Bangladesh is set to move a second batch of Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar to the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal this month, officials said on Sunday, despite calls by rights groups not to carry out further relocations.

Bangladesh set to move second batch of Rohingya refugees

1,600 Rohingya refugees now have a new home in Bangladesh's Bhasan Char, but some international organizations are slamming Bangladesh for relocating them.

Bangladesh begins transfer of Rohingyas to Bhasan Char Island

1,600 Rohingyas refugees now have a new home in Bangladesh's Bhasin Char, but some international organizations are slamming Bangladesh for relocating the Rohingyas. Should they be doing so? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Bangladesh relocates 1,600 Rohingya refugees

International organisations are slamming Bangladesh for relocating nearly 1600 Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazar to the island of Bhasan Char. Are they right in doing so?

In 2017 after the Rohinga crackdown, Bangladesh welcomed the families that had fled genocide in Myanmar. 3 years on, when Bangladesh is trying to relocate them to a planned shelter should foreign agencies be complaining?

In Bangla, Bhasan Char means a floating island. At least 1,600 Rohingya refugees have sailed here from Chittagong, after a 160-km bus ride from Cox's Bazar where they have been camping for years.

The govt of Bangladesh has spent USD 12 million to develop infrastructure in Bhasan Char. It hopes that the island will eventually host 100,000 refugees. Shelters, dams, education and healthcare facilities have been set up for them.

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But the efforts are not exactly being celebrated. Some international organisations say Rohingyas are being moved to Bhasan char without their consent. They are also pointing at the island's distance from the mainland.&nbsp;

The govt of Bangladesh maintains that despite being 21 miles from the mainland, Bhasan Char has sufficient facilities and livelihood options. Adding that the relocation is aimed at avoiding overcrowding in Cox's Bazar. What about the Rohingyas? &nbsp;Were they happy in leaving their Cox's Bazar shelters?

"We are not happy at the camps. If we go back to Myanmar, we may have our people but we don't have anything there to prove our citizenship. So, we didn't agree to go back. We heard from seniors as well as the television that we'll get much more facilities at Bhashan char," said Boni Adam, a Rohingya refugee

Cox's Bazar happens to be among Bangladesh's most vulnerable areas. The camps there have become unhygienic and unsafe. There is no planning, just abundant crime.

The situation has been worsened by contamination and mismanagement of water. The Bhasan Char, on the other hand, is well-santised, well-protected, and has abundant space. 700,000 Rohingyas fled myanmar in 2017 following a military-led genocide. Bangladesh has been hosting the refugees since.

In 2019, Bangladesh's foreign minister said - that his govt spends 3.6 billion dollars annually in providing for the Rohingyas.

Dhaka is now looking at improving the living conditions and also making their lives more sustainable. Should people on the outside be complaining? When those shifting homes aren't all that skeptical?

"The Bangladesh government has given us assurance of a better life there - they will give us a good environment, food and shelter - and so we are going there. In the Kutupalong camps, there are eight to ten lakh (800,000 to 1 million) people living in bad conditions, so crowded. So to get rid of that situation we are going," said a refugee.

There is a sense of a new beginning on the ground at Bhasan Char. Bangladesh will eventually let international organisations visit the island. Starting afresh is never easy, especially for a community that has seen so much and lost so much. But it is never too late.

International organisations are slamming Bangladesh for relocating nearly 1600 Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazar to the island of Bhasan Char. Are they right in doing so?

International organisations are slamming Bangladesh for relocating nearly 1600 Rohingya refugees from Cox's Bazar to the island of Bhasan Char. Are they right in doing so? In 2017 after the Rohinga crackdown, Bangladesh welcomed the families that had fled genocide in Myanmar. 3 years on, when Bangladesh is trying to relocate them to a planned shelter should foreign agencies be complaining? In Bangla, Bhasan Char means a floating island. At least 1,600 Rohingya refugees have sailed here from Chittagong, after a 160-km bus ride from Cox's Bazar where they have been camping for years. The govt of Bangladesh has spent USD 12 million to develop infrastructure in Bhasan Char. It hopes that the island will eventually host 100,000 refugees. Shelters, dams, education and healthcare facilities have been set up for them. WATCH| × But the efforts are not exactly being celebrated. Some international organisations say Rohingyas are being moved to Bhasan char without their consent. They are also pointing at the island's distance from the mainland. The govt of Bangladesh maintains that despite being 21 miles from the mainland, Bhasan Char has sufficient facilities and livelihood options. Adding that the relocation is aimed at avoiding overcrowding in Cox's Bazar. What about the Rohingyas? Were they happy in leaving their Cox's Bazar shelters? "We are not happy at the camps. If we go back to Myanmar, we may have our people but we don't have anything there to prove our citizenship. So, we didn't agree to go back. We heard from seniors as well as the television that we'll get much more facilities at Bhashan char," said Boni Adam, a Rohingya refugee Cox's Bazar happens to be among Bangladesh's most vulnerable areas. The camps there have become unhygienic and unsafe. There is no planning, just abundant crime. The situation has been worsened by contamination and mismanagement of water. The Bhasan Char, on the other hand, is well-santised, well-protected, and has abundant space. 700,000 Rohingyas fled myanmar in 2017 following a military-led genocide. Bangladesh has been hosting the refugees since. In 2019, Bangladesh's foreign minister said - that his govt spends 3.6 billion dollars annually in providing for the Rohingyas. Dhaka is now looking at improving the living conditions and also making their lives more sustainable. Should people on the outside be complaining? When those shifting homes aren't all that skeptical? "The Bangladesh government has given us assurance of a better life there - they will give us a good environment, food and shelter - and so we are going there. In the Kutupalong camps, there are eight to ten lakh (800,000 to 1 million) people living in bad conditions, so crowded. So to get rid of that situation we are going," said a refugee. There is a sense of a new beginning on the ground at Bhasan Char. Bangladesh will eventually let international organisations visit the island. Starting afresh is never easy, especially for a community that has seen so much and lost so much. But it is never too late.

Bangladesh: Sense of new beginning as Rohingyas head to Bhasan Char island

In a development that is raising serious concerns amid human rights groups, Bangladesh have started transferring thousands of Rohingya refugees to a low-lying island prone to cyclone and floods.

WION Dispatch: Bangladesh begins relocation of refugees, first batch reaches Bhashan Char

WION Dispatch: Bangladesh transferring Rohingya refugees to island prone to cyclone and floods

As Myanmar gears up for its National Election on November 8, there is one subject that cannot be ignored- it's treatment of the Rohingya people. Over the decades, over 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh plans to relocate 100,000 people from Cox's Bazar (the world's largest refugee camp) to the remote #BhashanChar island. What is their relocation plan? What are the challenges? WION correspondent Lakmina Jesmin Soma brings you this ground report from Bangladesh on WION Wideangle.

WION Wideangle: Rohingya crisis: A ground report from Bangladesh

Over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees are stranded in Bangladesh. The government plans to relocate 100,000 people from Cox's Bazar (the world's largest refugee camp) to the remote #BhashanChar island. What is their relocation plan? What are the challenges? Watch a ground report from Bangladesh on WION Wideangle.

WION Wideangle: Rohingya Crisis | A ground report from Bangladesh

Britain on Thursday announced new funding for Rohingya refugees languishing in camps in Bangladesh after they fled ethnic violence in Myanmar, and urged other donors not to forget their plight at a UN conference.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab outlined a further £47.5 million ($63 million) in aid, both for the Rohingya and to help Bangladesh deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its frequent natural disasters.

The money was pledged as part of a virtual aid conference convening later Thursday, co-hosted by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Britain, the United States and the European Union.

"Today I urge the world not to turn away from the Rohingya's suffering and to take the action necessary to allow them to safely return to the homes they fled in terror," Raab said in a statement.

The UNHCR is appealing for more than $1 billion to meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees, 860,000 of whom are sheltering in sprawling camps across the Cox's Bazar district of southeastern Bangladesh, having fled across the border from Myanmar.

"The people living in Cox's Bazar face unimaginable hardship and many have been victims of violence," Raab said.

"We have imposed sanctions on the perpetrators of this brutality, and this new funding will save lives in the camp and help Bangladesh become more resilient to disasters such as coronavirus."&nbsp;

The Rohingya people are widely seen as illegal immigrants in Myanmar, denied citizenship and stripped of rights.

Hundreds of thousands fled across the border during a 2017 military offensive in Myanmar, for which its government faces genocide charges at the UN's top court.

Britain has sanctioned two Myanmar generals after a UN investigation found them responsible "for atrocities which amount to ethnic cleansing", according to the British foreign ministry's statement.

Britain on Thursday announced new funding for Rohingya refugees languishing in camps in Bangladesh after they fled ethnic violence in Myanmar, and urged other donors not to forget their plight at a UN conference.

