The Mizoram police deported eight young Rohingya women, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, to neighbouring Assam on Friday after they were arrested near the border of the two states in Kolasib district a day ago, police said.

The women, aged between 18-22, were arrested at the Vairengte police checkpoint on the Mizoram-Assam border while trying to enter the state without any valid travel documents on Thursday, the police said.

The eight women were produced before a fast-track court, which fined them Rs 50 each and ordered that they should be pushed back to Assam. The state police handed them to the Young Muslim Association (YMA) of Bagha town in Assam's Cachar district.

The women have been identified as Toyabah Begum, Tasim, Noorkayash, Atariza, Swaminara Begum, Rubina, Sanwara Begum and Serkhu.

The women said they were from the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. They claimed that they were shopping at a market last Friday when a group of men abducted them. The Rohingya were taken away in a truck and brought to Silchar, the district headquarters of Cachar district.

The women said they were transported for Aizawl, where they were supposed to handed over to some people near a petrol pump at Zemabawk locality by the driver.&nbsp;

The Mizoram police deported eight young Rohingya women, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, to neighbouring Assam on Friday after they were arrested near the border of the two states in Kolasib district a day ago, police said.

The Mizoram police deported eight young Rohingya women, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, to neighbouring Assam on Friday after they were arrested near the border of the two states in Kolasib district a day ago, police said. The women, aged between 18-22, were arrested at the Vairengte police checkpoint on the Mizoram-Assam border while trying to enter the state without any valid travel documents on Thursday, the police said. The eight women were produced before a fast-track court, which fined them Rs 50 each and ordered that they should be pushed back to Assam. The state police handed them to the Young Muslim Association (YMA) of Bagha town in Assam's Cachar district. The women have been identified as Toyabah Begum, Tasim, Noorkayash, Atariza, Swaminara Begum, Rubina, Sanwara Begum and Serkhu. The women said they were from the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. They claimed that they were shopping at a market last Friday when a group of men abducted them. The Rohingya were taken away in a truck and brought to Silchar, the district headquarters of Cachar district. The women said they were transported for Aizawl, where they were supposed to handed over to some people near a petrol pump at Zemabawk locality by the driver.

8 Rohingya women deported back to Assam by Mizoram police

Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists.

The Information Ministry said around 200 insurgents stormed a police headquarters in Mrauk U before being repelled, but that they abducted four women and three children as they left.

“According to information from the Myanmar police force, the AA (committed an act of) terrorism by attacking a family dormitory and taking unrelated family members like wives and children,” the ministry said in a post on its website.

Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thu Kha said rebels had attacked a police outpost in Mrauk U - where clashes in March wounded six people - but denied they had killed or abducted any civilians.

He denied the site had any dormitory, saying rather that heavy weapons were stored there. “They were shooting from that camp and so it affected the people. So the Rakhine army cleared that. There were many casualties on the Myanmar military side.”

Rakhine came to global attention in 2017 when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims from the state across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts.

More recently, the military has been battling another armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population, who are mainly Buddhists, and is fighting for greater autonomy for the western state.

Government warplanes began strikes on Mrauk U late on Tuesday night, according to two residents, who said a one-year-old child was hospitalised.

“I don’t know whether they are fighting with AA or not,” a local monk, Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, said on Wednesday as aircraft could be heard flying overhead.

“I saw them shooting from the planes. We don’t dare to go out to the town. The planes are still flying.”

A hotel owner in Mrauk U, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said his roof had been damaged by bullets fired from the air.

“I have never experienced this before. The business is not good anymore. We cannot expect guests to come because this is happening.”

Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists.

Arakan Army rebels overran a police base in Rakhine state, killing two officers and one of their wives, the Myanmar government said on Wednesday, as fresh fighting broke out in a historic Buddhist temple town popular with tourists. The Information Ministry said around 200 insurgents stormed a police headquarters in Mrauk U before being repelled, but that they abducted four women and three children as they left. “According to information from the Myanmar police force, the AA (committed an act of) terrorism by attacking a family dormitory and taking unrelated family members like wives and children,” the ministry said in a post on its website. Arakan Army spokesman Khine Thu Kha said rebels had attacked a police outpost in Mrauk U - where clashes in March wounded six people - but denied they had killed or abducted any civilians. He denied the site had any dormitory, saying rather that heavy weapons were stored there. “They were shooting from that camp and so it affected the people. So the Rakhine army cleared that. There were many casualties on the Myanmar military side.” Rakhine came to global attention in 2017 when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya Muslims from the state across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. More recently, the military has been battling another armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population, who are mainly Buddhists, and is fighting for greater autonomy for the western state. Government warplanes began strikes on Mrauk U late on Tuesday night, according to two residents, who said a one-year-old child was hospitalised. “I don’t know whether they are fighting with AA or not,” a local monk, Myo Oo Khaung Sayataw, said on Wednesday as aircraft could be heard flying overhead. “I saw them shooting from the planes. We don’t dare to go out to the town. The planes are still flying.” A hotel owner in Mrauk U, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said his roof had been damaged by bullets fired from the air. “I have never experienced this before. The business is not good anymore. We cannot expect guests to come because this is happening.”

Myanmar rebels storm police base in Rakhine state amid fresh clashes in temple town

Bangladesh police have prevented 115 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/six-rohingyas-killed-in-helicopter-attack-were-with-terrorists-myanmar-army-208147">Rohingya refugees</a> from being smuggled to Malaysia in rickety fishing boats, officials said Saturday, but no suspected traffickers were detained.

The group from the Kutupalong camp near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar -- the biggest refugee settlement in the world -- were stopped as they headed to boats in the Bay of Bengal.

The operation, which took place late Friday, was the latest in a series involving Rohingya refugees seeking to leave squalid camps for Malaysia, a more prosperous Muslim-majority nation.

"We stopped a convoy of 15 auto-rickshaws and rescued 50 men, 39 women and 26 children," Bangladeshi police officer Anwar Hossain told AFP.

"But we could not catch any traffickers."

The officer said the Rohingya, who had already paid the traffickers some money, would be taken back to the camp.

About 740,000 of the Muslim minority Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh following a brutal military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017.&nbsp;

They joined another 300,000 Rohingya who have already been living in the overcrowded camps in the Cox's Bazar area following previous bouts of violence.&nbsp;

Thousands have risked their lives travelling to Malaysia and Thailand by boat when the Bay of Bengal is calm before monsoon season sets in at the end of March.

So far this year, Bangladeshi security forces have stopped more than 300 Rohingya from attempting the trip on small fishing boats, which experts say are not fit for deep-sea navigation.&nbsp;

The group detained Friday was the third prevented from heading to Malaysia this week alone.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said the vulnerability of Rohingya to trafficking has increased enormously as livelihoods, support networks, and other fundamental systems are disrupted.&nbsp;

"It is hard to comment on the scale of the activity, due to the clandestine nature of the activity," UNHCR spokeswoman Caroline Gluck told AFP.&nbsp;

"The community finds it difficult to speak up."

Bangladesh police have prevented 115 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia in rickety fishing boats, officials said Saturday, but no suspected traffickers were detained.

Bangladesh police have prevented 115 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia in rickety fishing boats, officials said Saturday, but no suspected traffickers were detained. The group from the Kutupalong camp near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar -- the biggest refugee settlement in the world -- were stopped as they headed to boats in the Bay of Bengal. The operation, which took place late Friday, was the latest in a series involving Rohingya refugees seeking to leave squalid camps for Malaysia, a more prosperous Muslim-majority nation. "We stopped a convoy of 15 auto-rickshaws and rescued 50 men, 39 women and 26 children," Bangladeshi police officer Anwar Hossain told AFP. "But we could not catch any traffickers." The officer said the Rohingya, who had already paid the traffickers some money, would be taken back to the camp. About 740,000 of the Muslim minority Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh following a brutal military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017. They joined another 300,000 Rohingya who have already been living in the overcrowded camps in the Cox's Bazar area following previous bouts of violence. Thousands have risked their lives travelling to Malaysia and Thailand by boat when the Bay of Bengal is calm before monsoon season sets in at the end of March. So far this year, Bangladeshi security forces have stopped more than 300 Rohingya from attempting the trip on small fishing boats, which experts say are not fit for deep-sea navigation. The group detained Friday was the third prevented from heading to Malaysia this week alone. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said the vulnerability of Rohingya to trafficking has increased enormously as livelihoods, support networks, and other fundamental systems are disrupted. "It is hard to comment on the scale of the activity, due to the clandestine nature of the activity," UNHCR spokeswoman Caroline Gluck told AFP. "The community finds it difficult to speak up."

Bangladesh stops 115 Rohingya seeking to reach Malaysia

Bangladesh is not in a hurry to relocate Rohingya refugees to a Bay of Bengal island, a minister told Reuters on Monday, after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-draws-up-plans-to-facilitate-rohingya-relocation-to-island-205126">United Nations</a> sought more details on the government's plan, criticised by some human rights groups.

Bangladesh wants to move 100,000 of the nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslims sheltered in cramped camps in its southeastern district of Cox's Bazar to the remote island, known as Bhasan Char, which it has been developing for the past two years.

The United Nations is making plans to help Bangladesh with the move, Reuters reported last week.

But in a statement on Monday, the world body called for a thorough assessment to ensure the viability of the move, saying it was discussing "critical protection and operational issues" ahead of any relocation.

"We're also examining the potential operational implications of setting up a humanitarian response on Bhasan Char, including the requirements, time frames and costs involved," it said.

Bangladesh is in talks with UN humanitarian bodies, and working on their observations, said Enamur Rahman, the junior minister for disaster management and relief."So we are going a little slow. There's no exact date to relocate," he added.

"We are not in a hurry and it will start only when all these UN bodies and Rohingya people feel the area is ready."

Rahman said the government was working to build more cyclone shelters on the island, which is hours from the mainland by boat. Many Rohingya have opposed the transfer plan.

A World Food Programme document shows the UN's food agency supplied Bangladesh with detailed plans, including a timeline and a budget, on providing for thousands of Rohingya taken to the island within weeks.

The March 12 plans show how the agency and its partners "may facilitate the identification, staging, forward movement, reception, and sustainment of refugees" on the island, based on an initial appeal for donor funds from $9 million to $19 million.

Densely-populated Bangladesh says it has been grappling with the large refugee numbers.

The number of refugees in Cox's Bazar has swelled since August 2017, when a Myanmar military-led crackdown that UN investigators have said was conducted with "genocidal intent" prompted some 730,000 Rohingya to flee.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has denied almost all accusations of atrocities made by refugees, saying its security forces engaged in a legitimate counterterrorism operation.

Bangladesh is not in a hurry to relocate Rohingya refugees to a Bay of Bengal island, a minister told Reuters on Monday, after the United Nations sought more details on the government's plan, criticised by some human rights groups.

Bangladesh is not in a hurry to relocate Rohingya refugees to a Bay of Bengal island, a minister told Reuters on Monday, after the United Nations sought more details on the government's plan, criticised by some human rights groups. Bangladesh wants to move 100,000 of the nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslims sheltered in cramped camps in its southeastern district of Cox's Bazar to the remote island, known as Bhasan Char, which it has been developing for the past two years. The United Nations is making plans to help Bangladesh with the move, Reuters reported last week. But in a statement on Monday, the world body called for a thorough assessment to ensure the viability of the move, saying it was discussing "critical protection and operational issues" ahead of any relocation. "We're also examining the potential operational implications of setting up a humanitarian response on Bhasan Char, including the requirements, time frames and costs involved," it said. Bangladesh is in talks with UN humanitarian bodies, and working on their observations, said Enamur Rahman, the junior minister for disaster management and relief."So we are going a little slow. There's no exact date to relocate," he added. "We are not in a hurry and it will start only when all these UN bodies and Rohingya people feel the area is ready." Rahman said the government was working to build more cyclone shelters on the island, which is hours from the mainland by boat. Many Rohingya have opposed the transfer plan. A World Food Programme document shows the UN's food agency supplied Bangladesh with detailed plans, including a timeline and a budget, on providing for thousands of Rohingya taken to the island within weeks. The March 12 plans show how the agency and its partners "may facilitate the identification, staging, forward movement, reception, and sustainment of refugees" on the island, based on an initial appeal for donor funds from $9 million to $19 million. Densely-populated Bangladesh says it has been grappling with the large refugee numbers. The number of refugees in Cox's Bazar has swelled since August 2017, when a Myanmar military-led crackdown that UN investigators have said was conducted with "genocidal intent" prompted some 730,000 Rohingya to flee. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has denied almost all accusations of atrocities made by refugees, saying its security forces engaged in a legitimate counterterrorism operation.

Bangladesh says no hurry to relocate Rohingya, in talks with United Nations bodies

The United Nations is making plans to help Bangladesh relocate thousands of Rohingya refugees to a remote island off its coast, documents seen by Reuters show, a move opposed by many refugees and that some human rights experts fear could spark a new crisis.

Bangladesh says transporting refugees to Bhasan Char – a Bay of Bengal island hours by boat from the mainland – will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which are home to more than 1 million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority who have fled neighbouring Myanmar.

Humanitarian and human rights groups have criticized the relocation proposal, saying the island is flood-prone, vulnerable to frequent cyclones and could be completely submerged during high tide.

A document was drawn up by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN's food aid arm, shows the agency has supplied the Bangladesh government with detailed plans – including a timeline and budget – of how it could provide for thousands of Rohingya transported to the island within weeks. It stresses that any relocation should be voluntary and done "in accordance with humanitarian principles and code of conduct".

The document, labelled as a "Concept of Operations" and dated March 12, outlines how the organization and its partners "may facilitate the identification, staging, forward movement, reception, and sustainment of refugees" on Bhasan Char, estimating an initial appeal for donor funding of between $8.6 and $19 million.

