power in April in the newly created role of state counselor in Myanmar&#39;s first democratically elected government in five decades. 
 
&quot;She already has the Nobel Peace Prize, a Nobel Laureate, so morally she should ... make efforts to reduce this tension between the Buddhist community and Muslim community,&quot; he told Reuters in an interview in Washington. 
 
&quot;I actually told her she should speak more openly.&quot; 
 
Violence between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims in recent years has cast a cloud over progress with democratic reforms in Myanmar. Rights groups have sharply criticized Suu Kyi&#39;s reluctance to speak out on the Rohingya&#39;s plight. 
 
The Dalai Lama said Suu Kyi, who won worldwide acclaim and a Nobel Peace Prize as a champion of democratic change in the face of military persecution, had responded to his calls by saying that the situation was &quot;really complicated&quot;. 
 
&quot;So I don&rsquo;t know,&quot; he said. 
 
There is widespread hostility towards Rohingya Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country, including among some within Suu Kyi&#39;s party and its supporters. 
 
More than 100 people were killed in violence in western Rakhine state in 2012, and some 125,000 Rohingya Muslims, who are stateless, took refuge in camps where their movements are severely restricted. 
 
Thousands have fled persecution and poverty in an exodus by boat to neighboring South and Southeast Asian countries. 
 
The Dalai Lama said some Buddhist monks in Myanmar &quot;seem to have some kind of negative attitude to Muslims&quot; and Buddhists who harbored such thoughts &quot;should remember Buddha&#39;s face&quot;. 
 
&quot;If Buddha happened, he certainly would protect those Muslim brothers and sisters,&quot; he said. 
 
The new Myanmar government announced late last month that Aung San Suu Kyi would lead a new effort to bring peace and development to Rakhine State. 
 
The announcement offered no details on how the group would go about addressing the state&#39;s multitude of problems. 
 
Suu Kyi said during a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry last month that the country needed &quot;enough space&quot; to deal with the Rohingya issue, and cautioned against the use of &quot;emotive terms&quot; that she said were making the situation more difficult.

He urges for open speech about the violence between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims hampering the country's democratic reforms

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has a moral responsibility to try to ease tensions between majority Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims, her fellow Nobel laureate, the Dalai Lama, said on Monday. The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had stressed the issue in meetings with Suu Kyi, who came to power in April in the newly created role of state counselor in Myanmar's first democratically elected government in five decades. "She already has the Nobel Peace Prize, a Nobel Laureate, so morally she should ... make efforts to reduce this tension between the Buddhist community and Muslim community," he told Reuters in an interview in Washington. "I actually told her she should speak more openly." Violence between majority Buddhists and minority Muslims in recent years has cast a cloud over progress with democratic reforms in Myanmar. Rights groups have sharply criticized Suu Kyi's reluctance to speak out on the Rohingya's plight. The Dalai Lama said Suu Kyi, who won worldwide acclaim and a Nobel Peace Prize as a champion of democratic change in the face of military persecution, had responded to his calls by saying that the situation was "really complicated". "So I don’t know," he said. There is widespread hostility towards Rohingya Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country, including among some within Suu Kyi's party and its supporters. More than 100 people were killed in violence in western Rakhine state in 2012, and some 125,000 Rohingya Muslims, who are stateless, took refuge in camps where their movements are severely restricted. Thousands have fled persecution and poverty in an exodus by boat to neighboring South and Southeast Asian countries. The Dalai Lama said some Buddhist monks in Myanmar "seem to have some kind of negative attitude to Muslims" and Buddhists who harbored such thoughts "should remember Buddha's face". "If Buddha happened, he certainly would protect those Muslim brothers and sisters," he said. The new Myanmar government announced late last month that Aung San Suu Kyi would lead a new effort to bring peace and development to Rakhine State. The announcement offered no details on how the group would go about addressing the state's multitude of problems. Suu Kyi said during a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry last month that the country needed "enough space" to deal with the Rohingya issue, and cautioned against the use of "emotive terms" that she said were making the situation more difficult.

Myanmar leader Suu Kyi has a moral responsibility to ease Rohingya tensions, says Dalai Lama