Britain on Thursday announced new funding for Rohingya refugees languishing in camps in Bangladesh after they fled ethnic violence in Myanmar, and urged other donors not to forget their plight at a UN conference. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab outlined a further £47.5 million ($63 million) in aid, both for the Rohingya and to help Bangladesh deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its frequent natural disasters. The money was pledged as part of a virtual aid conference convening later Thursday, co-hosted by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Britain, the United States and the European Union. "Today I urge the world not to turn away from the Rohingya's suffering and to take the action necessary to allow them to safely return to the homes they fled in terror," Raab said in a statement. The UNHCR is appealing for more than $1 billion to meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees, 860,000 of whom are sheltering in sprawling camps across the Cox's Bazar district of southeastern Bangladesh, having fled across the border from Myanmar. "The people living in Cox's Bazar face unimaginable hardship and many have been victims of violence," Raab said. "We have imposed sanctions on the perpetrators of this brutality, and this new funding will save lives in the camp and help Bangladesh become more resilient to disasters such as coronavirus." The Rohingya people are widely seen as illegal immigrants in Myanmar, denied citizenship and stripped of rights. Hundreds of thousands fled across the border during a 2017 military offensive in Myanmar, for which its government faces genocide charges at the UN's top court. Britain has sanctioned two Myanmar generals after a UN investigation found them responsible "for atrocities which amount to ethnic cleansing", according to the British foreign ministry's statement.

UK gives USD 63 million for Rohingya refugees at UN aid meeting

The United Kingdom has announced a $63 million funding for Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh and urged the global community not to 'turn away from Rohingya's suffering'.

UK gives $63 mn for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is re-locating nearly 1,00,000 Rohingya Refugees to the Bhashan Char Island. WION's Lakmina Jesmin Soma brings you a ground report from Bangladesh.

Gravitas: Bangladesh is re-locating 1,00,000 Rohingya Refugees

Bangladesh is under renewed pressure from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to issue Bangladeshi passports to 54,000 Rohingyas living in that country for decades.

Rohingya in Saudi fear deportation: Dhaka and Riyadh in dispute over Rohingya

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually addressed the 75th UNGA. She went out to highlight the biggest refugee crisis.

Bangladesh PM highlights Rohingya crisis at UNGA

A delegation of 40 Rohingyas from the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar reaches Bhashan Char. The Rohingya leaders of the delegation will see with their own eyes what kind of facilities have been built in Bhashan Char or does the island looks like for living? Sources say the delegation included about 40 Rohingya leaders selected from each camp. They are scheduled to return to the Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp from Bhashan Char on September 8.

40 Rohingya refugees reach Bhashan Char to assess living conditions | Rohingya Refugee Relocation

The first batch of Rohingyas from the cramped camps of Cox’s Bazar is set to visit Bhashan Char. The place is 123km away from Bangladesh. The team of 40 Rohingyas includes local leaders and family members of the 306 Rohingya refugees already sheltered at Bhasan Char.

First Rohingya team of 40 Muslims to visit Bhasan Char

Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh AFP reported quoting officials said Sunday.

Bangladesh last year constructed facilities for 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, saying they needed to take the pressure off crowded border camps that are home to almost one million Rohingya, the report added.

The 28 Rohingya were taken to the island late Saturday instead of the camps as authorities were afraid they might be infected with the coronavirus, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told.

"Most likely they will stay there until they return to Myanmar."

They are the first group of Rohingya to be sent to the island, local government administrator Tanmoy Das told AFP, adding they were being looked after by navy personnel who had built the facilities.

Officials said the group -- including 15 women and five children -- were detained after coming ashore on Saturday from one of two boats suck at sea while trying to reach Malaysia.

Some 250 other refugees who also left the boat in six or seven dinghies have not been found, he added.

(With inputs from AFP)

Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh AFP reported quoting officials said Sunday.

Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh AFP reported quoting officials said Sunday. Bangladesh last year constructed facilities for 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, saying they needed to take the pressure off crowded border camps that are home to almost one million Rohingya, the report added. The 28 Rohingya were taken to the island late Saturday instead of the camps as authorities were afraid they might be infected with the coronavirus, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told. "Most likely they will stay there until they return to Myanmar." They are the first group of Rohingya to be sent to the island, local government administrator Tanmoy Das told AFP, adding they were being looked after by navy personnel who had built the facilities. Officials said the group -- including 15 women and five children -- were detained after coming ashore on Saturday from one of two boats suck at sea while trying to reach Malaysia. Some 250 other refugees who also left the boat in six or seven dinghies have not been found, he added. (With inputs from AFP)

Rohingya refugees relocated to controversial Bangladesh island after spending weeks at sea

At least 32 Rohingyas died with hundreds rescued in Bangladesh after a boat drifted for weeks as it was turned back from Malaysia, Bangladesh coast guard officials said on Thursday.&nbsp;

The coast guard officer Shah Zia Rahman said that about 250 women and children were among the 400 or so who were rescued late on Wednesday from the vessel off the Cox's Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/amid-growing-calls-of-coronavirus-spread-myanmar-decides-to-release-25000-prisoners-293128">Amid growing calls of coronavirus spread, Myanmar decides to release 25,000 prisoners</a>

"They were starving," he said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/coronavirus-south-asia-may-see-worst-economic-performance-in-40-years-says-wb-report-292127">Coronavirus: South Asia may see worst economic performance in 40 years, says WB report</a>

Rahman said that other survivors had told them that 32 people died on board with their bodies dumped in the sea and that the boat had tried to enter Malaysia and Thailand.

However, two other survivors claimed that 60 people who were on board died. &nbsp;

"There were more than 500 people onboard, jam-packed. At least 60 of us died in the boat. We held on board their funeral prayers and dropped their bodies in the sea," Survivor Anwarul Islam said.&nbsp;

"We barely had food, fresh water, and medicines."&nbsp;

Islam&nbsp;also said that the captain of their boat was also killed in a fight that broke out after he tried to rape one of the women.&nbsp;

Both Islam and another survivor Anwar Alam said that they tried to enter Thailand and Malaysia, but were denied entry and their voyage continued for two months and 18 days.&nbsp;

"We entered Malaysia (waters) three times but they didn't let us in. Many of us died in the heat and sweat. There were too many onboard, mostly women and children," Alam said.&nbsp;

Video images showed a crowd that mostly had women and children were unable to stand and being helped to shore. A very thin man was lying on the sand.

They were "extremely malnourished and dehydrated," the UN's refugee agency said.&nbsp;

Bangladesh media reports claimed that the Rohingyas were not allowed to enter Malaysia due to stricter measures put in place to contain coronavirus spread.&nbsp;

About a million Rohingya live in camps near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar after fleeing a military offensive in 2017. Thousands every year attempt to reach other countries on crowded and poorly-made boats.

(With AFP, Reuters inputs)

At least 32 Rohingyas died with hundreds rescued in Bangladesh after a boat drifted for weeks as it was turned back from Malaysia, Bangladesh coast guard officials said on Thursday.

At least 32 Rohingyas died with hundreds rescued in Bangladesh after a boat drifted for weeks as it was turned back from Malaysia, Bangladesh coast guard officials said on Thursday. The coast guard officer Shah Zia Rahman said that about 250 women and children were among the 400 or so who were rescued late on Wednesday from the vessel off the Cox's Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh. Also read | Amid growing calls of coronavirus spread, Myanmar decides to release 25,000 prisoners "They were starving," he said. Also read | Coronavirus: South Asia may see worst economic performance in 40 years, says WB report Rahman said that other survivors had told them that 32 people died on board with their bodies dumped in the sea and that the boat had tried to enter Malaysia and Thailand. However, two other survivors claimed that 60 people who were on board died. "There were more than 500 people onboard, jam-packed. At least 60 of us died in the boat. We held on board their funeral prayers and dropped their bodies in the sea," Survivor Anwarul Islam said. "We barely had food, fresh water, and medicines." Islam also said that the captain of their boat was also killed in a fight that broke out after he tried to rape one of the women. Both Islam and another survivor Anwar Alam said that they tried to enter Thailand and Malaysia, but were denied entry and their voyage continued for two months and 18 days. "We entered Malaysia (waters) three times but they didn't let us in. Many of us died in the heat and sweat. There were too many onboard, mostly women and children," Alam said. Video images showed a crowd that mostly had women and children were unable to stand and being helped to shore. A very thin man was lying on the sand. They were "extremely malnourished and dehydrated," the UN's refugee agency said. Bangladesh media reports claimed that the Rohingyas were not allowed to enter Malaysia due to stricter measures put in place to contain coronavirus spread. About a million Rohingya live in camps near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar after fleeing a military offensive in 2017. Thousands every year attempt to reach other countries on crowded and poorly-made boats. (With AFP, Reuters inputs)

Nearly 400 Rohingya rescued by Bangladesh coast guard from boat; over 30 dead

After rising calls on risks of overcrowded prisons leading to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, Myanmar decided to release more than a quarter of prisoners.&nbsp;

In April during the New Year holiday, the countries in Southeast Asia generally provide&nbsp;an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners, but this is the highest ever prisoner-release of the country. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/coronavirus-south-asia-may-see-worst-economic-performance-in-40-years-says-wb-report-292127">Coronavirus: South Asia may see worst economic performance in 40 years, says WB report</a>

"To mark Myanmar New Year, by respecting humanitarian ground and peace in mind of the people, the president pardons altogether 24,896 prisoners from various prisons," the president's office said, in a statement.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/coronavirus-imf-approves-nearly-14-billion-to-pakistan-to-meet-balance-of-payment-crisis-293008">Coronavirus: IMF approves nearly $1.4 billion to Pakistan to meet balance of payment crisis</a>

So far, Myanmar has reported 85 confirmed COVID-19 cases but experts fear that the real figures could be many more as the country has a low testing rate.&nbsp;

The country is under complete lockdown and the pressure was building up to release prisoners from what Human Rights Watch (HRW) describes as "horribly overcrowded and unsanitary" jails. 
&nbsp; 
The statement also said that 87 foreign inmates included in the amnesty would be deported.&nbsp;

The release would start immediately, a senior official from the prison department in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw said without sharing any other details.&nbsp;

A Rohingya activist, who requested not to be named, said he had heard nearly 1,500 Rohingya Muslim prisoners are also included in the list.&nbsp;

In Myanmar, around 100,000 are currently imprisoned whereas space is just for 62,000, according to HRW.