More detailed operational planning would be needed it says, noting the Concept of Operations had been "developed quickly and without the benefit of any recent on-site assessment".

Gemma Snowdon, communications officer for WFP in Cox's Bazar, said the organization was part of "ongoing discussions" with the government over the future of the refugee response.

"The viability of safely relocating people to Bhasan Char needs to be thoroughly assessed and WFP is investigating the potential operational needs, financial costs, and challenges in several areas that we traditionally support in emergencies: food security, emergency telecommunications and logistics," she said.

Refugee influx

The numbers of refugees in the Cox's Bazar camps have grown dramatically since August 2017, when a Myanmar military-led crackdown that UN investigators have said was conducted with "genocidal intent" prompted some 730,000 Rohingya to flee. Myanmar has denied almost all allegations of atrocities made by refugees during what is says was a legitimate counterterrorism operation by its security forces.

Bangladesh says it is struggling to cope with the influx and wants to start relocating thousands of refugees to the island, which it says has been secured with flood defence embankments and cyclone shelters.

A senior UN official told reporters in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Thursday the organization welcomed the fact the government had "taken steps to identify alternative settlements".

"As you also know if you have been to Kutapalong and the various camps in Cox's Bazar area, it is clear that there is huge congestion," said Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for the UN refugee agency.

Mozammel Haque, the head of Bangladesh's cabinet committee on law and order and a senior government minister, told Reuters in an interview the government planned to start moving refugees next month.

"We are in talks with UN agencies and they have agreed," he said. "Now we are working on other things like how to move them and other strategies. We are the host country. We will decide where to keep them. And we are doing everything to ensure their safety and security."

Abul Kalam, the Relief and Repatriation Commission chief based in Cox's Bazar, told Reuters preparations were "still going on" and the site was not ready.

Flood-prone island

Bhasan Char, a flat and featureless island that emerged from the sea 20 years ago, has never been inhabited.

Humanitarians have not visited since a four-hour trip in September 2018, according to WFP. An internal report produced after that visit, also seen by Reuters, found a 1,500-acre area of the 13,000-acre island had been encircled by a nine-foot (3 metre) embankment, short of the 21-foot barrier recommended by WFP.

Housing with corrugated iron roofs and concrete floors and walls for about 70,000 people had been built, but there were only enough cyclone shelters for 17,000.

A UN human rights investigator who visited in January said earlier this month she feared a "new crisis" if Rohingya were taken to the island.

"There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.

In Cox's Bazar, local officials are compiling lists of the first refugees to be moved, District Administrator Mohammad Kamal Hossain told Reuters.

On Thursday, a poem by a Rohingya refugee titled 'Do Not Send Me to the Island' was posted to social media. "I'm a human being, I deserve all human rights," it read.

"You know, we are refugees, surviving in refugee camp for two years," the author, 22-year-old Mohammed Rezuwan, told Reuters in a message. "Still we are tolerating so much tragedies."

The United Nations is making plans to help Bangladesh relocate thousands of Rohingya refugees to a remote island off its coast, documents seen by Reuters show, a move opposed by many refugees and that some human rights experts fear could spark a new crisis.

The United Nations is making plans to help Bangladesh relocate thousands of Rohingya refugees to a remote island off its coast, documents seen by Reuters show, a move opposed by many refugees and that some human rights experts fear could spark a new crisis. Bangladesh says transporting refugees to Bhasan Char – a Bay of Bengal island hours by boat from the mainland – will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which are home to more than 1 million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority who have fled neighbouring Myanmar. Humanitarian and human rights groups have criticized the relocation proposal, saying the island is flood-prone, vulnerable to frequent cyclones and could be completely submerged during high tide. A document was drawn up by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN's food aid arm, shows the agency has supplied the Bangladesh government with detailed plans – including a timeline and budget – of how it could provide for thousands of Rohingya transported to the island within weeks. It stresses that any relocation should be voluntary and done "in accordance with humanitarian principles and code of conduct". The document, labelled as a "Concept of Operations" and dated March 12, outlines how the organization and its partners "may facilitate the identification, staging, forward movement, reception, and sustainment of refugees" on Bhasan Char, estimating an initial appeal for donor funding of between $8.6 and $19 million. More detailed operational planning would be needed it says, noting the Concept of Operations had been "developed quickly and without the benefit of any recent on-site assessment". Gemma Snowdon, communications officer for WFP in Cox's Bazar, said the organization was part of "ongoing discussions" with the government over the future of the refugee response. "The viability of safely relocating people to Bhasan Char needs to be thoroughly assessed and WFP is investigating the potential operational needs, financial costs, and challenges in several areas that we traditionally support in emergencies: food security, emergency telecommunications and logistics," she said. Refugee influx The numbers of refugees in the Cox's Bazar camps have grown dramatically since August 2017, when a Myanmar military-led crackdown that UN investigators have said was conducted with "genocidal intent" prompted some 730,000 Rohingya to flee. Myanmar has denied almost all allegations of atrocities made by refugees during what is says was a legitimate counterterrorism operation by its security forces. Bangladesh says it is struggling to cope with the influx and wants to start relocating thousands of refugees to the island, which it says has been secured with flood defence embankments and cyclone shelters. A senior UN official told reporters in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Thursday the organization welcomed the fact the government had "taken steps to identify alternative settlements". "As you also know if you have been to Kutapalong and the various camps in Cox's Bazar area, it is clear that there is huge congestion," said Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for the UN refugee agency. Mozammel Haque, the head of Bangladesh's cabinet committee on law and order and a senior government minister, told Reuters in an interview the government planned to start moving refugees next month. "We are in talks with UN agencies and they have agreed," he said. "Now we are working on other things like how to move them and other strategies. We are the host country. We will decide where to keep them. And we are doing everything to ensure their safety and security." Abul Kalam, the Relief and Repatriation Commission chief based in Cox's Bazar, told Reuters preparations were "still going on" and the site was not ready. Flood-prone island Bhasan Char, a flat and featureless island that emerged from the sea 20 years ago, has never been inhabited. Humanitarians have not visited since a four-hour trip in September 2018, according to WFP. An internal report produced after that visit, also seen by Reuters, found a 1,500-acre area of the 13,000-acre island had been encircled by a nine-foot (3 metre) embankment, short of the 21-foot barrier recommended by WFP. Housing with corrugated iron roofs and concrete floors and walls for about 70,000 people had been built, but there were only enough cyclone shelters for 17,000. A UN human rights investigator who visited in January said earlier this month she feared a "new crisis" if Rohingya were taken to the island. "There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. In Cox's Bazar, local officials are compiling lists of the first refugees to be moved, District Administrator Mohammad Kamal Hossain told Reuters. On Thursday, a poem by a Rohingya refugee titled 'Do Not Send Me to the Island' was posted to social media. "I'm a human being, I deserve all human rights," it read. "You know, we are refugees, surviving in refugee camp for two years," the author, 22-year-old Mohammed Rezuwan, told Reuters in a message. "Still we are tolerating so much tragedies."

UN draws up plans to ‘facilitate’ Rohingya relocation to island

A Myanmar court on Tuesday sentenced a prominent ethnic Rakhine leader to 20 years in jail for treason, a verdict likely to intensify anger amid fighting between the ethnic group and the army.

Security forces tried to calm hundreds of supporters outside the court in Rakhine state capital Sittwe as Aye Maung was escorted to a waiting police van following the verdict.

Aye Maung, the former chairman of the Arakan National Party -- which is renowned for hardline views against the Rohingya Muslim minority -- was sentenced for treason and defamation over an allegedly inflammatory speech in January 2018, a day before deadly riots.

State-backed media at the time said he railed against the central government for treating the ethnic Rakhine as "slaves" and said it was the "right time" for the community to launch an armed struggle.

The following evening, Rakhine protesters briefly seized a government building and police opened fire, killing seven people.

Aye Maung and a fellow detainee -- writer Wai Hin Aung, who also gave a speech at the same rally -- were detained days later.

"Both Dr Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung were sentenced to 20 years each... for the charge of high treason and two years each for defamation of the state," Wai Hin Aung's defence lawyer Aye Nu Sein told AFP.

Myanmar's Rakhine state is cut by violence and hatred.

A brutal military crackdown in 2017 forced some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims over the border into Bangladesh.

Yet the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist population, some of whom are accused of aiding soldiers in the anti-Rohingya campaign, also feels marginalised by the state.

The lawyer said they were discussing whether to appeal.

Treason can carry the death sentence.

'Oppression and bullying'

Supporters of the pair were enraged by the perceived persecution of two prominent Rakhine figures.

"This is not fair. This is oppression and bullying of ethnic Rakhine people," one woman shouted in front of court, as the protesters spread to the centre of the town.

In recent weeks, the military has waged war on the Arakan Army (AA), an armed group claiming to represent the ethnic Rakhine.

The group launched a brazen attack on police posts in early January that killed 13 officers and killed nine more policemen earlier this month.

The violence has spread to the ancient temple city of Mrauk U, the former capital of the Rakhine kingdom and a popular tourist site -- the same town where Aye Maung gave his controversial speech last year.

Support for the AA has grown with the fighting, even though several thousand Rakhine have been forced from their homes by the violence.

A further 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine without citizenship, restricted to either camps or their villages, many unable to access medical care.

Much of northern Rakhine is in lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently.

A Myanmar court on Tuesday sentenced a prominent ethnic Rakhine leader to 20 years in jail for treason, a verdict likely to intensify anger amid fighting between the ethnic group and the army.

A Myanmar court on Tuesday sentenced a prominent ethnic Rakhine leader to 20 years in jail for treason, a verdict likely to intensify anger amid fighting between the ethnic group and the army. Security forces tried to calm hundreds of supporters outside the court in Rakhine state capital Sittwe as Aye Maung was escorted to a waiting police van following the verdict. Aye Maung, the former chairman of the Arakan National Party -- which is renowned for hardline views against the Rohingya Muslim minority -- was sentenced for treason and defamation over an allegedly inflammatory speech in January 2018, a day before deadly riots. State-backed media at the time said he railed against the central government for treating the ethnic Rakhine as "slaves" and said it was the "right time" for the community to launch an armed struggle. The following evening, Rakhine protesters briefly seized a government building and police opened fire, killing seven people. Aye Maung and a fellow detainee -- writer Wai Hin Aung, who also gave a speech at the same rally -- were detained days later. "Both Dr Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung were sentenced to 20 years each... for the charge of high treason and two years each for defamation of the state," Wai Hin Aung's defence lawyer Aye Nu Sein told AFP. Myanmar's Rakhine state is cut by violence and hatred. A brutal military crackdown in 2017 forced some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims over the border into Bangladesh. Yet the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist population, some of whom are accused of aiding soldiers in the anti-Rohingya campaign, also feels marginalised by the state. The lawyer said they were discussing whether to appeal. Treason can carry the death sentence. 'Oppression and bullying' Supporters of the pair were enraged by the perceived persecution of two prominent Rakhine figures. "This is not fair. This is oppression and bullying of ethnic Rakhine people," one woman shouted in front of court, as the protesters spread to the centre of the town. In recent weeks, the military has waged war on the Arakan Army (AA), an armed group claiming to represent the ethnic Rakhine. The group launched a brazen attack on police posts in early January that killed 13 officers and killed nine more policemen earlier this month. The violence has spread to the ancient temple city of Mrauk U, the former capital of the Rakhine kingdom and a popular tourist site -- the same town where Aye Maung gave his controversial speech last year. Support for the AA has grown with the fighting, even though several thousand Rakhine have been forced from their homes by the violence. A further 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine without citizenship, restricted to either camps or their villages, many unable to access medical care. Much of northern Rakhine is in lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently.

Myanmar court jails Arakan National Party's former chairman Aye Maung for 20 years for treason

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday.

Following a visit to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;refugee camps, the ICC's Phakiso Mochochoko said the fact that Myanmar is not a signatory to the Hague-based international court "will not in any way be a hindrance" to an investigation.

"It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced a situation like this in the past and we've been able to deal with them," the court's director of jurisdiction told reporters in the capital Dhaka.

Mochochoko made the comments after leading a delegation to&nbsp;Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, home to around one million Rohingya refugees.

The delegation, however, clarified that its visit to the camps was not a part of any investigation but to collect insights for an ongoing assessment of the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda whether to warrant a full investigation.

"A preliminary examination is not an investigation, but an assessment of the Rome Statute criteria to decide whether an investigation into the situation at hand is warranted," he said.

"Therefore during this mission, as is standard practice of the Office, the delegation did not collect evidence or perform any other investigative activities," Mochochoko said.

About 740,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;since August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown that UN officials described as "ethnic cleansing". Thousands more arrived in previous years following earlier bouts of anti-Rohingya violence.

Mochochoko said the preliminary probe would be "all about individual responsibility".

"The people who are responsible, the people who gave instruction, the people who commanded, the people who did all the other things and facilitated the commission of this crime," he said.

"The prosecutor is bound or intended to ensure that accountability for the suffering of the Rohingya people is met and those who are responsible for the atrocity that happened there are brought to account," he added.

The visit came after judges last year ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;is a member.

Last month Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- of which&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;is a member -- in a meeting in Abu Dhabi unanimously adopted a resolution to move at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for establishing the legal rights of the Rohingya and addressing the question of accountability and justice, Dhaka's foreign ministry said.

Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday.