Last year's amnesty led to the high-profile release of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were behind bars for more than 500 over their reporting on the Rohingya crisis. 
&nbsp;

After rising calls on risks of overcrowded prisons leading to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, Myanmar decided to release more than a quarter of prisoners. In April during the New Year holiday, the countries in Southeast Asia generally provide an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners, but this is the highest ever prisoner-release of the country.

After rising calls on risks of overcrowded prisons leading to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, Myanmar decided to release more than a quarter of prisoners. In April during the New Year holiday, the countries in Southeast Asia generally provide an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners, but this is the highest ever prisoner-release of the country. Also read | Coronavirus: South Asia may see worst economic performance in 40 years, says WB report "To mark Myanmar New Year, by respecting humanitarian ground and peace in mind of the people, the president pardons altogether 24,896 prisoners from various prisons," the president's office said, in a statement. Also read | Coronavirus: IMF approves nearly $1.4 billion to Pakistan to meet balance of payment crisis So far, Myanmar has reported 85 confirmed COVID-19 cases but experts fear that the real figures could be many more as the country has a low testing rate. The country is under complete lockdown and the pressure was building up to release prisoners from what Human Rights Watch (HRW) describes as "horribly overcrowded and unsanitary" jails. The statement also said that 87 foreign inmates included in the amnesty would be deported. The release would start immediately, a senior official from the prison department in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw said without sharing any other details. A Rohingya activist, who requested not to be named, said he had heard nearly 1,500 Rohingya Muslim prisoners are also included in the list. In Myanmar, around 100,000 are currently imprisoned whereas space is just for 62,000, according to HRW. Last year's amnesty led to the high-profile release of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were behind bars for more than 500 over their reporting on the Rohingya crisis.

Amid growing calls of coronavirus spread, Myanmar decides to release 25,000 prisoners

&nbsp;At least five ethnic Rohingya were killed, including a child, and several injured after troops clashed with insurgents in Myanmar's conflict-torn western state of Rakhine, a lawmaker and two residents said on Sunday.

Saturday's fighting broke out after Arakan Army rebels attacked a military convoy passing the historic temple town of Mrauk U, the regional MP, Tun Thar Sein, and a spokesman for the armed group, Khine Thu Kha, said.

Two military spokesmen did not answer telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment, and the army did not immediately issue a statement on its website.

Khine Thu Kha, the Arakan Army spokesman, blamed government troops for the civilian casualties.

A government spokesman said he could not comment.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details of the attack in the remote area, where journalists are barred and internet access curtailed.

Myanmar army artillery shells hit the village of Bu Ta Lone, killing four people, the Arakan Army spokesman said in a message.

The MP, a health worker who treated the injured, and a villager said at least five Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, had died. A 12-year-old boy was among them, the villager said.

Military spokesmen did not respond to phone calls from Reuters seeking additional details. A government spokesman sent a text message saying he was in a meeting.

There were conflicting accounts of the number of Rohingya injured, which ranged from six to 11, along with several members of the state's Rakhine ethnic majority.

Rakhine is the state from which more than 730,000 Rohingya were forced to flee for neighbouring Bangladesh after a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N. has said was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies committing genocide.

Several hundred thousand Rohingya remain in Myanmar, many confined to camps and villages where they are caught in the middle of fresh fighting between the military and Arakan Army, which recruits from the mostly Buddhist majority in a drive for greater autonomy from the central government.

That conflict has displaced tens of thousands and killed dozens.

Tun Thar Sein, the Mrauk U MP, said troops responded with gunfire and shelling in two villages on Saturday after rebels attacked their convoy.

"In response to that, the military started firing at suspicious locations," he said.

A local health worker, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said three of the Rakhine ethnic majority were also injured and one woman had died of cardiac arrest.

Trapped by fighting

Journalists are blocked from travelling to most of central and northern Rakhine, now in the eighth month of a mobile internet shutdown the government justifies on grounds of security.

Many of the several hundred thousand Rohingya still in Rakhine are confined to apartheid-like conditions, unable to travel freely or access healthcare and education.

"Five Muslims died as their bodies were found," a Rohingya villager from the area told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named for fear of retribution. "Their funeral was held today."

He said the bodies had bullet wounds.

"We can't go out and we can't go anywhere," he added. "We are just staying safe in our village. If this keeps happening, I feel like there is no hope."

Saturday's attack was one of several to kill Rohingya this year.

In early January, four Rohingya children died in a blast the military and rebels blamed on each other.

Weeks later, two women were killed after shells hit a village in Buthidaung township, two days after the world court ordered Myanmar to protect the minority.

At the time, the military blamed the Arakan Army for those deaths, saying it would not have carried out an attack just after a world court verdict in a genocide lawsuit brought by Gambia in November against Myanmar.

In January, the International Court of Justice at the Hague had ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes.

At least five ethnic Rohingya were killed, including a child, and several injured after troops clashed with insurgents in Myanmar's conflict-torn western state of Rakhine, a lawmaker and two residents said on Sunday.

At least five ethnic Rohingya were killed, including a child, and several injured after troops clashed with insurgents in Myanmar's conflict-torn western state of Rakhine, a lawmaker and two residents said on Sunday. Saturday's fighting broke out after Arakan Army rebels attacked a military convoy passing the historic temple town of Mrauk U, the regional MP, Tun Thar Sein, and a spokesman for the armed group, Khine Thu Kha, said. Two military spokesmen did not answer telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment, and the army did not immediately issue a statement on its website. Khine Thu Kha, the Arakan Army spokesman, blamed government troops for the civilian casualties. A government spokesman said he could not comment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details of the attack in the remote area, where journalists are barred and internet access curtailed. Myanmar army artillery shells hit the village of Bu Ta Lone, killing four people, the Arakan Army spokesman said in a message. The MP, a health worker who treated the injured, and a villager said at least five Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, had died. A 12-year-old boy was among them, the villager said. Military spokesmen did not respond to phone calls from Reuters seeking additional details. A government spokesman sent a text message saying he was in a meeting. There were conflicting accounts of the number of Rohingya injured, which ranged from six to 11, along with several members of the state's Rakhine ethnic majority. Rakhine is the state from which more than 730,000 Rohingya were forced to flee for neighbouring Bangladesh after a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N. has said was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies committing genocide. Several hundred thousand Rohingya remain in Myanmar, many confined to camps and villages where they are caught in the middle of fresh fighting between the military and Arakan Army, which recruits from the mostly Buddhist majority in a drive for greater autonomy from the central government. That conflict has displaced tens of thousands and killed dozens. Tun Thar Sein, the Mrauk U MP, said troops responded with gunfire and shelling in two villages on Saturday after rebels attacked their convoy. "In response to that, the military started firing at suspicious locations," he said. A local health worker, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said three of the Rakhine ethnic majority were also injured and one woman had died of cardiac arrest. Trapped by fighting Journalists are blocked from travelling to most of central and northern Rakhine, now in the eighth month of a mobile internet shutdown the government justifies on grounds of security. Many of the several hundred thousand Rohingya still in Rakhine are confined to apartheid-like conditions, unable to travel freely or access healthcare and education. "Five Muslims died as their bodies were found," a Rohingya villager from the area told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named for fear of retribution. "Their funeral was held today." He said the bodies had bullet wounds. "We can't go out and we can't go anywhere," he added. "We are just staying safe in our village. If this keeps happening, I feel like there is no hope." Saturday's attack was one of several to kill Rohingya this year. In early January, four Rohingya children died in a blast the military and rebels blamed on each other. Weeks later, two women were killed after shells hit a village in Buthidaung township, two days after the world court ordered Myanmar to protect the minority. At the time, the military blamed the Arakan Army for those deaths, saying it would not have carried out an attack just after a world court verdict in a genocide lawsuit brought by Gambia in November against Myanmar. In January, the International Court of Justice at the Hague had ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes.

Myanmar army clash with insurgents kills 5 Rohingyas

At least 16 people were killed on Tuesday after an overcrowded boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal. According to reports, the boat was carrying around 125 Rohingya refugees from Bangladeshi camps and was heading towards Malaysia.

At least 16 people were killed on Tuesday after an overcrowded boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal. According to reports, the boat was carrying around 125 Rohingya refugees from Bangladeshi camps and was heading towards Malaysia. In November, Bangladesh’s coast guard rescued 122 Rohingya Muslim refugees from the Bay of Bengal when a vessel they had boarded to travel to Malaysia started sinking because of a mechanical problem. Malaysia is home to more than 100,000 Rohingya refugees, the second-largest number in the world after Bangladesh. Traffickers usually lure refugees by promising a better life overseas. Many past attempts to travel illegally by boats were thwarted by coast guards. In 2017, a crackdown by Myanmar’s military drove more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has denied UN accusations that its military waged a campaign against Rohingya with "genocidal intent". (With inputs from agencies)

At least 16 dead after Rohingya boat capsizes in Bay of Bengal

Rohingya children living in Bangladesh refugee camps will be allowed to receive a formal education after a change of heart by Dhaka in a move welcomed by right activists.

Nearly one million Rohingya, including more than half a million children, live in the squalid and crowded camps near the southeastern border with Myanmar, where many had fled from in 2017 after a brutal military crackdown.

The children were previously barred from studying the curriculums used in Bangladesh and Myanmar, and instead received primary education in temporary learning centres set up by the UN children's agency UNICEF.

"We don't want a lost generation of Rohingya. We want them to have education. They will follow Myanmar curricula," Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told AFP on Tuesday.

The decision came after a meeting of a national taskforce set up by the government.

Local media reported that a pilot programme involving more than 10,000 students would be launched soon, with UNICEF and Dhaka jointly designing the curriculum.

The refugee children will be schooled in Myanmar history and culture up to age 14, and will also receive skills training so they can take up jobs back in Myanmar when they return home, the foreign ministry said.

"I can't express my joy with words ... generations of Rohingya hardly had any education in their homeland in Myanmar as they were discriminated there and were robbed of their citizenship," Rohingya youth leader and human rights activist Rafique bin Habib said.

"The decision will minimise the chances for a Rohingya kid to get radicalised (in the camps)," he added.

UN representative in Bangladesh Mia Seppo told AFP the move would "make it easier for them to go back home to Myanmar when the time is right for returns".

Some Rohingya children have used fake Bangladeshi identity cards and hidden their ethnic identities to enrol in local schools.

Authorities last year expelled scores of them from schools in a drive condemned by rights groups.

Tens of thousands of other Rohingya Muslim children were also educated in madrassas set up by Islamic groups in the camps.

The decision came almost a week after UN's highest court ordered Myanmar to do everything in its power to prevent the genocide of Rohingya Muslims.

Rohingya children living in Bangladesh refugee camps will be allowed to receive a formal education after a change of heart by Dhaka in a move welcomed by right activists.

Rohingya children living in Bangladesh refugee camps will be allowed to receive a formal education after a change of heart by Dhaka in a move welcomed by right activists. Nearly one million Rohingya, including more than half a million children, live in the squalid and crowded camps near the southeastern border with Myanmar, where many had fled from in 2017 after a brutal military crackdown. The children were previously barred from studying the curriculums used in Bangladesh and Myanmar, and instead received primary education in temporary learning centres set up by the UN children's agency UNICEF. "We don't want a lost generation of Rohingya. We want them to have education. They will follow Myanmar curricula," Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told AFP on Tuesday. The decision came after a meeting of a national taskforce set up by the government. Local media reported that a pilot programme involving more than 10,000 students would be launched soon, with UNICEF and Dhaka jointly designing the curriculum. The refugee children will be schooled in Myanmar history and culture up to age 14, and will also receive skills training so they can take up jobs back in Myanmar when they return home, the foreign ministry said. "I can't express my joy with words ... generations of Rohingya hardly had any education in their homeland in Myanmar as they were discriminated there and were robbed of their citizenship," Rohingya youth leader and human rights activist Rafique bin Habib said. "The decision will minimise the chances for a Rohingya kid to get radicalised (in the camps)," he added. UN representative in Bangladesh Mia Seppo told AFP the move would "make it easier for them to go back home to Myanmar when the time is right for returns". Some Rohingya children have used fake Bangladeshi identity cards and hidden their ethnic identities to enrol in local schools. Authorities last year expelled scores of them from schools in a drive condemned by rights groups. Tens of thousands of other Rohingya Muslim children were also educated in madrassas set up by Islamic groups in the camps. The decision came almost a week after UN's highest court ordered Myanmar to do everything in its power to prevent the genocide of Rohingya Muslims.

Bangladesh allows education for Rohingya refugee children

Two Rohingya women were killed and seven others injured in shelling the Myanmar military and insurgents blamed on each other, days after the UN's top court ordered the country to protect the beleaguered Muslim minority.

Military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told AFP said that one woman was killed on the spot by "heavy weapons" while another died after arriving at a hospital in conflict-torn northern Rakhine state.

He blamed the deaths on incursions by the Arakan Army, rebels fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in the same area where the Rohingya crisis unfolded.

But a spokesperson for the Arakan Army said there had been no fighting with the military in that area and they are "accusing and faking it".

The conflict has seen scores of civilians killed, hundreds wounded and some 100,000 displaced in the past year.

Earlier this month four Rohingya children were killed and five others injured alongside their teacher after an explosion hit while they collected firewood.&nbsp;

Northern Rakhine was the site of a violent military campaign in 2017 that drove some 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh and prompted allegations of genocide.

Hundreds of thousands still live in Rakhine in what rights groups have called apartheid-like conditions.

In a rare legal decision for the persecuted minority, the International Court of Justice ruled Thursday that Myanmar had to "take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts" described by the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

These acts include "killing members of the group" and "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The mainly Muslim African state of The Gambia had asked the court to impose the emergency measures -- pending a full case that could take years.

The court also ordered Myanmar to report back within four months, and then every six months after that.&nbsp;

Its ruling is binding but the court has no power of enforcement.

Judges rejected arguments made by Myanmar civilian leader and former human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi when she travelled to The Hague in December to personally defend the country against the accusations.

Myanmar has said it carried out its own investigation and disputed the claims that genocide took place. 
&nbsp;

Two Rohingya women were killed and seven others injured in shelling the Myanmar military and insurgents blamed on each other, days after the UN's top court ordered the country to protect the beleaguered Muslim minority.

Two Rohingya women were killed and seven others injured in shelling the Myanmar military and insurgents blamed on each other, days after the UN's top court ordered the country to protect the beleaguered Muslim minority. Military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told AFP said that one woman was killed on the spot by "heavy weapons" while another died after arriving at a hospital in conflict-torn northern Rakhine state. He blamed the deaths on incursions by the Arakan Army, rebels fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in the same area where the Rohingya crisis unfolded. But a spokesperson for the Arakan Army said there had been no fighting with the military in that area and they are "accusing and faking it". The conflict has seen scores of civilians killed, hundreds wounded and some 100,000 displaced in the past year. Earlier this month four Rohingya children were killed and five others injured alongside their teacher after an explosion hit while they collected firewood. Northern Rakhine was the site of a violent military campaign in 2017 that drove some 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh and prompted allegations of genocide. Hundreds of thousands still live in Rakhine in what rights groups have called apartheid-like conditions. In a rare legal decision for the persecuted minority, the International Court of Justice ruled Thursday that Myanmar had to "take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts" described by the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. These acts include "killing members of the group" and "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part." The mainly Muslim African state of The Gambia had asked the court to impose the emergency measures -- pending a full case that could take years. The court also ordered Myanmar to report back within four months, and then every six months after that. Its ruling is binding but the court has no power of enforcement. Judges rejected arguments made by Myanmar civilian leader and former human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi when she travelled to The Hague in December to personally defend the country against the accusations. Myanmar has said it carried out its own investigation and disputed the claims that genocide took place.

Two Rohingya women killed in Myanmar shelling

Continuing its support to Rohingya Refugees, India on Monday delivered relief material to Myanmar.

Indian Envoy to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar handed a relief material consisting&nbsp;20,000 kits of Rice, Rice Noodles, Toor Dal, Chana Dal, Soya Oil, Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder, Salt and Tarpaulin.

The handing over ceremony took place in the city of Sittwe, capital of the Rakhine Province in the presence of Myanmar's Social Welfare Minister Dr Win Myat Aye and state&nbsp;Chief Minister Nyi Pu.

Last year, India constructed 250 pre-fabricated houses for the refugees which were handed over to Rakhine government.

Other than this, to impart skill training for the Rohingya youth to increase employability, India has built two centres in Pakokku and&nbsp;Myingyan and two others will be operational soon at Monywa and&nbsp;Thaton.&nbsp;

New Delhi plans to build new projects like construction of pre-schools, solar power supply, water supply, road constructions and this under advance consideration.&nbsp;

Under the High Impact, Community Development Projects Indian government provided IT equipment to Sittwe Computer University and agriculture equipment to Rakhine State Government. Earlier, India had provided medical equipment to upgrade the facilities at Sittwe General Hospital.

In Myanmar, India is helping the Rohingya refugees to rebuild by providing infrastructure and skills, while&nbsp;in Bangladesh, through Operation Insaniyat, New Delhi is helping the refugees.