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday. Following a visit to Bangladesh refugee camps, the ICC's Phakiso Mochochoko said the fact that Myanmar is not a signatory to the Hague-based international court "will not in any way be a hindrance" to an investigation. "It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced a situation like this in the past and we've been able to deal with them," the court's director of jurisdiction told reporters in the capital Dhaka. Mochochoko made the comments after leading a delegation to Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, home to around one million Rohingya refugees. The delegation, however, clarified that its visit to the camps was not a part of any investigation but to collect insights for an ongoing assessment of the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda whether to warrant a full investigation. "A preliminary examination is not an investigation, but an assessment of the Rome Statute criteria to decide whether an investigation into the situation at hand is warranted," he said. "Therefore during this mission, as is standard practice of the Office, the delegation did not collect evidence or perform any other investigative activities," Mochochoko said. About 740,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown that UN officials described as "ethnic cleansing". Thousands more arrived in previous years following earlier bouts of anti-Rohingya violence. Mochochoko said the preliminary probe would be "all about individual responsibility". "The people who are responsible, the people who gave instruction, the people who commanded, the people who did all the other things and facilitated the commission of this crime," he said. "The prosecutor is bound or intended to ensure that accountability for the suffering of the Rohingya people is met and those who are responsible for the atrocity that happened there are brought to account," he added. The visit came after judges last year ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh is a member. Last month Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- of which Bangladesh is a member -- in a meeting in Abu Dhabi unanimously adopted a resolution to move at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for establishing the legal rights of the Rohingya and addressing the question of accountability and justice, Dhaka's foreign ministry said. Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

Individuals responsible for Rohingya atrocities will face justice: International Criminal Court

Officials from the International Criminal Court are in Bangladesh as part of a preliminary examination of whether a prosecution over the alleged deportations of Rohingya could be mounted, a UN human rights investigator said on Monday.

"I am very hopeful. This is something that was unprecedented. It is a tiny step forward but I really do wish that this would open the floodgates (of justice)," said Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur into human rights in Myanmar, adding that the ICC team were not interviewing victims.

Last September the ICC prosecutor opened a preliminary examination into whether alleged forced deportations of Rohingya from Myanmar could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. Bangladesh is a member of the court, although Myanmar is not and rejects its jurisdiction.

Officials from the International Criminal Court are in Bangladesh as part of a preliminary examination of whether a prosecution over the alleged deportations of Rohingya could be mounted, a UN human rights investigator said on Monday.

Officials from the International Criminal Court are in Bangladesh as part of a preliminary examination of whether a prosecution over the alleged deportations of Rohingya could be mounted, a UN human rights investigator said on Monday. "I am very hopeful. This is something that was unprecedented. It is a tiny step forward but I really do wish that this would open the floodgates (of justice)," said Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur into human rights in Myanmar, adding that the ICC team were not interviewing victims. Last September the ICC prosecutor opened a preliminary examination into whether alleged forced deportations of Rohingya from Myanmar could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. Bangladesh is a member of the court, although Myanmar is not and rejects its jurisdiction.

International Criminal Court officials visit Bangladesh to look into Myanmar case: United Nations investigator

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dozens-of-rohingya-found-on-malaysian-beach-officials-200586">Rohingya refugees</a> to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis".

Bangladesh says moving the refugees to Bhasan Char — which means "floating island" — will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which hold some 730,000 Rohingya. The UN&nbsp;says the Muslim minority fled mass killings and rapes committed during an army crackdown in western Rakhine state since August 2017.

Some humanitarian groups have criticised the relocation plan, saying the island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot provide a livelihood for thousands of people.

"There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, UN&nbsp;special rapporteur on Myanmar, who visited the island in the Bay of Bengal in January.

"Ill-planned relocation, and relocations without the consent of the refugees concerned, have the potential to create a new crisis. It is incumbent on the government of Bangladesh to ensure that this is not brought about," she told the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council.

There was no immediate reaction from the Dhaka government.

Lee, who is banned by Myanmar's government from visiting, also told the Geneva forum that up to 10,000 civilians are reported to have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state since November due to violence and a lack of humanitarian aid.

She urged the UN&nbsp;Security Council to refer alleged atrocities against Rohingya and other ethnic groups in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encouraged Yangon to accept its jurisdiction.

But Myanmar's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, promptly rejected this, saying the Hague-based court had "no jurisdiction over Myanmar whatsoever".

"Whilst the governrnent is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, Myanmar is fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is credible evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine State," he said.

The most pressing task is to focus on a speedy start to repatriating the refugees, he said, without using the word 'Rohingya' - who are mostly stateless in Myanmar. 
&nbsp;

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis".

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis". Bangladesh says moving the refugees to Bhasan Char — which means "floating island" — will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which hold some 730,000 Rohingya. The UN says the Muslim minority fled mass killings and rapes committed during an army crackdown in western Rakhine state since August 2017. Some humanitarian groups have criticised the relocation plan, saying the island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot provide a livelihood for thousands of people. "There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, who visited the island in the Bay of Bengal in January. "Ill-planned relocation, and relocations without the consent of the refugees concerned, have the potential to create a new crisis. It is incumbent on the government of Bangladesh to ensure that this is not brought about," she told the UN Human Rights Council. There was no immediate reaction from the Dhaka government. Lee, who is banned by Myanmar's government from visiting, also told the Geneva forum that up to 10,000 civilians are reported to have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state since November due to violence and a lack of humanitarian aid. She urged the UN Security Council to refer alleged atrocities against Rohingya and other ethnic groups in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encouraged Yangon to accept its jurisdiction. But Myanmar's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, promptly rejected this, saying the Hague-based court had "no jurisdiction over Myanmar whatsoever". "Whilst the governrnent is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, Myanmar is fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is credible evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine State," he said. The most pressing task is to focus on a speedy start to repatriating the refugees, he said, without using the word 'Rohingya' - who are mostly stateless in Myanmar.

United Nations envoy fears 'new crisis' for Rohingya if moved to Bangladesh island

A woman widowed in the latest deadly attack by ethnic Rakhine rebels called on the army and insurgents to lay down arms and talk, as violence rips through the troubled western Myanmar state.

Rakhine state is riven by ethnic and religious divisions and was the epicentre of the bloody military crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017, which pushed some 740,000 over the border into Bangladesh.

But the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nine-policemen-killed-in-militant-attack-in-myanmars-rakhine-202289">armed forces are now waging war against the Arakan Army</a> (AA), which claims to represent the state's ethnic Rakhine Buddhists -- a population that also stands accused of aiding soldiers in their expulsion of the Rohingya.

There is widespread support for the rebels among ethnic Rakhine, who live in one of Myanmar's poorest states.

When Ma Oo Khin's family heard shooting during the attack on Saturday night that left nine officers dead, they fell cowering to the ground.

It was only afterwards the 42-year-old discovered her husband was one of the victims, his body already wrapped in plastic.

With pools of blood still visible in the dust of the ramshackle police compound, she urged both the security forces and the rebels to halt the violence and start talking.

"I want to ask both sides to negotiate with each other. I don't want to see anyone else die," she told AFP.

"The AA is asking for their people's autonomy, but the police are serving the country too."&nbsp;

The rebel group has expanded its ranks since its formation in 2009 and is now believed to have several thousand recruits.

A brazen attack against four police posts that killed 13 police officers in early January triggered a major military response.

Thousands of troops have been deployed using heavy artillery against AA positions in northern Rakhine.

The area is in strict lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently.

But several thousand people have been forced from their homes, while assassinations and bomb attacks seed insecurity across the state.&nbsp;

A verdict in the trial of a popular Rakhine politician for alleged treason that could prove to be a further flashpoint, is expected next week.

Aye Maung is accused of inciting Rakhine people in a speech last year to take arms and rise up against the country’s ethnic-Bamar (Burmese) majority.

A woman widowed in the latest deadly attack by ethnic Rakhine rebels called on the army and insurgents to lay down arms and talk, as violence rips through the troubled western Myanmar state.

A woman widowed in the latest deadly attack by ethnic Rakhine rebels called on the army and insurgents to lay down arms and talk, as violence rips through the troubled western Myanmar state. Rakhine state is riven by ethnic and religious divisions and was the epicentre of the bloody military crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017, which pushed some 740,000 over the border into Bangladesh. But the armed forces are now waging war against the Arakan Army (AA), which claims to represent the state's ethnic Rakhine Buddhists -- a population that also stands accused of aiding soldiers in their expulsion of the Rohingya. There is widespread support for the rebels among ethnic Rakhine, who live in one of Myanmar's poorest states. When Ma Oo Khin's family heard shooting during the attack on Saturday night that left nine officers dead, they fell cowering to the ground. It was only afterwards the 42-year-old discovered her husband was one of the victims, his body already wrapped in plastic. With pools of blood still visible in the dust of the ramshackle police compound, she urged both the security forces and the rebels to halt the violence and start talking. "I want to ask both sides to negotiate with each other. I don't want to see anyone else die," she told AFP. "The AA is asking for their people's autonomy, but the police are serving the country too." The rebel group has expanded its ranks since its formation in 2009 and is now believed to have several thousand recruits. A brazen attack against four police posts that killed 13 police officers in early January triggered a major military response. Thousands of troops have been deployed using heavy artillery against AA positions in northern Rakhine. The area is in strict lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently. But several thousand people have been forced from their homes, while assassinations and bomb attacks seed insecurity across the state. A verdict in the trial of a popular Rakhine politician for alleged treason that could prove to be a further flashpoint, is expected next week. Aye Maung is accused of inciting Rakhine people in a speech last year to take arms and rise up against the country’s ethnic-Bamar (Burmese) majority.

Myanmar woman widowed in Rakhine attack pleads for peace

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims. 730000 of these hapless people have fled Myanmar. The United Nation’s suggestion is a prudent one and can be an effective tool to ensure that human rights are not abrogated by states, not only with respect to Myanmar but also in general terms.

Human rights accrue to people by virtue of being human. These are an intrinsic good which must not only be protected but also promoted. But, in practice, what is observed is that there is tension between human rights, states and sovereignty thereof. &nbsp;Overlaying these countervailing forces to human rights is geopolitics which does not attach much import and significance to these. Often times, states, even in the developed world, are in breach of human rights in one form or the other. Consider the United States whose self-perception is that of a liberal democracy wherein the individual rules the roost, so to speak. But, in practice, besides obvious structural and institutional issues with African Americans, access to justice is prohibitively expensive making, in the process, a mockery of individual and human rights. 
 
In the less developed world, especially in conflict zones, there is a deep and visceral tension between human rights and state(s). Owing to the precedence of state interests or raison d’etat, and other prosaic matters, states abrogating and violating human rights do so almost with impunity, usually behind the shield of state sovereignty. 
 
This is a reality that can be observed with empirical precision as far as the killing fields of Syria, Myanmar, and other places. The international state system and the foreign policies of states, oriented as they are toward state interests have proven to be woefully inadequate in protecting and promoting human rights. Where then can relief be found?

In markets. Perhaps. 
&nbsp; 
While much has been made of “de-globalisation” and allied trends, the fact is that even though the large megatrend of globalisation might have slowed down, but it has not disappeared. Globalisation is real and while its momentum might have dissipated, it is a historical reality that can neither be wished away nor be made to disappear. The relevance of globalisation to human rights and to the thematic issue dwelt upon in this essay is that counterintuitively perhaps, the propelling forces of the idea and its practice can be used to protect human rights. The reference here is to markets. 
 
In a globalised world where autarky or self-sufficiency is passé and where interdependence is the norm, markets can be employed to discipline states. Capital flows, both portfolio and foreign direct investment, the quest for the Rate of Return and yield, among other things, constitute the sine qua non of economic growth, in this day and age. And, economic growth not only is essential for obvious reasons but it also accords legitimacy to regimes and governments. Stop the tap, so to speak, a given nation-state can be brought to its knees. Obiter dictum, while financial economists can debate the extent of the correlation between financial markets and the real economy, that there is a link is almost indubitable. If markets take a tumble, the real economy is impinged upon, pretty drastically at times, as was demonstrated all too eloquently in and during the 2008 financial crisis.

The key here lies with investors who, as an assorted and a diverse class, can choose to punish and discipline a given state that is killing, maiming, and persecuting its own people. Minds of the policy and political elite of the “target country” can then be concentrated with such poignancy and alacrity that no sanctions or reproach by other states or non-state organisations can do. The United Nations, as an international body, is hamstrung by issues of a structural nature, the most potent of which is state sovereignty and the shield it accords to states who can do whatever they live within their respective jurisdictions. The states constituting the international system are too caught up by raison d’etat to do anything substantive about human rights. It might, however, be markets that can constitute a robust disciplinary force that not only protect but promote human rights.

It is here that the United Nations’ suggestion to investors, with respect to Myanmar, becomes relevant. Let foreign investors see Myanmar as a test case and let it be the starting point for and of markets to be used for good.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims.

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims. 730000 of these hapless people have fled Myanmar. The United Nation’s suggestion is a prudent one and can be an effective tool to ensure that human rights are not abrogated by states, not only with respect to Myanmar but also in general terms. Human rights accrue to people by virtue of being human. These are an intrinsic good which must not only be protected but also promoted. But, in practice, what is observed is that there is tension between human rights, states and sovereignty thereof. Overlaying these countervailing forces to human rights is geopolitics which does not attach much import and significance to these. Often times, states, even in the developed world, are in breach of human rights in one form or the other. Consider the United States whose self-perception is that of a liberal democracy wherein the individual rules the roost, so to speak. But, in practice, besides obvious structural and institutional issues with African Americans, access to justice is prohibitively expensive making, in the process, a mockery of individual and human rights. In the less developed world, especially in conflict zones, there is a deep and visceral tension between human rights and state(s). Owing to the precedence of state interests or raison d’etat, and other prosaic matters, states abrogating and violating human rights do so almost with impunity, usually behind the shield of state sovereignty. This is a reality that can be observed with empirical precision as far as the killing fields of Syria, Myanmar, and other places. The international state system and the foreign policies of states, oriented as they are toward state interests have proven to be woefully inadequate in protecting and promoting human rights. Where then can relief be found? In markets. Perhaps. While much has been made of “de-globalisation” and allied trends, the fact is that even though the large megatrend of globalisation might have slowed down, but it has not disappeared. Globalisation is real and while its momentum might have dissipated, it is a historical reality that can neither be wished away nor be made to disappear. The relevance of globalisation to human rights and to the thematic issue dwelt upon in this essay is that counterintuitively perhaps, the propelling forces of the idea and its practice can be used to protect human rights. The reference here is to markets. In a globalised world where autarky or self-sufficiency is passé and where interdependence is the norm, markets can be employed to discipline states. Capital flows, both portfolio and foreign direct investment, the quest for the Rate of Return and yield, among other things, constitute the sine qua non of economic growth, in this day and age. And, economic growth not only is essential for obvious reasons but it also accords legitimacy to regimes and governments. Stop the tap, so to speak, a given nation-state can be brought to its knees. Obiter dictum, while financial economists can debate the extent of the correlation between financial markets and the real economy, that there is a link is almost indubitable. If markets take a tumble, the real economy is impinged upon, pretty drastically at times, as was demonstrated all too eloquently in and during the 2008 financial crisis. The key here lies with investors who, as an assorted and a diverse class, can choose to punish and discipline a given state that is killing, maiming, and persecuting its own people. Minds of the policy and political elite of the “target country” can then be concentrated with such poignancy and alacrity that no sanctions or reproach by other states or non-state organisations can do. The United Nations, as an international body, is hamstrung by issues of a structural nature, the most potent of which is state sovereignty and the shield it accords to states who can do whatever they live within their respective jurisdictions. The states constituting the international system are too caught up by raison d’etat to do anything substantive about human rights. It might, however, be markets that can constitute a robust disciplinary force that not only protect but promote human rights. It is here that the United Nations’ suggestion to investors, with respect to Myanmar, becomes relevant. Let foreign investors see Myanmar as a test case and let it be the starting point for and of markets to be used for good. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Myanmar crisis: In conflict zones, there exists a deep conflict between human rights and states

Social media firms and foreign investors must do more to ensure they support human rights in Myanmar, UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee said on Tuesday, suggesting Facebook was failing to treat parties to the country's conflict even-handedly.

Myanmar has been trying to attract foreign investors and divert attention from 730,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled the country since 2017. A UN inquiry blamed the exodus on a military campaign with "genocidal intent", which the government denies.

Facebook said this month it had banned four insurgent groups fighting Myanmar's military after it was criticised for not doing enough to block content fuelling the conflict. Lee said she was concerned that Facebook had not banned Myanmar's army and allied armed groups as well.

"Contrary to achieving the stated aim of decreasing tensions, this selective banning may contribute to feelings of inequality by ethnic minorities," Lee said in a report she will present to the UN Human Rights Council on March 11.

"Public institutions linked to the military, its supporters, extremist religious groups and members of the government continue to proliferate hate speech and misinformation on Facebook."

Investigations

The company said it had taken steps to ban "hate figures, hate organisations and military officials" from Facebook in Myanmar. Its investigations were ongoing and not limited to the four groups it had blacklisted.

"We don't want anyone to use Facebook to incite or promote violence, no matter who they are," it said in a statement.

Lee's report did not detail the steps taken by other social media firms. But it aims to ensure platforms "including Facebook and Twitter" respect human rights and do due diligence to "fully understand the Myanmar context and act responsibly".

Twitter, which prohibits account holders from expressing hate or making threats of violence towards a person or group, declined to comment specifically on Myanmar.

Myanmar denies allegations of mass killings and rape and says its military offensive was a legitimate response to an insurgent threat and that it is welcoming the refugees back.

The government has refused to let Lee in and rejected a request to visit in January, saying her reports invariably lacked impartiality.

Last week Kyaw Tin, Myanmar's Minister for International Cooperation, told the council human rights must be understood in historical and cultural contexts and regretted the world's focus on Rakhine State, from where the Rohingya fled.

Lee's report also examined Myanmar's mining industry.

"Unchecked extraction" of resources brought militarisation and associated abuses such as rape and forced labour, it said.

Fresh sanctions should be considered on two military-run conglomerates, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), Lee said.

Social media firms and foreign investors must do more to ensure they support human rights in Myanmar, UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee said on Tuesday, suggesting Facebook was failing to treat parties to the country's conflict even-handedly.

Social media firms and foreign investors must do more to ensure they support human rights in Myanmar, UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee said on Tuesday, suggesting Facebook was failing to treat parties to the country's conflict even-handedly. Myanmar has been trying to attract foreign investors and divert attention from 730,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled the country since 2017. A UN inquiry blamed the exodus on a military campaign with "genocidal intent", which the government denies. Facebook said this month it had banned four insurgent groups fighting Myanmar's military after it was criticised for not doing enough to block content fuelling the conflict. Lee said she was concerned that Facebook had not banned Myanmar's army and allied armed groups as well. "Contrary to achieving the stated aim of decreasing tensions, this selective banning may contribute to feelings of inequality by ethnic minorities," Lee said in a report she will present to the UN Human Rights Council on March 11. "Public institutions linked to the military, its supporters, extremist religious groups and members of the government continue to proliferate hate speech and misinformation on Facebook." Investigations The company said it had taken steps to ban "hate figures, hate organisations and military officials" from Facebook in Myanmar. Its investigations were ongoing and not limited to the four groups it had blacklisted. "We don't want anyone to use Facebook to incite or promote violence, no matter who they are," it said in a statement. Lee's report did not detail the steps taken by other social media firms. But it aims to ensure platforms "including Facebook and Twitter" respect human rights and do due diligence to "fully understand the Myanmar context and act responsibly". Twitter, which prohibits account holders from expressing hate or making threats of violence towards a person or group, declined to comment specifically on Myanmar. Myanmar denies allegations of mass killings and rape and says its military offensive was a legitimate response to an insurgent threat and that it is welcoming the refugees back. The government has refused to let Lee in and rejected a request to visit in January, saying her reports invariably lacked impartiality. Last week Kyaw Tin, Myanmar's Minister for International Cooperation, told the council human rights must be understood in historical and cultural contexts and regretted the world's focus on Rakhine State, from where the Rohingya fled. Lee's report also examined Myanmar's mining industry. "Unchecked extraction" of resources brought militarisation and associated abuses such as rape and forced labour, it said. Fresh sanctions should be considered on two military-run conglomerates, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), Lee said.

United Nations urges social media, investors to promote human rights in Myanmar

The United Nations on Friday stressed that refugees fleeing conflict should be granted safe haven after Bangladesh declared that it would no longer take in Myanmar's Rohingya.

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told the Security Council on Thursday that the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-tells-un-it-will-no-longer-take-in-myanmar-refugees-200371"> refugee crisis had gone from "bad to worse" </a>and deplored the fact that none of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had returned home.

"Bangladesh has been amazingly generous in the support they have given the Rohingya refugees," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"It is important that people fleeing conflict are able to find safe haven wherever they go."

Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return.

Haque told a council meeting on Myanmar that "Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar", suggesting that his government was ready to close the border to refugees.

Around 740,000 Muslim Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Myanmar's northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.

"Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a persecuted minority population of a neighbouring country?" asked the foreign secretary.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is conducting an internal review of the world body's operations in Myanmar following accusations that UN officials in the country ignored warning signs of the attacks against the Rohingya.

The UN spokesman said the review led by Guatemalan diplomat Gert Rosenthal was to provide "possible lessons learned for the future" and advise on the way forward.

Britain's Guardian newspaper first reported on the inquiry on Tuesday that will focus on the UN's failure to prevent the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

Some of the criticism has focussed on allegations that the UN resident coordinator, Renata Lok-Dessallien, downplayed concerns about worsening abuses against the Rohingya and sought to prioritize economic development at the expense of human rights.

The UN has denied those claims.

The United Nations on Friday stressed that refugees fleeing conflict should be granted safe haven after Bangladesh declared that it would no longer take in Myanmar's Rohingya.

The United Nations on Friday stressed that refugees fleeing conflict should be granted safe haven after Bangladesh declared that it would no longer take in Myanmar's Rohingya. Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told the Security Council on Thursday that the refugee crisis had gone from "bad to worse" and deplored the fact that none of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had returned home. "Bangladesh has been amazingly generous in the support they have given the Rohingya refugees," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "It is important that people fleeing conflict are able to find safe haven wherever they go." Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return. Haque told a council meeting on Myanmar that "Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar", suggesting that his government was ready to close the border to refugees. Around 740,000 Muslim Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Myanmar's northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. "Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a persecuted minority population of a neighbouring country?" asked the foreign secretary. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is conducting an internal review of the world body's operations in Myanmar following accusations that UN officials in the country ignored warning signs of the attacks against the Rohingya. The UN spokesman said the review led by Guatemalan diplomat Gert Rosenthal was to provide "possible lessons learned for the future" and advise on the way forward. Britain's Guardian newspaper first reported on the inquiry on Tuesday that will focus on the UN's failure to prevent the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Some of the criticism has focussed on allegations that the UN resident coordinator, Renata Lok-Dessallien, downplayed concerns about worsening abuses against the Rohingya and sought to prioritize economic development at the expense of human rights. The UN has denied those claims.

United Nations urges Bangladesh not to close door to Myanmar refugees

Bangladesh told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it will no longer be able to take in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-refugees-at-risk-as-cyclone-season-nears-red-cross-198134">refugees from Myanmar</a>.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a council meeting that the crisis over the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had gone from "bad to worse" and urged the council to take "decisive" action.

Around 740,000 Muslim <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-rohingyas-arrested-from-lumding-railway-station-in-assam-197959">Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh</a> after they were driven out of Myanmar's northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.

"Here, I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar," said Haque.

Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return.

"Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a persecuted minority population of a neighbouring country?" asked the foreign secretary.

After five trips to Myanmar, UN envoy Christine Schraner Burgener reported, "slow progress" in efforts to help hundreds of thousands of Rohingya return home and warned that Myanmar's elections next year could worsen the crisis.

The Swiss diplomat, who was appointed in April as UN envoy for Myanmar, said UN agencies had been given "insufficient" access to help prepare the return of the Rohingya.

Myanmar appeals for patience

Myanmar's Ambassador Hau Do Suan insisted his government was taking steps and appealed for patience.&nbsp;

He spoke of "huge physical as well as psychological barriers" in the way of allowing the refugees' return and stressed that "it takes time and patience as well as courage to build trust and confidence among different communities in Rakhine."

China, which has close ties with Myanmar's former military junta, insisted that development aid could help ease tensions in Rakhine and made clear the council should not get involved in addressing the refugee crisis.

"It is up to the two countries to work out a solution," said Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wu Haitao.&nbsp;

In December, Britain circulated a draft resolution that would have forced Myanmar to roll out a strategy for addressing the Rohingya crisis, but China threatened to veto the measure, according to diplomats.

"We are very disappointed that there hasn't been more progress on getting the refugees back," said British Ambassador Karen Pierce.

"The scale of what has been done to the Rohingya Muslims and the allegations of crimes against humanity really mark this out as one of the most terrible events of this century so far," said Pierce.

The UN envoy warned that the election campaign "could add to the domestic complexities" in Myanmar, which is still struggling with a democratic transition after 50 years of military rule.

Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been criticized for failing to speak out to defend the Rohingya, is seeking to consolidate her position ahead of the 2020 vote.

Myanmar's military dominates the Buddhist-majority nation, holding a quarter of seats in parliament and controlling three ministries, making their grip on power firm despite political reforms which began in 2011.

Bangladesh told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it will no longer be able to take in refugees from Myanmar. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a council meeting that the crisis over the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had gone from "bad to worse" and urged the council to take "decisive" action.

Bangladesh told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it will no longer be able to take in refugees from Myanmar. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a council meeting that the crisis over the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had gone from "bad to worse" and urged the council to take "decisive" action. Around 740,000 Muslim Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Myanmar's northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. "Here, I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar," said Haque. Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return. "Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a persecuted minority population of a neighbouring country?" asked the foreign secretary. After five trips to Myanmar, UN envoy Christine Schraner Burgener reported, "slow progress" in efforts to help hundreds of thousands of Rohingya return home and warned that Myanmar's elections next year could worsen the crisis. The Swiss diplomat, who was appointed in April as UN envoy for Myanmar, said UN agencies had been given "insufficient" access to help prepare the return of the Rohingya. Myanmar appeals for patience Myanmar's Ambassador Hau Do Suan insisted his government was taking steps and appealed for patience. He spoke of "huge physical as well as psychological barriers" in the way of allowing the refugees' return and stressed that "it takes time and patience as well as courage to build trust and confidence among different communities in Rakhine." China, which has close ties with Myanmar's former military junta, insisted that development aid could help ease tensions in Rakhine and made clear the council should not get involved in addressing the refugee crisis. "It is up to the two countries to work out a solution," said Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wu Haitao. In December, Britain circulated a draft resolution that would have forced Myanmar to roll out a strategy for addressing the Rohingya crisis, but China threatened to veto the measure, according to diplomats. "We are very disappointed that there hasn't been more progress on getting the refugees back," said British Ambassador Karen Pierce. "The scale of what has been done to the Rohingya Muslims and the allegations of crimes against humanity really mark this out as one of the most terrible events of this century so far," said Pierce. The UN envoy warned that the election campaign "could add to the domestic complexities" in Myanmar, which is still struggling with a democratic transition after 50 years of military rule. Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been criticized for failing to speak out to defend the Rohingya, is seeking to consolidate her position ahead of the 2020 vote. Myanmar's military dominates the Buddhist-majority nation, holding a quarter of seats in parliament and controlling three ministries, making their grip on power firm despite political reforms which began in 2011.