In September 2017, India started the support operation for refugees in Bangladesh by supplying essential items etc.

Continuing its support to Rohingya Refugees, India on Monday delivered relief material to Myanmar. Indian Envoy to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar handed a relief material consisting 20,000 kits of Rice, Rice Noodles, Toor Dal, Chana Dal, Soya Oil, Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder, Salt and Tarpaulin.

Continuing its support to Rohingya Refugees, India on Monday delivered relief material to Myanmar. Indian Envoy to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar handed a relief material consisting 20,000 kits of Rice, Rice Noodles, Toor Dal, Chana Dal, Soya Oil, Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder, Salt and Tarpaulin. The handing over ceremony took place in the city of Sittwe, capital of the Rakhine Province in the presence of Myanmar's Social Welfare Minister Dr Win Myat Aye and state Chief Minister Nyi Pu. Last year, India constructed 250 pre-fabricated houses for the refugees which were handed over to Rakhine government. Other than this, to impart skill training for the Rohingya youth to increase employability, India has built two centres in Pakokku and Myingyan and two others will be operational soon at Monywa and Thaton. New Delhi plans to build new projects like construction of pre-schools, solar power supply, water supply, road constructions and this under advance consideration. Under the High Impact, Community Development Projects Indian government provided IT equipment to Sittwe Computer University and agriculture equipment to Rakhine State Government. Earlier, India had provided medical equipment to upgrade the facilities at Sittwe General Hospital. In Myanmar, India is helping the Rohingya refugees to rebuild by providing infrastructure and skills, while in Bangladesh, through Operation Insaniyat, New Delhi is helping the refugees. In September 2017, India started the support operation for refugees in Bangladesh by supplying essential items etc.

India provides relief assistance to Myanmar's Rohingya refugees; sends 20,000 kits of food items

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi made a rare trip to a region bordering China days before President Xi Jinping is expected to push for controversial port and dam projects during a visit to the country.

Wearing traditional ethnic attire Suu Kyi danced with a street procession on Friday in northern Kachin state's capital Myitkyina, a day after supporters cheered her arrival at the airport.

She urged a crowd of thousands to "focus on the present" and called for peace in the remote region, where insurgents have clashed with the army over autonomy and resources.

She did not mention the China-backed Myitsone dam, a $3.6 billion project halted in 2011 in the face of widespread opposition.

A proposal to reinstate the dam drew thousands of protesters onto the streets last year.

Myanmar is a vital piece of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Xi's $1 trillion vision for maritime, rail and road projects across Asia, Africa and Europe.

During his two-day visit to the country starting January 17, Xi and top Myanmar political and military leaders are expected to discuss the initiative, according to a Friday briefing by China's Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui.

Asked about the dam in Kachin, Luo said the two sides "are still maintaining close communication on this".

Suu Kyi was an opponent of the project before her party swept to power in 2015 elections, but in March last year she called on people to consider it "from a wider perspective".

An environmental assessment commissioned by the government five years ago advised against the dam's construction, saying it could alter the flow of the Irrawaddy River.

Myitsone is one of several Beijing-backed projects in Myanmar, including a deep-sea port in Rakhine state's Kyaukphyu that will serve as China's gateway to the Indian Ocean.

Northern Rakhine was the site of brutal military operations against Rohingya Muslims in 2017 but Kyaukphyu was largely unscathed.

Analysts say Myanmar has drifted closer to Beijing thanks to the Asian giant's backing of Suu Kyi over the crisis, which shattered her reputation in the west even as she remains popular at home.

Xi is also expected to meet army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has been accused of overseeing the crackdown against the Muslim minority that drove more than 740,000 people into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi defended her country against allegations of genocide at the UN's top court in The Hague last month in a case that is expected to last years.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi made a rare trip to a region bordering China days before President Xi Jinping is expected to push for controversial port and dam projects during a visit to the country.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi made a rare trip to a region bordering China days before President Xi Jinping is expected to push for controversial port and dam projects during a visit to the country. Wearing traditional ethnic attire Suu Kyi danced with a street procession on Friday in northern Kachin state's capital Myitkyina, a day after supporters cheered her arrival at the airport. She urged a crowd of thousands to "focus on the present" and called for peace in the remote region, where insurgents have clashed with the army over autonomy and resources. She did not mention the China-backed Myitsone dam, a $3.6 billion project halted in 2011 in the face of widespread opposition. A proposal to reinstate the dam drew thousands of protesters onto the streets last year. Myanmar is a vital piece of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Xi's $1 trillion vision for maritime, rail and road projects across Asia, Africa and Europe. During his two-day visit to the country starting January 17, Xi and top Myanmar political and military leaders are expected to discuss the initiative, according to a Friday briefing by China's Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui. Asked about the dam in Kachin, Luo said the two sides "are still maintaining close communication on this". Suu Kyi was an opponent of the project before her party swept to power in 2015 elections, but in March last year she called on people to consider it "from a wider perspective". An environmental assessment commissioned by the government five years ago advised against the dam's construction, saying it could alter the flow of the Irrawaddy River. Myitsone is one of several Beijing-backed projects in Myanmar, including a deep-sea port in Rakhine state's Kyaukphyu that will serve as China's gateway to the Indian Ocean. Northern Rakhine was the site of brutal military operations against Rohingya Muslims in 2017 but Kyaukphyu was largely unscathed. Analysts say Myanmar has drifted closer to Beijing thanks to the Asian giant's backing of Suu Kyi over the crisis, which shattered her reputation in the west even as she remains popular at home. Xi is also expected to meet army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has been accused of overseeing the crackdown against the Muslim minority that drove more than 740,000 people into neighbouring Bangladesh. Suu Kyi defended her country against allegations of genocide at the UN's top court in The Hague last month in a case that is expected to last years.

Ahead of Xi's visit to Myanmar, Suu Kyi makes rare trip to China

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court.

Lawyers for the mostly Muslim African country said her arguments that Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown was a "clearance operation" targeting militants ignored widespread allegations of mass murder, rape and forced deportation.

"Madame agent, your silence said far more than your words," The Gambia's lawyer Philippe Sands told the International Court of Justice (ICJ), referring to Suu Kyi, who is officially acting as Myanmar's agent in the case.

"The word 'rape' did not once pass the lips of the agent," Sands added, as Suu Kyi sat impassively in the courtroom, wearing traditional Burmese dress and flowers in her hair.

The Gambia has taken majority-Buddhist Myanmar to the court in The Hague, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide convention and seeking emergency measures to protect the Rohingya.

Once regarded as an international rights icon for standing up to Myanmar's brutal junta, Suu Kyi has seen her reputation tarnished by her decision to side with the military over the Rohingya crisis.

She used a dramatic appearance at the ICJ on Wednesday to say there was no "genocidal intent" behind the operation that led to some 740,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi defended Myanmar's actions saying it faced an "internal conflict" and that the military conducted "clearance operations" after an attack by Rohingya militants in August 2017.

'Imminent risk of genocide'

But Paul Reichler, another of The Gambia's lawyers, said that those killed included "infants beaten to death or torn from their mothers' arms and thrown into rivers to drown. How many of them were terrorists?

"Armed conflict can never be an excuse for genocide," he said.

The lawyer said Suu Kyi had also failed to deny the conclusions of a 2018 UN investigation that found that genocide had been committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya.

"What is most striking is what Myanmar has not denied," Reichler said.

He also dismissed Suu Kyi's insistence that Myanmar's military should be left to probe the allegations itself, saying it was not credible when its own top generals have themselves been accused of genocide.

"How could anyone expect the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to investigate when six of its top generals, including Min Aung Hlaing, have all been accused of genocide by the UN fact-finding mission?" he asked.

The US on Tuesday slapped fresh sanctions including a travel ban on military chief Min Aung Hlaing over the Rohingya crisis.

The lawyer added that Suu Kyi in her speech to the court had also followed Myanmar's "racist" policy of refusing to refer to the Rohingya Muslim minority by their name.

Gambian Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou pushed the court to impose the emergency measures, saying there was a "serious and imminent risk of genocide recurring" and that "the lives of these human beings are at risk."

Suu Kyi was expected to make closing remarks later Thursday.

A decision on the measures could take months, while a final ruling if the ICJ decides to take on the full case could take years.

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court.

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court. Lawyers for the mostly Muslim African country said her arguments that Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown was a "clearance operation" targeting militants ignored widespread allegations of mass murder, rape and forced deportation. "Madame agent, your silence said far more than your words," The Gambia's lawyer Philippe Sands told the International Court of Justice (ICJ), referring to Suu Kyi, who is officially acting as Myanmar's agent in the case. "The word 'rape' did not once pass the lips of the agent," Sands added, as Suu Kyi sat impassively in the courtroom, wearing traditional Burmese dress and flowers in her hair. The Gambia has taken majority-Buddhist Myanmar to the court in The Hague, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide convention and seeking emergency measures to protect the Rohingya. Once regarded as an international rights icon for standing up to Myanmar's brutal junta, Suu Kyi has seen her reputation tarnished by her decision to side with the military over the Rohingya crisis. She used a dramatic appearance at the ICJ on Wednesday to say there was no "genocidal intent" behind the operation that led to some 740,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh. Suu Kyi defended Myanmar's actions saying it faced an "internal conflict" and that the military conducted "clearance operations" after an attack by Rohingya militants in August 2017. 'Imminent risk of genocide' But Paul Reichler, another of The Gambia's lawyers, said that those killed included "infants beaten to death or torn from their mothers' arms and thrown into rivers to drown. How many of them were terrorists? "Armed conflict can never be an excuse for genocide," he said. The lawyer said Suu Kyi had also failed to deny the conclusions of a 2018 UN investigation that found that genocide had been committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya. "What is most striking is what Myanmar has not denied," Reichler said. He also dismissed Suu Kyi's insistence that Myanmar's military should be left to probe the allegations itself, saying it was not credible when its own top generals have themselves been accused of genocide. "How could anyone expect the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to investigate when six of its top generals, including Min Aung Hlaing, have all been accused of genocide by the UN fact-finding mission?" he asked. The US on Tuesday slapped fresh sanctions including a travel ban on military chief Min Aung Hlaing over the Rohingya crisis. The lawyer added that Suu Kyi in her speech to the court had also followed Myanmar's "racist" policy of refusing to refer to the Rohingya Muslim minority by their name. Gambian Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou pushed the court to impose the emergency measures, saying there was a "serious and imminent risk of genocide recurring" and that "the lives of these human beings are at risk." Suu Kyi was expected to make closing remarks later Thursday. A decision on the measures could take months, while a final ruling if the ICJ decides to take on the full case could take years.

Suu Kyi criticised for 'silence' over Myanmar genocide claims

Dozens of Rohingya Muslims appeared in a Myanmar court on Wednesday (December 11) to face charges of travelling illegally after they were arrested while fleeing persecution, as leader Aung San Suu Kyi defended the country against accusations of genocide against the minority at The Hague.

Fleeing Rohingya on trial in Myanmar for 'illegal travel'

By Mauro Barelli

In what is likely to be a remarkable moment for international justice, Aung San Suu Kyi, the political leader of Myanmar and a Nobel peace prize winner, will be in The Hague this week to lead her country’s defence against allegations of genocide.

On November 11, the Gambia launched proceedings against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. I have looked into the question of atrocity crimes, including genocide, as part of my recent research on the principle of the responsibility to protect in international law.

The case focuses on the clearance operations carried out from around October 2016 by Myanmar’s military and security forces against the Rohingya Muslims, a distinct ethnic and religious group that resides primarily in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

The Gambia claims that those operations amounted to a genocidal campaign of violence that included mass murder, forcible displacement, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. The UN says that 742,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh since 2017 and many are still living in dire conditions in refugee camps.

During the public hearings that the ICJ will hold between December 10 and 12, the Gambia will essentially ask the court to order Myanmar to prevent ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya so as to protect them from further, irreparable harm – something known as “provisional measures”.

This is the third time that the world’s court has been called to establish whether a state is responsible under international law for breaches of the genocide convention. In 2015, the ICJ ruled that neither Croatia nor Serbia had committed genocide during the hostilities that took place in Croatia between 1991 and 1995. In a 2007 case brought by Bosnia-Herzegovina, the court also cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide and complicity in genocide in relation to the 1995 massacre of Srebrenica.

This means that the ICJ has never held a state responsible for committing genocide. In this respect, the 2007 and 2015 verdicts reveal some of the obstacles that the Gambia will face in persuading the court that Myanmar committed genocide against members of the Rohingya group.

Proving ‘intent’ 
 
The genocide convention lists a number of acts, including killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm, that may constitute genocide provided that they are committed with the “intent to destroy”, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

It is precisely the existence of this special intent that distinguishes genocide from other heinous crimes. This is of special importance given the difficulty of proving genocidal intent in a courtroom. In the absence of direct conclusive evidence, the ICJ will infer genocidal intent from particular circumstances – such as a pattern of acts committed against members of the targeted group – only if the circumstances point unequivocally to the existence of that intent.

Adopting this strict approach in both the 2007 and 2015 judgements, the court determined – with the only exception of Srebrenica – that the atrocities committed during the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia lacked the requisite intent to destroy the targeted groups, and so could not be qualified as genocide. In the case of Srebrenica, the court ruled that the acts “were committed with the specific intent to destroy in part the group of the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina” and were therefore genocide.

Still, it found that Serbia itself was not directly responsible for the massacre, which was committed by Bosnian Serbs. Serbia was nevertheless found responsible for failing to prevent genocide given that it was in a position of influence over those who devised and implemented it.

The rationale for setting such a high standard of proof is, in the ICJ’s words, that: “Claims against a state involving charges of exceptional gravity must be proved by evidence that is fully conclusive.”

Unsurprisingly, this stringent approach has been the object of much criticism. One of the current judges sitting at the ICJ, Cançado Trindade, noted in 2015 that imposing such a high threshold for proof of genocide runs the risk of reducing the genocide convention to a dead letter.

UN fact-finding mission

To demonstrate the genocidal nature of the violence against the Rohingya, the Gambia – which is backed by the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – will rely extensively on UN sources. In March 2017 the UN Human Rights Council created an Independent International Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar and tasked it with establishing the facts and circumstances of the human rights violations committed by Myanmar’s military and security forces against the Rohingya.

The implications of the mission’s investigative activities could be profound. In the 2007 genocide case, the ICJ relied heavily on the judgements of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to conclude that genocide was committed at Srebrenica. The authoritativeness of the UN’s factfinding mission to Myanmar cannot be equated to that of a tribunal such as the ICTY. Yet, the ICJ is likely to give serious consideration to the mission’s reports in light of the care taken in preparing them, their comprehensiveness, and the independence of those responsible for their preparation.

Crucially, the 2018 and 2019 reports infer genocidal intent behind the attacks against the Rohingya from a number of factors and circumstances linked to, among other others, the brutality and the scale of destruction of the military operations as well as the widespread use of rape and sexual assault during those operations.

The ICJ judges will need to be satisfied with the solidity of this inference of genocidal intent by the UN mission. However, the very fact that they will have to engage with and determine the weight of those findings as evidence will be of paramount importance.

After ruling on the question of provisional measures – and assuming that no jurisdictional obstacles will be identified – the court will fix time limits for the filing of the parties’ written pleadings in the case. After the written and then oral proceedings, the court will begin its deliberation and so it will be some years before a final decision on this important case is made.

(Mauro Barelli is Senior Lecturer in Law, City, University of London)

(This Article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-aung-san-suu-kyi-is-in-the-hague-defending-myanmar-against-allegations-of-genocide-125102">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Mauro Barelli In what is likely to be a remarkable moment for international justice, Aung San Suu Kyi, the political leader of Myanmar and a Nobel peace prize winner, will be in The Hague this week to lead her country’s defence against allegations of genocide.

By Mauro Barelli In what is likely to be a remarkable moment for international justice, Aung San Suu Kyi, the political leader of Myanmar and a Nobel peace prize winner, will be in The Hague this week to lead her country’s defence against allegations of genocide. On November 11, the Gambia launched proceedings against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. I have looked into the question of atrocity crimes, including genocide, as part of my recent research on the principle of the responsibility to protect in international law. The case focuses on the clearance operations carried out from around October 2016 by Myanmar’s military and security forces against the Rohingya Muslims, a distinct ethnic and religious group that resides primarily in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The Gambia claims that those operations amounted to a genocidal campaign of violence that included mass murder, forcible displacement, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. The UN says that 742,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh since 2017 and many are still living in dire conditions in refugee camps. During the public hearings that the ICJ will hold between December 10 and 12, the Gambia will essentially ask the court to order Myanmar to prevent ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya so as to protect them from further, irreparable harm – something known as “provisional measures”. This is the third time that the world’s court has been called to establish whether a state is responsible under international law for breaches of the genocide convention. In 2015, the ICJ ruled that neither Croatia nor Serbia had committed genocide during the hostilities that took place in Croatia between 1991 and 1995. In a 2007 case brought by Bosnia-Herzegovina, the court also cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide and complicity in genocide in relation to the 1995 massacre of Srebrenica. This means that the ICJ has never held a state responsible for committing genocide. In this respect, the 2007 and 2015 verdicts reveal some of the obstacles that the Gambia will face in persuading the court that Myanmar committed genocide against members of the Rohingya group. Proving ‘intent’ The genocide convention lists a number of acts, including killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm, that may constitute genocide provided that they are committed with the “intent to destroy”, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. It is precisely the existence of this special intent that distinguishes genocide from other heinous crimes. This is of special importance given the difficulty of proving genocidal intent in a courtroom. In the absence of direct conclusive evidence, the ICJ will infer genocidal intent from particular circumstances – such as a pattern of acts committed against members of the targeted group – only if the circumstances point unequivocally to the existence of that intent. Adopting this strict approach in both the 2007 and 2015 judgements, the court determined – with the only exception of Srebrenica – that the atrocities committed during the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia lacked the requisite intent to destroy the targeted groups, and so could not be qualified as genocide. In the case of Srebrenica, the court ruled that the acts “were committed with the specific intent to destroy in part the group of the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina” and were therefore genocide. Still, it found that Serbia itself was not directly responsible for the massacre, which was committed by Bosnian Serbs. Serbia was nevertheless found responsible for failing to prevent genocide given that it was in a position of influence over those who devised and implemented it. The rationale for setting such a high standard of proof is, in the ICJ’s words, that: “Claims against a state involving charges of exceptional gravity must be proved by evidence that is fully conclusive.” Unsurprisingly, this stringent approach has been the object of much criticism. One of the current judges sitting at the ICJ, Cançado Trindade, noted in 2015 that imposing such a high threshold for proof of genocide runs the risk of reducing the genocide convention to a dead letter. UN fact-finding mission To demonstrate the genocidal nature of the violence against the Rohingya, the Gambia – which is backed by the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – will rely extensively on UN sources. In March 2017 the UN Human Rights Council created an Independent International Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar and tasked it with establishing the facts and circumstances of the human rights violations committed by Myanmar’s military and security forces against the Rohingya. The implications of the mission’s investigative activities could be profound. In the 2007 genocide case, the ICJ relied heavily on the judgements of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to conclude that genocide was committed at Srebrenica. The authoritativeness of the UN’s factfinding mission to Myanmar cannot be equated to that of a tribunal such as the ICTY. Yet, the ICJ is likely to give serious consideration to the mission’s reports in light of the care taken in preparing them, their comprehensiveness, and the independence of those responsible for their preparation. Crucially, the 2018 and 2019 reports infer genocidal intent behind the attacks against the Rohingya from a number of factors and circumstances linked to, among other others, the brutality and the scale of destruction of the military operations as well as the widespread use of rape and sexual assault during those operations. The ICJ judges will need to be satisfied with the solidity of this inference of genocidal intent by the UN mission. However, the very fact that they will have to engage with and determine the weight of those findings as evidence will be of paramount importance. After ruling on the question of provisional measures – and assuming that no jurisdictional obstacles will be identified – the court will fix time limits for the filing of the parties’ written pleadings in the case. After the written and then oral proceedings, the court will begin its deliberation and so it will be some years before a final decision on this important case is made. (Mauro Barelli is Senior Lecturer in Law, City, University of London) (This Article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why Aung San Suu Kyi is in The Hague defending Myanmar against allegations of genocide