Bangladesh tells UN it will no longer take in Myanmar refugees

A German film-maker and his assistant visiting a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-refugees-at-risk-as-cyclone-season-nears-red-cross-198134">refugee camp in Bangladesh</a> Thursday were beaten by Rohingya Muslims who suspected they could be human traffickers, police said.

The refugees became wary after three Germans and their Bangladeshi assistant started giving gifts to children and women at Kutupalong, the world's largest refugee camp, at Cox's Bazar on the Myanmar border, local police chief Abul Khair told AFP.

The Germans, who were not identified, then led several of the Rohingya towards a car.

"One of the Germans and their Bangladeshi fixer were beaten. The army and police had to rescue them," Khair added.

"The German needed first aid. He is now fine. The Germans said they came to the camp to make a short film," according to Khair who said police believed they were mistaken for human traffickers.

"It is a case of misunderstanding," he said and no arrests were made.&nbsp;

About one million Rohingya live in camps around Cox's Bazar district, most of whom fled a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/no-proof-myanmar-military-persecuted-rohingya-army-chief-197668">military crackdown in Myanmar</a> in August 2017.

Police say traffickers have been increasingly active in the camps in recent months, seeking to lure Rohingya to pay for the dangerous boat journey to Malaysia. 
&nbsp;

A German film-maker and his assistant visiting a refugee camp in Bangladesh Thursday were beaten by Rohingya Muslims who suspected they could be human traffickers, police said.

A German film-maker and his assistant visiting a refugee camp in Bangladesh Thursday were beaten by Rohingya Muslims who suspected they could be human traffickers, police said. The refugees became wary after three Germans and their Bangladeshi assistant started giving gifts to children and women at Kutupalong, the world's largest refugee camp, at Cox's Bazar on the Myanmar border, local police chief Abul Khair told AFP. The Germans, who were not identified, then led several of the Rohingya towards a car. "One of the Germans and their Bangladeshi fixer were beaten. The army and police had to rescue them," Khair added. "The German needed first aid. He is now fine. The Germans said they came to the camp to make a short film," according to Khair who said police believed they were mistaken for human traffickers. "It is a case of misunderstanding," he said and no arrests were made. About one million Rohingya live in camps around Cox's Bazar district, most of whom fled a military crackdown in Myanmar in August 2017. Police say traffickers have been increasingly active in the camps in recent months, seeking to lure Rohingya to pay for the dangerous boat journey to Malaysia.

German filmmaker beaten in Rohingya camp in Bangladesh

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bangladesh-call-for-safe-and-sustainable-repatriation-of-rohingya-refugees-196061">Bangladesh</a> police have stopped 43<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-fears-lingering-rohingya-crisis-may-trigger-radicalism-196630"> Rohingya refugees</a> from being smuggled to Malaysia by boat with a dozen women claiming they were abducted by traffickers, officials said Thursday.

Acting on tip-offs, police found the refugees at two separate places in the southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar, raising the number of Rohingya being rescued from the traffickers to more than 100 in less than a week.

About 740,000 of the Muslim minority fled Myanmar for Bangladesh after a military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017.

They have joined another 300,000 Rohingya who have already been living in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar following previous bouts of violence.

Officials fear many may end up being exploited by an internationally organised human smuggling racket who have previously sent thousands of Rohingya to Malaysia by boats until Bangladesh launched a crackdown in 2015 following the discovery of mass graves of refugees in Thailand.&nbsp;

Rapid Action Battalion, an elite police unit, said they rescued 12 women — mostly in their 20s — from a residential room in Cox's Bazar city early Thursday morning and arrested two alleged traffickers for "abducting" them.

"The young women from the refugee camps were lured by the traffickers. They were promised they would be sent to Malaysia. They were then brought to Cox's Bazar and kept in a house," RAB spokesman Mashkur Rahman told AFP.

Rahman said they were treating it as a case of abduction after the women claimed they were confined in a room without consent.

In another drive late Wednesday, Cox's Bazar police rescued another 31 Rohingya from the southern island of Maheshkhali, some 110 kilometres (70 miles) away from the overcrowded Kutupalong refugee camp.

Local police chief Provash Chandra said the 14 women, 11 men and six children were hiding in a coastal forest at Maheskhali waiting to board a Malaysian-bound boat.

"They paid some 20,000 taka ($240) each to the traffickers for the journey," he said.

He said they arrested a woman trafficker and were "searching for others".

Dangerous sign

An analyst said the latest discovery of Malaysia-bound Rohingya was a "dangerous" sign and shows the desperation at more than 30 refugee camps where the Rohingya live in bamboo and tarpaulin made shanties in squalid conditions.

"It is very natural for the desperate refugees to attempt the risk to search for a better future," Tasneem Siddiqui, who heads a Bangladeshi think tank on migration issues, told AFP.

"They know the way is full of obstacles, yet many think this is their only way out," she said.

Authorities fear that more Rohingya will try to take boats to Malaysia while the Bay of Bengal remains calm before the arrival of monsoons at the end of March.

Bangladesh police have stopped 43 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia by boat with a dozen women claiming they were abducted by traffickers, officials said Thursday.

Bangladesh police have stopped 43 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia by boat with a dozen women claiming they were abducted by traffickers, officials said Thursday. Acting on tip-offs, police found the refugees at two separate places in the southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar, raising the number of Rohingya being rescued from the traffickers to more than 100 in less than a week. About 740,000 of the Muslim minority fled Myanmar for Bangladesh after a military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017. They have joined another 300,000 Rohingya who have already been living in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar following previous bouts of violence. Officials fear many may end up being exploited by an internationally organised human smuggling racket who have previously sent thousands of Rohingya to Malaysia by boats until Bangladesh launched a crackdown in 2015 following the discovery of mass graves of refugees in Thailand. Rapid Action Battalion, an elite police unit, said they rescued 12 women — mostly in their 20s — from a residential room in Cox's Bazar city early Thursday morning and arrested two alleged traffickers for "abducting" them. "The young women from the refugee camps were lured by the traffickers. They were promised they would be sent to Malaysia. They were then brought to Cox's Bazar and kept in a house," RAB spokesman Mashkur Rahman told AFP. Rahman said they were treating it as a case of abduction after the women claimed they were confined in a room without consent. In another drive late Wednesday, Cox's Bazar police rescued another 31 Rohingya from the southern island of Maheshkhali, some 110 kilometres (70 miles) away from the overcrowded Kutupalong refugee camp. Local police chief Provash Chandra said the 14 women, 11 men and six children were hiding in a coastal forest at Maheskhali waiting to board a Malaysian-bound boat. "They paid some 20,000 taka ($240) each to the traffickers for the journey," he said. He said they arrested a woman trafficker and were "searching for others". Dangerous sign An analyst said the latest discovery of Malaysia-bound Rohingya was a "dangerous" sign and shows the desperation at more than 30 refugee camps where the Rohingya live in bamboo and tarpaulin made shanties in squalid conditions. "It is very natural for the desperate refugees to attempt the risk to search for a better future," Tasneem Siddiqui, who heads a Bangladeshi think tank on migration issues, told AFP. "They know the way is full of obstacles, yet many think this is their only way out," she said. Authorities fear that more Rohingya will try to take boats to Malaysia while the Bay of Bengal remains calm before the arrival of monsoons at the end of March.

Bangladesh rescues 'abducted' Malaysia-bound Rohingya

Indian police on Thursday took a Rohingya Muslim family of five to the border by bus, readying to deport them to neighbouring Myanmar as the second such group expelled in four months during a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The government regards the Rohingya as illegal and a security risk. It has ordered that tens of thousands of the community, who live in small settlements and slums, be identified and repatriated.

The husband, wife and three children comprising the family set to be expelled on Thursday had been arrested and jailed in Assam in 2014 for entering India without valid documents, police said.

"These five people are now at the border gate in the adjoining Manipur state and we are waiting for Myanmar officials to hand them over formally," Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Assam`s additional director general of police, told Reuters.

Jails in Assam held 20 more Myanmar nationals, all arrested for illegal entry, he added. But it was not immediately clear if all were Rohingya, a largely stateless Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

"We shall send them back to Myanmar once we get their travel permits from that country," Mahanta said. "Most of them sneaked into India in search of a livelihood."

India's first deportation of seven Rohingya men to Myanmar in October sparked fears of further repatriations among those sheltering in its refugee camps, and concern that those returned faced the risk of abuse at the hands of Myanmar authorities.

There has been no word on the fate of the deported men.

The government estimates that 40,000 Rohingya live in India in camps across the country, including the capital, New Delhi, having arrived over the years after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar, which denies them citizenship.

In August, a United Nations report accused the Myanmar military of committing mass killings and rapes on the Rohingya with "genocidal intent" in 2017 in an operation that drove more than 700,000 of them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Myanmar has denied the charges, saying its military launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Muslim militants in August last year.

Indian police on Thursday took a Rohingya Muslim family of five to the border by bus, readying to deport them to neighbouring Myanmar as the second such group expelled in four months during a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Indian police on Thursday took a Rohingya Muslim family of five to the border by bus, readying to deport them to neighbouring Myanmar as the second such group expelled in four months during a crackdown on illegal immigrants. The government regards the Rohingya as illegal and a security risk. It has ordered that tens of thousands of the community, who live in small settlements and slums, be identified and repatriated. The husband, wife and three children comprising the family set to be expelled on Thursday had been arrested and jailed in Assam in 2014 for entering India without valid documents, police said. "These five people are now at the border gate in the adjoining Manipur state and we are waiting for Myanmar officials to hand them over formally," Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Assam`s additional director general of police, told Reuters. Jails in Assam held 20 more Myanmar nationals, all arrested for illegal entry, he added. But it was not immediately clear if all were Rohingya, a largely stateless Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. "We shall send them back to Myanmar once we get their travel permits from that country," Mahanta said. "Most of them sneaked into India in search of a livelihood." India's first deportation of seven Rohingya men to Myanmar in October sparked fears of further repatriations among those sheltering in its refugee camps, and concern that those returned faced the risk of abuse at the hands of Myanmar authorities. There has been no word on the fate of the deported men. The government estimates that 40,000 Rohingya live in India in camps across the country, including the capital, New Delhi, having arrived over the years after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar, which denies them citizenship. In August, a United Nations report accused the Myanmar military of committing mass killings and rapes on the Rohingya with "genocidal intent" in 2017 in an operation that drove more than 700,000 of them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. Myanmar has denied the charges, saying its military launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Muslim militants in August last year.

India to deport second Rohingya group to Myanmar on Thursday

Over a year ago, in August 2017, Myanmar witnessed a conflict that sparked international concern. Western Myanmar’s Rakhine state saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing their homes following an army crackdown.&nbsp;

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages. United Nations agencies estimate as many as around 700,000 Rohingya to have since fled the land so far.&nbsp;

Rohingyas who crossed the border reported killings, rapes and arson carried out by security forces, in what the UN's top human rights official said seemed to be a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."

State Counsellor, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's government have denied allegations of atrocities made by the refugees, saying that security forces lawfully suppressed Muslim militants in Rakhine.

The ARSA had reiterated to “continue our struggle for our right to exist”. The group had "come to exist only to defend, salvage and protect Rohingya people."&nbsp;

Myanmar’s government, on the other hand, blames ARSA for the deaths of non-Muslim villagers as well as security personnel in last year's crackdown. The group denies targeting civilians.

International pressure continues to mount on Myanmar over the issue. Suu Kyi has faced the brunt to an extent that she was stripped off Amnesty International's most prestigious human rights prize earlier this year.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi has been accused of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The Bangladesh government has also urged the global community to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the Rohingya repatriation.&nbsp;

A report by UN investigators in August found that Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingyas with “genocidal intent,” and said the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted under international law.

That report called for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions as well as for the suspects to be tried by an ad hoc tribunal or referred to the ICC. However, diplomats say veto-wielding powers China and Russia are likely to protect Myanmar from UN action.

The latest report by Reuters suggests that while Myanmar's government promises Rohingya repatriation, the return looks increasingly unlikely going by the recent developments in the Rakhine state. The areas once inhabited by Muslim-majority inhabitants were subsequently destroyed and are now being rebuilt and occupied mainly by Buddhists, some from other parts of Rakhine.&nbsp;

The government is both building some of the new homes and helping to facilitate the Buddhist resettlement push, according to local officials and new settlers. The campaign is being spearheaded by Buddhist nationalists who want to establish a Buddhist majority in the area, news agency Reuters reported.