A UN envoy on Thursday offered technical expertise to Bangladesh to assess arrangements on an island where the South Asian country plans to shift about 100,000 Rohingya refugees.

Kelly Clements, a deputy high commissioner of the UNHCR, told reporters in Dhaka that the UN wanted to be "engaged" in the proposed refugee relocation, which has been criticised by rights groups.

"We have offered and told the government that we'd like to be engaged and understand better their plans. We have offered our technical experts to come... and assess and see what arrangements have been made," she said.

Nearly a million Rohingya, including some 740,000 who fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state, are now living in squalid camps in Cox's Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has constructed facilities for some 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, an island in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, and says it is ready to shift the refugees from the crowded settlements.

But aid agencies and rights groups have opposed the idea.

Bangladesh has recently been erecting barbed-wire fences around the Cox's Bazaar camps, a move that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) compared with building an "open air prison".

Clements said the fencing "is not always the best answer in terms of security."

"Obviously we'll try to see how it can be implemented in a way that doesn't adversely affect the refugee community nor the host," she said.

In a reply to a question on the refugees' chances of repatriation, she said it would be "extremely difficult to set a timeline".

A UN envoy on Thursday offered technical expertise to Bangladesh to assess arrangements on an island where the South Asian country plans to shift about 100,000 Rohingya refugees.

A UN envoy on Thursday offered technical expertise to Bangladesh to assess arrangements on an island where the South Asian country plans to shift about 100,000 Rohingya refugees. Kelly Clements, a deputy high commissioner of the UNHCR, told reporters in Dhaka that the UN wanted to be "engaged" in the proposed refugee relocation, which has been criticised by rights groups. "We have offered and told the government that we'd like to be engaged and understand better their plans. We have offered our technical experts to come... and assess and see what arrangements have been made," she said. Nearly a million Rohingya, including some 740,000 who fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state, are now living in squalid camps in Cox's Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh. Bangladesh has constructed facilities for some 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, an island in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, and says it is ready to shift the refugees from the crowded settlements. But aid agencies and rights groups have opposed the idea. Bangladesh has recently been erecting barbed-wire fences around the Cox's Bazaar camps, a move that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) compared with building an "open air prison". Clements said the fencing "is not always the best answer in terms of security." "Obviously we'll try to see how it can be implemented in a way that doesn't adversely affect the refugee community nor the host," she said. In a reply to a question on the refugees' chances of repatriation, she said it would be "extremely difficult to set a timeline".

United Nations offers to assess Bangladesh's refugee island plan

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law".

On Thursday the ICC approved a full probe into Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group.

The decision came after rights groups filed a separate lawsuit in Argentina —- in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was personally named —- and a further submission of a genocide case at the UN's top court.

Two years ago some 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh in violence UN investigators branded as genocide.

Myanmar has repeatedly defended the crackdown as necessary to stamp out militants and has long refused to recognise the authority of the ICC — a position it reiterated Friday.

"The investigation over Myanmar by the ICC is not in accordance with international law," said government spokesman Zaw Htay at a press conference Friday.

Even though the country has not signed up to the court, the ICC ruled last year it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member.

Zaw Htay repeated that Myanmar's own committees would investigate any abuses and ensure accountability if needed.

"Myanmar and the government are neither in denial nor closing our eyes," he said.

Critics deride the domestic panels of whitewashing atrocities.

Myanmar accused of genocide

The ICC decision came after West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, also based in The Hague.

The Gambia, acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), accuses Myanmar of genocide. The first hearings are scheduled for December.

The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes between states but also rules on alleged breaches of UN conventions.

Myanmar, which has signed the Genocide Convention, would respond "in accordance with international legal means," said Zaw Htay.

In the case filed Wednesday in Argentina, Suu Kyi was among top Myanmar officials named for crimes against the Rohingya, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis.

Human rights groups submitted the lawsuit under "universal jurisdiction", a legal principle that some crimes are so horrific, they can be tried anywhere.

The lawsuit demands top leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya.

Argentine courts have taken up other such cases in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China.

Myanmar's government spokesman offered no comment on the lawsuit.

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law".

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law". On Thursday the ICC approved a full probe into Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group. The decision came after rights groups filed a separate lawsuit in Argentina —- in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was personally named —- and a further submission of a genocide case at the UN's top court. Two years ago some 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh in violence UN investigators branded as genocide. Myanmar has repeatedly defended the crackdown as necessary to stamp out militants and has long refused to recognise the authority of the ICC — a position it reiterated Friday. "The investigation over Myanmar by the ICC is not in accordance with international law," said government spokesman Zaw Htay at a press conference Friday. Even though the country has not signed up to the court, the ICC ruled last year it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member. Zaw Htay repeated that Myanmar's own committees would investigate any abuses and ensure accountability if needed. "Myanmar and the government are neither in denial nor closing our eyes," he said. Critics deride the domestic panels of whitewashing atrocities. Myanmar accused of genocide The ICC decision came after West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, also based in The Hague. The Gambia, acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), accuses Myanmar of genocide. The first hearings are scheduled for December. The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes between states but also rules on alleged breaches of UN conventions. Myanmar, which has signed the Genocide Convention, would respond "in accordance with international legal means," said Zaw Htay. In the case filed Wednesday in Argentina, Suu Kyi was among top Myanmar officials named for crimes against the Rohingya, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis. Human rights groups submitted the lawsuit under "universal jurisdiction", a legal principle that some crimes are so horrific, they can be tried anywhere. The lawsuit demands top leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya. Argentine courts have taken up other such cases in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China. Myanmar's government spokesman offered no comment on the lawsuit.

Myanmar rejects ICC probe over Rohingya as legal pressure mounts

Aung Gyi is forced to fish covertly under the shroud of night in western Myanmar waters as China bids to transform the strategically key region into a shipping and industrial hub, squeezing out locals who fear being left behind in the gold rush.

Myanmar has declared Rakhine state, associated by many worldwide with the military's 2017 bloody crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, open for business but locals fear they are being left out of the gold rush as new rules restrict traditional practises.

Paddies and teak forests will be flattened for a colossal Beijing-backed factory zone and deep-sea port, which will serve as its neighbouring giant's gateway to the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

But the state's promise for development comes with fishing restrictions -- the waterways have been freed up for Chinese ships -- a situation that has devastated local lives and livelihoods.&nbsp;

"I might be beaten or arrested" if caught fishing illegally, Aung Gyi says as he lays shrimp out to dry by his dilapidated shack in a small fishing hamlet near the town of Kyaukphyu.

"But I have no choice. Otherwise, my family would starve," the 28-year-old adds.&nbsp;

Brutal military operations two years ago ravaged the state’s northern fringes and triggered an exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, but central Rakhine was left largely unscathed.&nbsp;

While many countries and companies remain squeamish about investing in the state, China and other regional giants have no such qualms.&nbsp;

Billions of cubic metres of gas and millions of barrels of oil from off-shore rigs are already pumped each year from here across the country to southern China.