With the passing of another year, the fate of Rohingya repatriation only seems to be stuck in limbo with a bleak ray of hope at the distant horizon.&nbsp;

ARSA attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages

Over a year ago, in August 2017, Myanmar witnessed a conflict that sparked international concern. Western Myanmar’s Rakhine state saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing their homes following an army crackdown. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages. United Nations agencies estimate as many as around 700,000 Rohingya to have since fled the land so far. Rohingyas who crossed the border reported killings, rapes and arson carried out by security forces, in what the UN's top human rights official said seemed to be a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." State Counsellor, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's government have denied allegations of atrocities made by the refugees, saying that security forces lawfully suppressed Muslim militants in Rakhine. The ARSA had reiterated to “continue our struggle for our right to exist”. The group had "come to exist only to defend, salvage and protect Rohingya people." Myanmar’s government, on the other hand, blames ARSA for the deaths of non-Muslim villagers as well as security personnel in last year's crackdown. The group denies targeting civilians. International pressure continues to mount on Myanmar over the issue. Suu Kyi has faced the brunt to an extent that she was stripped off Amnesty International's most prestigious human rights prize earlier this year. Suu Kyi has been accused of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Bangladesh government has also urged the global community to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the Rohingya repatriation. A report by UN investigators in August found that Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingyas with “genocidal intent,” and said the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted under international law. That report called for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions as well as for the suspects to be tried by an ad hoc tribunal or referred to the ICC. However, diplomats say veto-wielding powers China and Russia are likely to protect Myanmar from UN action. The latest report by Reuters suggests that while Myanmar's government promises Rohingya repatriation, the return looks increasingly unlikely going by the recent developments in the Rakhine state. The areas once inhabited by Muslim-majority inhabitants were subsequently destroyed and are now being rebuilt and occupied mainly by Buddhists, some from other parts of Rakhine. The government is both building some of the new homes and helping to facilitate the Buddhist resettlement push, according to local officials and new settlers. The campaign is being spearheaded by Buddhist nationalists who want to establish a Buddhist majority in the area, news agency Reuters reported. With the passing of another year, the fate of Rohingya repatriation only seems to be stuck in limbo with a bleak ray of hope at the distant horizon.

Tale of Rohingya repatriation stuck in limbo: One of the biggest humanitarian crises of South Asia

One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rally-to-mark-one-year-since-arrest-of-myanmar-reuters-journalists-183375"> jailing of two Reuters journalists</a>, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017. At the time of their arrests, they had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in Rakhine state. The reporters were sentenced to seven years in jail under the Official Secrets Act in September 2018.

As per reports, the journalists were arrested in Yangon, Myanmar after being invited to meet the police at a restaurant. The reporters were held incommunicado at a secret interrogation camp for the next two weeks.

The reporters, who pleaded not guilty, said they were handed papers by police shortly before they were detained, and a police witness testified that they had been set up.&nbsp;

The pre-trial hearings in the case began on January 10, 2018. The same day, the military said that its soldiers murdered 10 captured Muslims, whose bodies were previously discovered by security forces in a mass grave in Rakhine, during insurgent attacks.

The next major development came in February when news agency Reuters published the investigation that the two reporters had been working on. The publication described Myanmar’s security forces and local Rakhine Buddhists’ involvement in the killing of the 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys buried in the mass grave at Inn Din.

The government said it would take action against the members of its security forces involved in the killings, ruling out any relation to the Reuters report. 
In March, leading human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joined the legal team representing the two journalists. She stated that the two reporters are being wrongly prosecuted for reporting news.

“Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news,” Clooney said in a statement.

On July 9, the reporters were charged for breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Both journalists pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, telling Yangon district judge Ye Lwin they “followed journalistic ethics,” news agency Reuters reported.

In less than a fortnight, on July 16, one of the reporters gave the first detailed of what exactly happened the night when both the reporters were arrested. Wa Lone stated that Police Lance Corporal Naing Lin had called him at least twice on December 12, demanding a meeting at which the officer abruptly handed both reporters some papers. Lone added that they were arrested by plainclothes officers almost immediately after Naing Lin gave him the papers, which he did not have time to look at.

Lone also told that they were deprived of sleep for around three days, adding that the interrogation focused on their reporting of the Inn Din killings, rather than on the documents they are accused of obtaining.

The case has raised questions among a number of political leaders in the United States and Europe, human rights advocates and the United Nations about Myanmar’s progress towards democracy.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August called for the immediate release of two Reuters reporters.

In a report issued on August 27, UN investigators said Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with “genocidal intent” and for the first time explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over their campaign.

The military in Myanmar denied past accusations that it had committed genocide against the Rohingya and says its actions were part of a fight against terrorism. 
Early in September, a Myanmar judge found the reporters guilty and sentenced them to seven years in jail.

The court determined that “confidential documents” found on the two would have been useful “to enemies of the state and terrorist organisations”. Documents in their possession and on their phones were “not public information.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said the verdict “sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution.”

Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the journalists’ acquittal.

On December 12, hundreds of activists and journalists marked the anniversary of the arrest of the two journalists and called for their release at a rally in the country’s largest city Yangon. Students, journalists and writers sporting t-shirts that read “Journalism is not a crime” and “Free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo” lit candles and held a minute’s silence for the two reporters, news agency Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the two Reuters reporters have lodged an appeal against their conviction and sentence. An appeal hearing is scheduled for December 24.

One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the jailing of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017.

One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the jailing of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017. At the time of their arrests, they had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in Rakhine state. The reporters were sentenced to seven years in jail under the Official Secrets Act in September 2018. As per reports, the journalists were arrested in Yangon, Myanmar after being invited to meet the police at a restaurant. The reporters were held incommunicado at a secret interrogation camp for the next two weeks. The reporters, who pleaded not guilty, said they were handed papers by police shortly before they were detained, and a police witness testified that they had been set up. The pre-trial hearings in the case began on January 10, 2018. The same day, the military said that its soldiers murdered 10 captured Muslims, whose bodies were previously discovered by security forces in a mass grave in Rakhine, during insurgent attacks. The next major development came in February when news agency Reuters published the investigation that the two reporters had been working on. The publication described Myanmar’s security forces and local Rakhine Buddhists’ involvement in the killing of the 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys buried in the mass grave at Inn Din. The government said it would take action against the members of its security forces involved in the killings, ruling out any relation to the Reuters report. In March, leading human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joined the legal team representing the two journalists. She stated that the two reporters are being wrongly prosecuted for reporting news. “Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news,” Clooney said in a statement. On July 9, the reporters were charged for breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Both journalists pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, telling Yangon district judge Ye Lwin they “followed journalistic ethics,” news agency Reuters reported. In less than a fortnight, on July 16, one of the reporters gave the first detailed of what exactly happened the night when both the reporters were arrested. Wa Lone stated that Police Lance Corporal Naing Lin had called him at least twice on December 12, demanding a meeting at which the officer abruptly handed both reporters some papers. Lone added that they were arrested by plainclothes officers almost immediately after Naing Lin gave him the papers, which he did not have time to look at. Lone also told that they were deprived of sleep for around three days, adding that the interrogation focused on their reporting of the Inn Din killings, rather than on the documents they are accused of obtaining. The case has raised questions among a number of political leaders in the United States and Europe, human rights advocates and the United Nations about Myanmar’s progress towards democracy. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August called for the immediate release of two Reuters reporters. In a report issued on August 27, UN investigators said Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with “genocidal intent” and for the first time explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over their campaign. The military in Myanmar denied past accusations that it had committed genocide against the Rohingya and says its actions were part of a fight against terrorism. Early in September, a Myanmar judge found the reporters guilty and sentenced them to seven years in jail. The court determined that “confidential documents” found on the two would have been useful “to enemies of the state and terrorist organisations”. Documents in their possession and on their phones were “not public information.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said the verdict “sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution.” Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the journalists’ acquittal. On December 12, hundreds of activists and journalists marked the anniversary of the arrest of the two journalists and called for their release at a rally in the country’s largest city Yangon. Students, journalists and writers sporting t-shirts that read “Journalism is not a crime” and “Free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo” lit candles and held a minute’s silence for the two reporters, news agency Reuters reported. Meanwhile, lawyers for the two Reuters reporters have lodged an appeal against their conviction and sentence. An appeal hearing is scheduled for December 24.

Reuters reporters imprisonment: When Myanmar’s progress towards democracy was put to question

A bipartisan group of US&nbsp;senators on Wednesday called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to designate the Myanmar military's campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority a genocide.&nbsp;

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state for neighbouring Bangladesh since August last year, when attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations, the United States, Britain and others described as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies the accusations of ethnic cleansing.

"We are deeply concerned that despite clear evidence of genocide amassed by the Department`s own report ... that the Department has not made a formal determination that the crime of genocide has been committed," said a letter to Pompeo from the senators, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.&nbsp;

In September, leaders of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee called on the Trump administration to declare the military campaign a genocide, days after a State Department report stopped short of that description.

A declaration of genocide by the US&nbsp;government could have legal implications of committing Washington to stronger punitive measures against Myanmar's government, which is led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. This has made some in the Trump administration wary of issuing such an assessment.

The areas where the Rohingya lived in Myanmar's western Rakhine State before the army ousted them were being dramatically transformed, making their return increasingly unlikely, Reuters reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The senators asked Pompeo to provide a formal determination about the actions of Myanmar`s military.&nbsp;

"There is no question that the violence in northern Rakhine State – intended to terrorise, drive out, and exterminate Rakhine`s Rohingya population – meets the definition of genocide," the letter said.

Led by Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the letter was also signed by Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Susan Collins and

Democratic Senators Ed Markey, Tim Kaine, Ben Cardin and Jeff Merkley.

Failing to officially label the actions a genocide would "deny truth-telling and accountability" for the Rohingya and "... would leave an indelible stain on our nation`s legacy of promoting and advancing human rights, dignity, and accountability," the letter said.

The United Nations Security Council is mulling a resolution that the council could consider further steps, including sanctions, if there was not enough progress made by Myanmar in returning refugees, diplomats said. &nbsp;

A bipartisan group of US senators on Wednesday called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to designate the Myanmar military's campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority a genocide.

A bipartisan group of US senators on Wednesday called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to designate the Myanmar military's campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority a genocide. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state for neighbouring Bangladesh since August last year, when attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations, the United States, Britain and others described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies the accusations of ethnic cleansing. "We are deeply concerned that despite clear evidence of genocide amassed by the Department`s own report ... that the Department has not made a formal determination that the crime of genocide has been committed," said a letter to Pompeo from the senators, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. In September, leaders of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee called on the Trump administration to declare the military campaign a genocide, days after a State Department report stopped short of that description. A declaration of genocide by the US government could have legal implications of committing Washington to stronger punitive measures against Myanmar's government, which is led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. This has made some in the Trump administration wary of issuing such an assessment. The areas where the Rohingya lived in Myanmar's western Rakhine State before the army ousted them were being dramatically transformed, making their return increasingly unlikely, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The senators asked Pompeo to provide a formal determination about the actions of Myanmar`s military. "There is no question that the violence in northern Rakhine State – intended to terrorise, drive out, and exterminate Rakhine`s Rohingya population – meets the definition of genocide," the letter said. Led by Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the letter was also signed by Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Susan Collins and Democratic Senators Ed Markey, Tim Kaine, Ben Cardin and Jeff Merkley. Failing to officially label the actions a genocide would "deny truth-telling and accountability" for the Rohingya and "... would leave an indelible stain on our nation`s legacy of promoting and advancing human rights, dignity, and accountability," the letter said. The United Nations Security Council is mulling a resolution that the council could consider further steps, including sanctions, if there was not enough progress made by Myanmar in returning refugees, diplomats said.

US senators call on Pompeo to label Myanmar killings 'genocide'

With less than a month to go to a general election, many journalists in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-briefly-shuts-dozens-of-online-news-sites-citing-security-concerns-183445">Bangladesh say</a> they are living in fear of ever-tightening media laws and engaging in self-censorship as a result.

While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration has won plaudits globally for welcoming hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, critics have lashed out at it for cracking down on free speech and an increasingly authoritarian rule.

In interviews Reuters conducted with 32 journalists and editors across print, digital and broadcast media in Bangladesh, the vast majority said the recent strengthening of defamation laws with a new Digital Security Act (DSA) has spread a climate of fear in the industry.

Dozens of journalists were arrested for defamation under the earlier law, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.

The DSA goes further - penalising obtaining papers, information, or pictures from government offices without official consent, said Asif Nazrul, a professor of Law at the University of Dhaka. "It would make investigative journalism on corruption, human rights abuses and bad governance very tough, if not impossible," he said.

Another piece of legislation, the Broadcast Act 2018, was proposed in October to regulate broadcast news portals.

Both laws restrict bail and allow arrests without a warrant.

The government has denied accusations it’s trying to curb press freedom and Hasina assured a press briefing in October that "journalists who do not publish false news need not worry" about the DSA.

Journalists, however, question the timing of the laws and have staged protests in recent weeks in the capital Dhaka, particularly against the DSA, which they say will thwart their ability to report independently, especially on the upcoming election.

Critics of Hasina, who is seeking a third straight term in power, say the Dec. 30 election will be a litmus test for the strength of democracy in Bangladesh. The last election in 2014 was boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as unfair and shunned by international observers, with more than half the seats uncontested.

Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Manab Zamin, a popular Bengali-language daily, said self-censorship was becoming common.

"As an editor, I feel sad when I kill a report that was the outcome of several days of exhaustive work by a reporter. But I take the decision purely to save the reporter, because I know the risks involved in publishing it," he said. "I fight every moment with myself and with my shadow."

"DISTORTING THE TRUTH"

HT Imam, a member of the ruling Awami League and Hasina's political adviser, said journalists need not fear doing their jobs, and "can write on whatever is happening on the ground."

"But they should restrain themselves from distorting the truth – that is very important," he told Reuters. "You should not equate liberty with licence."

The government also says new licences to operate have been issued to several media organisations under Hasina's rule, indicating its support of an independent press.

But while Bangladesh has a bevy of news outlets, many journalists say they can't write as freely as they once did. The case of The Daily Star, the country’s most widely-circulated English newspaper, stands out:

"I used to write a column regularly and fearlessly. Now, I seldom do," said Mahfuz Anam, who has been the editor of The Daily Star for 25 years.

Anam was charged with defamation and treason in more than 80 cases filed by Awami League workers in 2016, with damages sought exceeding $8 billion. They were filed in various lower courts across Bangladesh, forcing him to run around the country seeking bail, and he's had to obtain periodic stays on them ever since.