Beijing is now poised to cement its grip on the area with the deep-sea port, signed off in November last year, and a colossal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of garment and food processing factories.

Human rights abuses

Further offshore gas development and power stations are already under negotiation with "little if any consideration of the potential cumulative impacts", says Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) director Vicky Bowman.

Despite Myanmar's authorities facing allegations of human rights abuses, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand are also competing with China to reap the economic benefits of working with the resource-rich country.

Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in a recent interview with Japan's Nikkei that Myanmar welcomes "all friends who are happy to cooperate with us".&nbsp;

But strong local sentiment has stopped projects in the past, such as the Bejing-backed Myitsone dam in northern Kachin state which stalled in the face of country-wide opposition.&nbsp;

Today the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and SEZ are a prize piece in China's plethora of infrastructure projects spanning the globe under its Belt and Road initiative.

Myanmar last year succeeded in slashing the cost of port from $7.2bn to $1.3bn, although public details of the framework deal -- as with other Chinese-led projects in the country -- are scant.&nbsp;

China already holds the largest share -- around $4bn or 40 percent -- of Myanmar's foreign debt.

But economist and government advisor Sean Turnell says fears of the project turning into a debt-trap for Myanmar are no longer valid.

The country would not be "on the hook" if the venture failed, he says -- in other words, Myanmar would not take on any outstanding debt.

'Other people's slaves'

Soe Win from the Kyaukphyu SEZ management committee says Myanmar is "definitely" in the stronger negotiating position.&nbsp;

"We have control," he tells AFP.&nbsp;

He also insists locals will be in line for some of the 400,000 jobs the SEZ will bring to the area -- and that they will be given "very good" resettlement deals.

But farmer Saw Maung Nu's land is among territory earmarked to be swallowed up by the 4,200 acre (1,700 hectare) site and he is scared.&nbsp;

"If we’re told to leave, where will we live?" he asks, gesturing from a hilltop to neighbouring countryside snapped up by powerful army generals and cronies eager for a windfall of Chinese cash.

The precedent does not bode well.

An onshore gas plant that turned operational in 2013 saw local people turfed from their land.

"They hardly gave us any money at all," Nu Aye Thar tells AFP as she marches along a high-security fence surrounding the gasworks where she used to grow rice and vegetables.

"Without land, we’re simply other people’s slaves," the 55-year-old adds.

Activist Soe Lwin agrees, saying locals stand to lose out completely from the "uncertain" projects.

"If the money from Rakhine State were actually spent in Rakhine, it would develop overnight."

Aung Gyi is forced to fish covertly under the shroud of night in western Myanmar waters as China bids to transform the strategically key region into a shipping and industrial hub, squeezing out locals who fear being left behind in the gold rush.

Aung Gyi is forced to fish covertly under the shroud of night in western Myanmar waters as China bids to transform the strategically key region into a shipping and industrial hub, squeezing out locals who fear being left behind in the gold rush. Myanmar has declared Rakhine state, associated by many worldwide with the military's 2017 bloody crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, open for business but locals fear they are being left out of the gold rush as new rules restrict traditional practises. Paddies and teak forests will be flattened for a colossal Beijing-backed factory zone and deep-sea port, which will serve as its neighbouring giant's gateway to the Indian Ocean. But the state's promise for development comes with fishing restrictions -- the waterways have been freed up for Chinese ships -- a situation that has devastated local lives and livelihoods. "I might be beaten or arrested" if caught fishing illegally, Aung Gyi says as he lays shrimp out to dry by his dilapidated shack in a small fishing hamlet near the town of Kyaukphyu. "But I have no choice. Otherwise, my family would starve," the 28-year-old adds. Brutal military operations two years ago ravaged the state’s northern fringes and triggered an exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, but central Rakhine was left largely unscathed. While many countries and companies remain squeamish about investing in the state, China and other regional giants have no such qualms. Billions of cubic metres of gas and millions of barrels of oil from off-shore rigs are already pumped each year from here across the country to southern China. Beijing is now poised to cement its grip on the area with the deep-sea port, signed off in November last year, and a colossal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of garment and food processing factories. Human rights abuses Further offshore gas development and power stations are already under negotiation with "little if any consideration of the potential cumulative impacts", says Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) director Vicky Bowman. Despite Myanmar's authorities facing allegations of human rights abuses, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand are also competing with China to reap the economic benefits of working with the resource-rich country. Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in a recent interview with Japan's Nikkei that Myanmar welcomes "all friends who are happy to cooperate with us". But strong local sentiment has stopped projects in the past, such as the Bejing-backed Myitsone dam in northern Kachin state which stalled in the face of country-wide opposition. Today the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and SEZ are a prize piece in China's plethora of infrastructure projects spanning the globe under its Belt and Road initiative. Myanmar last year succeeded in slashing the cost of port from $7.2bn to $1.3bn, although public details of the framework deal -- as with other Chinese-led projects in the country -- are scant. China already holds the largest share -- around $4bn or 40 percent -- of Myanmar's foreign debt. But economist and government advisor Sean Turnell says fears of the project turning into a debt-trap for Myanmar are no longer valid. The country would not be "on the hook" if the venture failed, he says -- in other words, Myanmar would not take on any outstanding debt. 'Other people's slaves' Soe Win from the Kyaukphyu SEZ management committee says Myanmar is "definitely" in the stronger negotiating position. "We have control," he tells AFP. He also insists locals will be in line for some of the 400,000 jobs the SEZ will bring to the area -- and that they will be given "very good" resettlement deals. But farmer Saw Maung Nu's land is among territory earmarked to be swallowed up by the 4,200 acre (1,700 hectare) site and he is scared. "If we’re told to leave, where will we live?" he asks, gesturing from a hilltop to neighbouring countryside snapped up by powerful army generals and cronies eager for a windfall of Chinese cash. The precedent does not bode well. An onshore gas plant that turned operational in 2013 saw local people turfed from their land. "They hardly gave us any money at all," Nu Aye Thar tells AFP as she marches along a high-security fence surrounding the gasworks where she used to grow rice and vegetables. "Without land, we’re simply other people’s slaves," the 55-year-old adds. Activist Soe Lwin agrees, saying locals stand to lose out completely from the "uncertain" projects. "If the money from Rakhine State were actually spent in Rakhine, it would develop overnight."

Fear stoked by Chinese-funded port and SEZ in Myanmar's Rakhine

Around 400 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-rohingya-refugee-crisis-in-key-dates-245472">Rohingya refugees</a> have voluntarily returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh, Myanmar's embassy there said Thursday, but with previous repatriation attempts having failed Dhaka was yet to verify the claim.

Bangladesh is home to nearly a million Rohingya including 740,000 who fled a military crackdown in Rakhine state in August 2017 that the U.N. has called ethnic cleansing.&nbsp;

Myanmar's embassy posted photos on Facebook that purported to show "46 more voluntary returnees" being "warmly received" in Myanmar, taking the total number going back to 397 in an unspecified timeframe.

There was no immediate comment on the embassy statement from the Bangladeshi refugee commissioner and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Dhaka would verify the claims.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said the return of a "handful" of refugees did "not testify (to) any improvement of the ground reality in Rakhine".

Rohingya leaders have refused to return without guaranteed security and citizenship, which they are currently denied in Myanmar, and previous attempts to repatriate the Muslim minority fell flat when no-one turned up.

Since then, however, Bangladesh has imposed an internet blackout on the vast, squalid camps in the country's south-east that house the refugees, and has announced plans to surround them with barbed-wire fences.

Authorities also want to move thousands of refugees to an island in the Bay of Bengal beginning next month despite concerns for their safety from rights groups.

Around 400 Rohingya refugees have voluntarily returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh, Myanmar's embassy there said Thursday, but with previous repatriation attempts having failed Dhaka was yet to verify the claim.

Around 400 Rohingya refugees have voluntarily returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh, Myanmar's embassy there said Thursday, but with previous repatriation attempts having failed Dhaka was yet to verify the claim. Bangladesh is home to nearly a million Rohingya including 740,000 who fled a military crackdown in Rakhine state in August 2017 that the U.N. has called ethnic cleansing. Myanmar's embassy posted photos on Facebook that purported to show "46 more voluntary returnees" being "warmly received" in Myanmar, taking the total number going back to 397 in an unspecified timeframe. There was no immediate comment on the embassy statement from the Bangladeshi refugee commissioner and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Dhaka would verify the claims. But in a statement on Wednesday, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said the return of a "handful" of refugees did "not testify (to) any improvement of the ground reality in Rakhine". Rohingya leaders have refused to return without guaranteed security and citizenship, which they are currently denied in Myanmar, and previous attempts to repatriate the Muslim minority fell flat when no-one turned up. Since then, however, Bangladesh has imposed an internet blackout on the vast, squalid camps in the country's south-east that house the refugees, and has announced plans to surround them with barbed-wire fences. Authorities also want to move thousands of refugees to an island in the Bay of Bengal beginning next month despite concerns for their safety from rights groups.

Nearly 400 Rohingya return to Myanmar from Bangladesh, embassy says

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