Anam says his paper is barred from covering the prime minister's events, and advertisers have privately told him that officials have pressured them to stop advertising in his paper.

Two officials at two of Bangladesh's biggest telecom operators said the government had instructed them in 2015 to stop advertising in The Daily Star. They declined to be named for fear of reprisals.

"We never interfere or influence any private organization as it is completely their wish and right," Information Minister Hasanul Haq told Reuters, referring to the advertisers. He said decisions on who should be allowed to attend the prime minister's events were taken by Hasina's security department.

VAGUELY-WORDED LAWS

Government assurances that the laws won't be used against them have failed to assuage concerns of many journalists, who point to past arrests.

While the police says it doesn't maintain figures on detained journalists, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says at least 25 journalists and several hundred bloggers and Facebook users were prosecuted under the ICT Act in 2017 alone.

The new DSA has "vaguely-worded provisions that would allow authorities to clamp down even more on dissent," the group said.

Under the proposed broadcast law, media outlets publishing or broadcasting anything deemed to be "false" or against national interest could be fined, lose licences or see their staff jailed.

It's unclear how the election results might impact media freedoms. The BNP says it would strike down the DSA if it wins, but it cracked down on media organisations seen as unfriendly when it was in power more than a decade ago.

Bangladesh now ranks 148th out of 180 countries on the press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, sliding from 121 in 2009 when Hasina came to power. Haq, the information minister, said the ranking was not fair as it reflected views of only private organisations. "It could be standard if it reflected both government and private views."

Many journalists say there is a growing and conspicuous silence on public criticism of the government, especially online.

Those who speak out have faced action: On July 13, a day after Hasina told parliament it was impossible to accede to some student demands, Maidul Islam, a university professor, posted two words on Facebook "Hasi Na." In the Bengali language, the words mean "Not Laughing."

Days later, an activist backing the Awami League filed a complaint against Islam under the ICT Act, accusing him of defaming the prime minister. Islam was arrested and jailed for more than a month before he got bail, and if he loses the case he faces up to 14 years in prison.

With less than a month to go to a general election, many journalists in Bangladesh say they are living in fear of ever-tightening media laws and engaging in self-censorship as a result.

With less than a month to go to a general election, many journalists in Bangladesh say they are living in fear of ever-tightening media laws and engaging in self-censorship as a result. While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration has won plaudits globally for welcoming hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, critics have lashed out at it for cracking down on free speech and an increasingly authoritarian rule. In interviews Reuters conducted with 32 journalists and editors across print, digital and broadcast media in Bangladesh, the vast majority said the recent strengthening of defamation laws with a new Digital Security Act (DSA) has spread a climate of fear in the industry. Dozens of journalists were arrested for defamation under the earlier law, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act. The DSA goes further - penalising obtaining papers, information, or pictures from government offices without official consent, said Asif Nazrul, a professor of Law at the University of Dhaka. "It would make investigative journalism on corruption, human rights abuses and bad governance very tough, if not impossible," he said. Another piece of legislation, the Broadcast Act 2018, was proposed in October to regulate broadcast news portals. Both laws restrict bail and allow arrests without a warrant. The government has denied accusations it’s trying to curb press freedom and Hasina assured a press briefing in October that "journalists who do not publish false news need not worry" about the DSA. Journalists, however, question the timing of the laws and have staged protests in recent weeks in the capital Dhaka, particularly against the DSA, which they say will thwart their ability to report independently, especially on the upcoming election. Critics of Hasina, who is seeking a third straight term in power, say the Dec. 30 election will be a litmus test for the strength of democracy in Bangladesh. The last election in 2014 was boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as unfair and shunned by international observers, with more than half the seats uncontested. Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Manab Zamin, a popular Bengali-language daily, said self-censorship was becoming common. "As an editor, I feel sad when I kill a report that was the outcome of several days of exhaustive work by a reporter. But I take the decision purely to save the reporter, because I know the risks involved in publishing it," he said. "I fight every moment with myself and with my shadow." "DISTORTING THE TRUTH" HT Imam, a member of the ruling Awami League and Hasina's political adviser, said journalists need not fear doing their jobs, and "can write on whatever is happening on the ground." "But they should restrain themselves from distorting the truth – that is very important," he told Reuters. "You should not equate liberty with licence." The government also says new licences to operate have been issued to several media organisations under Hasina's rule, indicating its support of an independent press. But while Bangladesh has a bevy of news outlets, many journalists say they can't write as freely as they once did. The case of The Daily Star, the country’s most widely-circulated English newspaper, stands out: "I used to write a column regularly and fearlessly. Now, I seldom do," said Mahfuz Anam, who has been the editor of The Daily Star for 25 years. Anam was charged with defamation and treason in more than 80 cases filed by Awami League workers in 2016, with damages sought exceeding $8 billion. They were filed in various lower courts across Bangladesh, forcing him to run around the country seeking bail, and he's had to obtain periodic stays on them ever since. Anam says his paper is barred from covering the prime minister's events, and advertisers have privately told him that officials have pressured them to stop advertising in his paper. Two officials at two of Bangladesh's biggest telecom operators said the government had instructed them in 2015 to stop advertising in The Daily Star. They declined to be named for fear of reprisals. "We never interfere or influence any private organization as it is completely their wish and right," Information Minister Hasanul Haq told Reuters, referring to the advertisers. He said decisions on who should be allowed to attend the prime minister's events were taken by Hasina's security department. VAGUELY-WORDED LAWS Government assurances that the laws won't be used against them have failed to assuage concerns of many journalists, who point to past arrests. While the police says it doesn't maintain figures on detained journalists, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says at least 25 journalists and several hundred bloggers and Facebook users were prosecuted under the ICT Act in 2017 alone. The new DSA has "vaguely-worded provisions that would allow authorities to clamp down even more on dissent," the group said. Under the proposed broadcast law, media outlets publishing or broadcasting anything deemed to be "false" or against national interest could be fined, lose licences or see their staff jailed. It's unclear how the election results might impact media freedoms. The BNP says it would strike down the DSA if it wins, but it cracked down on media organisations seen as unfriendly when it was in power more than a decade ago. Bangladesh now ranks 148th out of 180 countries on the press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, sliding from 121 in 2009 when Hasina came to power. Haq, the information minister, said the ranking was not fair as it reflected views of only private organisations. "It could be standard if it reflected both government and private views." Many journalists say there is a growing and conspicuous silence on public criticism of the government, especially online. Those who speak out have faced action: On July 13, a day after Hasina told parliament it was impossible to accede to some student demands, Maidul Islam, a university professor, posted two words on Facebook "Hasi Na." In the Bengali language, the words mean "Not Laughing." Days later, an activist backing the Awami League filed a complaint against Islam under the ICT Act, accusing him of defaming the prime minister. Islam was arrested and jailed for more than a month before he got bail, and if he loses the case he faces up to 14 years in prison.

In fear of the state, Bangladeshi journalists self-censor as election approaches

Myanmar's civilian leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suu-kyi-to-be-stripped-of-freedom-of-paris-award-mayors-office-180564">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>, who is facing international criticism over her country's <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/law-group-that-helped-us-probe-says-rohingyas-victims-of-genocide-180363">crackdown on Rohingya Muslims</a>, called Saturday for "a culture of peace" to end conflict between communities.

The Nobel Peace prize winner did not mention the Rohingya crisis -- which has led the United Nations to call for a genocide investigation -- in her keynote address to an international meeting organised by a group linked to the Unification Church.

"At the basis of conflict is ill-will which seeks to hurt and to destroy and thus to open the way to conflict, which in turn spews out an ever-renewing cycle of hate and fear, snuffing out the light of peace," Suu Kyi said.

Suu Kyi called for cooperation between nations to seek peace and mutual prosperity.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lost-idol-new-wave-of-myanmar-youth-activists-look-beyond-suu-kyi-180677">New wave of Myanmar youth activists look beyond Suu Kyi</a>

"Only by promoting a culture of peace in this world of interdependence will it be possible to create harmony between diverse countries and societies," she said.

Suu Kyi, whose position of state counsellor in Myanmar is considered the equivalent of a prime minister, has faced a wave of condemnation since Myanmar launched its military crackdown on the Rohingya in August 2017.

More than 700,000 have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Many told horrific stories of widespread killings, rapes and villages razed to the ground.&nbsp;

Myanmar's military insists it only targeted Rohingya militants and Suu Kyi has deflected all criticism. &nbsp;

Other top officials at the meeting, which was accompanied by boosted security in the Nepali capital to head off protests, did not mention the conflict which has overshadowed many of Suu Kyi's international appearances.

Her speech at the Kathmandu meeting, backed by the Universal Peace Foundation, came a day after Paris announced will it will strip her of her honorary freedom of the French capital over her failure to speak out against the Rohingya crackdown.

The British cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oxford have taken similar action against Suu Kyi over her refusal to condemn the military violence.

A UN rights team found evidence of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson, and called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

About 300 Rohingya live in Nepal and one of the refugee community-based in Kathmandu, who requested anonymity, called for Nepal to raise their issue with Suu Kyi.

"We are suffering. I think if she wants to help us, she can," he said.

Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing international criticism over her country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, called Saturday for "a culture of peace" to end conflict between communities.

Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing international criticism over her country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, called Saturday for "a culture of peace" to end conflict between communities. The Nobel Peace prize winner did not mention the Rohingya crisis -- which has led the United Nations to call for a genocide investigation -- in her keynote address to an international meeting organised by a group linked to the Unification Church. "At the basis of conflict is ill-will which seeks to hurt and to destroy and thus to open the way to conflict, which in turn spews out an ever-renewing cycle of hate and fear, snuffing out the light of peace," Suu Kyi said. Suu Kyi called for cooperation between nations to seek peace and mutual prosperity. Also read: New wave of Myanmar youth activists look beyond Suu Kyi "Only by promoting a culture of peace in this world of interdependence will it be possible to create harmony between diverse countries and societies," she said. Suu Kyi, whose position of state counsellor in Myanmar is considered the equivalent of a prime minister, has faced a wave of condemnation since Myanmar launched its military crackdown on the Rohingya in August 2017. More than 700,000 have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Many told horrific stories of widespread killings, rapes and villages razed to the ground. Myanmar's military insists it only targeted Rohingya militants and Suu Kyi has deflected all criticism. Other top officials at the meeting, which was accompanied by boosted security in the Nepali capital to head off protests, did not mention the conflict which has overshadowed many of Suu Kyi's international appearances. Her speech at the Kathmandu meeting, backed by the Universal Peace Foundation, came a day after Paris announced will it will strip her of her honorary freedom of the French capital over her failure to speak out against the Rohingya crackdown. The British cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oxford have taken similar action against Suu Kyi over her refusal to condemn the military violence. A UN rights team found evidence of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson, and called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. About 300 Rohingya live in Nepal and one of the refugee community-based in Kathmandu, who requested anonymity, called for Nepal to raise their issue with Suu Kyi. "We are suffering. I think if she wants to help us, she can," he said.

Aung San Suu Kyi calls for peace in speech; no mention of Rohingya crisis

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in&nbsp;Bangladesh camps began a protest on Monday, demanding that Bangladesh recognise their ethnicity as Rohingya and that officials and aid agencies stop sharing their family information with Myanmar.

Markets were shut at several of the refugee camps in southeast Bangladesh because of the protest. Rohingya working with non-government groups and the UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Refugees also boycotted their jobs as part of the strike.

"The term 'Rohingya' is very important because we have been persecuted because of our identity," the protesting refugees said in a statement, adding that while the term was banned in Myanmar, it should not be banned in Bangladesh.

More than 700,000 Muslim Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in mostly Buddhist Myanmar's Rakhine State last year, according to UN&nbsp;agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on security forces.

Rohingya regard themselves as native to western Myanmar's Rakhine State but Myanmar authorities and many citizens regard them as illegal immigrants from the Indian subcontinent.

Many are stateless as a 1982 law restricts citizenship for the Rohingya and other minorities not considered members of one of Myanmar's "national races".

The Myanmar government refuses even to use the word "Rohingya", as that would imply a distinct identity, instead of calling them "Bengali".

Bangladesh has been urging the refugees to accept smart cards that help with identification and the distribution of aid. The smart cards, however, identify an individual as a "forcibly displaced Myanmar national" and not as Rohingya.

The protesters also expressed concern about a UNHCR plan to collect biometric data and copies of documents, as they fear the UNHCR and Bangladeshi authorities could share the data with Myanmar, which could use the information against them.

Bangladeshi authorities were not immediately reachable for comment.

Firas Al-Khateeb, a UNHCR representative, said data was being collected for a verification process which would help Rohingya refugees get better protection and ensure their access to services in Bangladesh.

"It is not linked to repatriation," he said, adding that the data was jointly maintained by Bangladesh and the UNHCR.

Refugees are refusing to return to Myanmar under a repatriation plan unless demands for justice, citizenship and the ability to go back to their original villages and lands are met.

The refugees say they had to flee from their homes after Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist civilians massacred families, burned villages and carried out gang rapes.

UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies almost all the accusations, saying its forces engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against "terrorists".

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh camps began a protest on Monday, demanding that Bangladesh recognise their ethnicity as Rohingya and that officials and aid agencies stop sharing their family information with Myanmar.

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh camps began a protest on Monday, demanding that Bangladesh recognise their ethnicity as Rohingya and that officials and aid agencies stop sharing their family information with Myanmar. Markets were shut at several of the refugee camps in southeast Bangladesh because of the protest. Rohingya working with non-government groups and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees also boycotted their jobs as part of the strike. "The term 'Rohingya' is very important because we have been persecuted because of our identity," the protesting refugees said in a statement, adding that while the term was banned in Myanmar, it should not be banned in Bangladesh. More than 700,000 Muslim Rohingya fled a sweeping army crackdown in mostly Buddhist Myanmar's Rakhine State last year, according to UN agencies. The crackdown was launched in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks on security forces. Rohingya regard themselves as native to western Myanmar's Rakhine State but Myanmar authorities and many citizens regard them as illegal immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. Many are stateless as a 1982 law restricts citizenship for the Rohingya and other minorities not considered members of one of Myanmar's "national races". The Myanmar government refuses even to use the word "Rohingya", as that would imply a distinct identity, instead of calling them "Bengali". Bangladesh has been urging the refugees to accept smart cards that help with identification and the distribution of aid. The smart cards, however, identify an individual as a "forcibly displaced Myanmar national" and not as Rohingya. The protesters also expressed concern about a UNHCR plan to collect biometric data and copies of documents, as they fear the UNHCR and Bangladeshi authorities could share the data with Myanmar, which could use the information against them. Bangladeshi authorities were not immediately reachable for comment. Firas Al-Khateeb, a UNHCR representative, said data was being collected for a verification process which would help Rohingya refugees get better protection and ensure their access to services in Bangladesh. "It is not linked to repatriation," he said, adding that the data was jointly maintained by Bangladesh and the UNHCR. Refugees are refusing to return to Myanmar under a repatriation plan unless demands for justice, citizenship and the ability to go back to their original villages and lands are met. The refugees say they had to flee from their homes after Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist civilians massacred families, burned villages and carried out gang rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the Myanmar army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all the accusations, saying its forces engaged in a counter-insurgency operation against "terrorists".

Bangladesh faces refugee anger over term 'Rohingya'

Myanmar officials said on Sunday the country was ready to receive more than 2,000 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-to-blame-if-rohingya-returns-delayed-myanmar-govt-176685">Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh</a> on November 15, the first group from 5,000 people to be moved under a deal between the neighbours struck last month.

But more than 20 individuals on a list of potential returnees submitted by Bangladesh have told Reuters they will refuse to go back to northern Rakhine state from where they fled. Bangladesh has said it will not force anyone to do so.

The United Nations also says conditions are not yet safe for their return, in part because Myanmar Buddhists have been protesting against the repatriation.

"It depends on the other country, whether this will actually happen or not," Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's Minister for Social Welfare and Resettlement, told a news conference in the commercial capital of Yangon on Sunday, referring to Bangladesh.

"But we must be ready from our side. We have done that."

Abul Kalam, Bangladesh Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, said he was hopeful the process could begin on Thursday.

"The return will be voluntary. Nobody will be forced to go back," he told Reuters.

The countries agreed on mid-November for the start of repatriating some of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar last year.

They say soldiers and local Buddhists massacred families, burned hundreds of villages, and carried out gang-rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar denies almost all of the allegations, saying security forces were battling terrorists. Attacks by Rohingya insurgents calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army preceded the crackdown.

Myanmar does acknowledge the killing of 10 Rohingya by security forces in Inn Dinn village. Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this year for allegedly breaking the country's Official Secrets Act after reporting on the massacre.

Reuters says the court's ruling was wrong and lawyers for the two have appealed against their conviction.

Win Myat Aye said preparations had been made for 2,251 people to be transported to two transit centres by boat on Thursday, while a second group of 2,095 could follow later by road.

Once processed by the authorities, they would be sent to another centre where they would be housed, fed, and asked to build homes through cash-for-work schemes.

Returnees would only be allowed to travel within Maungdaw township, one of the three they fled, and only if they accepted National Verification Cards, an identity document most Rohingya reject because they say it brands them as foreigners.

Many Rohingya, the majority of whom have been left stateless after decades of persecution, oppose going back without guarantees of citizenship and freedom of movement.

Myanmar officials said on Sunday the country was ready to receive more than 2,000 Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh on November 15, the first group from 5,000 people to be moved under a deal between the neighbours struck last month.

Myanmar officials said on Sunday the country was ready to receive more than 2,000 Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh on November 15, the first group from 5,000 people to be moved under a deal between the neighbours struck last month. But more than 20 individuals on a list of potential returnees submitted by Bangladesh have told Reuters they will refuse to go back to northern Rakhine state from where they fled. Bangladesh has said it will not force anyone to do so. The United Nations also says conditions are not yet safe for their return, in part because Myanmar Buddhists have been protesting against the repatriation. "It depends on the other country, whether this will actually happen or not," Win Myat Aye, Myanmar's Minister for Social Welfare and Resettlement, told a news conference in the commercial capital of Yangon on Sunday, referring to Bangladesh. "But we must be ready from our side. We have done that." Abul Kalam, Bangladesh Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, said he was hopeful the process could begin on Thursday. "The return will be voluntary. Nobody will be forced to go back," he told Reuters. The countries agreed on mid-November for the start of repatriating some of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled a sweeping army crackdown in Myanmar last year. They say soldiers and local Buddhists massacred families, burned hundreds of villages, and carried out gang-rapes. UN-mandated investigators have accused the army of "genocidal intent" and ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies almost all of the allegations, saying security forces were battling terrorists. Attacks by Rohingya insurgents calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army preceded the crackdown. Myanmar does acknowledge the killing of 10 Rohingya by security forces in Inn Dinn village. Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this year for allegedly breaking the country's Official Secrets Act after reporting on the massacre. Reuters says the court's ruling was wrong and lawyers for the two have appealed against their conviction. Win Myat Aye said preparations had been made for 2,251 people to be transported to two transit centres by boat on Thursday, while a second group of 2,095 could follow later by road. Once processed by the authorities, they would be sent to another centre where they would be housed, fed, and asked to build homes through cash-for-work schemes. Returnees would only be allowed to travel within Maungdaw township, one of the three they fled, and only if they accepted National Verification Cards, an identity document most Rohingya reject because they say it brands them as foreigners. Many Rohingya, the majority of whom have been left stateless after decades of persecution, oppose going back without guarantees of citizenship and freedom of movement.

Myanmar prepares for first Rohingya returnees, but UN concerned

Myanmar officials visited camps for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday (October 31) in an effort to kickstart a process to repatriate hundreds of thousands who fled an army crackdown last year.

More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, UN agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August 2017 triggered a sweeping military response.

Officials said after meetings in Dhaka on Tuesday (October 30) returns would begin next month, but the UN refugee agency said<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/conditions-for-rohingya-to-return-to-myanmar-are-not-conducive-united-nations-174791"> conditions in Rakhine state were "not yet conducive for returns"</a>.

Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Myanmar delegation, said Myanmar had verified about 5,000 names of refugees and that repatriation would begin with a first batch of 2,000 returnees in mid-November.

"We are here to meet with the people from the camps so that I can explain what we have prepared for their return and then I can listen to their voices," he told reporters in Cox's Bazaar.

Rohingya people said after Wednesday's meeting that they were unconvinced about the proposed repatriation as they want Myanmar to recognise them as an ethnic group with the right to Myanmar citizenship before they return.

Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call the Rohingya "Bengalis", suggesting they belong in Bangladesh.

Myanmar officials visited camps for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday (October 31) in an effort to kickstart a process to repatriate hundreds of thousands who fled an army crackdown last year.

Myanmar officials visited camps for Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh on Wednesday (October 31) in an effort to kickstart a process to repatriate hundreds of thousands who fled an army crackdown last year. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, UN agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August 2017 triggered a sweeping military response. Officials said after meetings in Dhaka on Tuesday (October 30) returns would begin next month, but the UN refugee agency said conditions in Rakhine state were "not yet conducive for returns". Myint Thu, permanent secretary at Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Myanmar delegation, said Myanmar had verified about 5,000 names of refugees and that repatriation would begin with a first batch of 2,000 returnees in mid-November. "We are here to meet with the people from the camps so that I can explain what we have prepared for their return and then I can listen to their voices," he told reporters in Cox's Bazaar. Rohingya people said after Wednesday's meeting that they were unconvinced about the proposed repatriation as they want Myanmar to recognise them as an ethnic group with the right to Myanmar citizenship before they return. Myanmar does not consider the Rohingya a native ethnic group. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call the Rohingya "Bengalis", suggesting they belong in Bangladesh.

Myanmar officials try to convince Rohingya to return, accept ID cards

A top Myanmar official said Wednesday that his country would take back the first group of 2,000 Rohingya refugees from camps in Bangladesh in November despite widespread doubts over the proposal.

Officials from the two countries announced on Tuesday that some of the 720,000 Muslim Rohingya who fled a deadly military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority country last year would<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-myanmar-to-start-returning-rohingya-in-november-174422"> start returning next month</a>.

Myanmar foreign secretary Myint Thu visited the camps in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday to discuss the repatriations with refugees.

Most repeated demands that they be given Myanmar nationality with full rights before they return.

Thu said Myanmar has verified 5,000 names on a list of 8,032 Rohingya that Bangladesh authorities sent in February.

"From that 5,000, the first batch will be about 2,000 people. And then a second batch will follow. So in mid-November, we will receive the first batch," Thu told reporters.

Bangladesh officials said a new list of 24,342 Rohingya names was handed over in talks this week.&nbsp;

But Rohingya representatives expressed strong doubts about going back despite the announcement.

"We would rather die in the camp in Bangladesh. We will not return without any guarantee of citizenship or fully restored rights," Abdul Hakim, one refugee from Myanmar's Rakhine state, told AFP.

The United Nations, aid groups and even Bangladesh authorities have said any repatriation must be voluntary.&nbsp;

Oxfam spokesperson Rachael Reilly said the refugees "want to see justice served and an end to the violence and discrimination that have caused this crisis".

"It is deeply concerning that Rohingya people may be sent back to Myanmar to face the same persecution they fled," she said.

The 720,000 joined about 300,000 who fled earlier violence in Myanmar, where the Rohingya are refused citizenship and rights. Many brought harrowing tales of rape, murder and burning of villages.

Investigators have said senior Myanmar military officials should be prosecuted for genocide, but Myanmar has rejected the calls, insisting it only targeted militants.

The two neighbours first announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017. But it has failed to advance, with each government blaming the other.&nbsp;

A top Myanmar official said Wednesday that his country would take back the first group of 2,000 Rohingya refugees from camps in Bangladesh in November despite widespread doubts over the proposal.

A top Myanmar official said Wednesday that his country would take back the first group of 2,000 Rohingya refugees from camps in Bangladesh in November despite widespread doubts over the proposal. Officials from the two countries announced on Tuesday that some of the 720,000 Muslim Rohingya who fled a deadly military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority country last year would start returning next month. Myanmar foreign secretary Myint Thu visited the camps in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday to discuss the repatriations with refugees. Most repeated demands that they be given Myanmar nationality with full rights before they return. Thu said Myanmar has verified 5,000 names on a list of 8,032 Rohingya that Bangladesh authorities sent in February. "From that 5,000, the first batch will be about 2,000 people. And then a second batch will follow. So in mid-November, we will receive the first batch," Thu told reporters. Bangladesh officials said a new list of 24,342 Rohingya names was handed over in talks this week. But Rohingya representatives expressed strong doubts about going back despite the announcement. "We would rather die in the camp in Bangladesh. We will not return without any guarantee of citizenship or fully restored rights," Abdul Hakim, one refugee from Myanmar's Rakhine state, told AFP. The United Nations, aid groups and even Bangladesh authorities have said any repatriation must be voluntary. Oxfam spokesperson Rachael Reilly said the refugees "want to see justice served and an end to the violence and discrimination that have caused this crisis". "It is deeply concerning that Rohingya people may be sent back to Myanmar to face the same persecution they fled," she said. The 720,000 joined about 300,000 who fled earlier violence in Myanmar, where the Rohingya are refused citizenship and rights. Many brought harrowing tales of rape, murder and burning of villages. Investigators have said senior Myanmar military officials should be prosecuted for genocide, but Myanmar has rejected the calls, insisting it only targeted militants. The two neighbours first announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017. But it has failed to advance, with each government blaming the other.

Myanmar says 2,000 Rohingya to arrive in November despite doubts

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed Tuesday to start returning Rohingya refugees in November, less than a week after UN investigators warned that a genocide against the Muslim minority was still ongoing.

More than 720,000 of Myanmar's stateless Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in August last year, taking shelter in crowded camps in Bangladesh and bringing with them harrowing tales of rape, murder and arson in a military crackdown.

Investigators have said senior Myanmar military officials should be prosecuted for genocide in Rakhine state, but the country has rejected these calls, insisting it was defending itself against militants.

Myanmar and Bangladesh announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017. But the process hit bureaucratic hurdles almost immediately and it failed to take off, as both sides blamed the other for the delay and rights group warned returning the Rohingya to Myanmar would condemn them to further reprisals.

Authorities in Buddhist-majority Myanmar say more than 100 displaced Rohingya have returned in recent months, but Bangladesh insists that the official process has not commenced.

"We are looking forward to starting the repatriation by mid November," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said after talks in Dhaka between officials from both countries.

"It is the first phase."

Myanmar's permanent secretary of foreign affairs Myint Thu, who attended the talks, said both sides agreed to a "very concrete" plan to start the process next month.

"We have shown our political will, flexibility and accommodation in order to commence the repatriation at the earliest possible date," he told reporters.

Myanmar's government has trumpeted every occasion where a Rohingya family has returned, though rights groups have questioned whether the refugees did so voluntarily.

Many fear returning to Myanmar without guaranteed rights such as citizenship, access to healthcare and freedom of movement -- rights that were denied to them long before last year's crackdown.

The pledge to begin returning the Rohingya comes just days after UN investigators warned of an "ongoing genocide" against the Muslim minority in Myanmar.

Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said that beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracization of the population, prevention of births, and widespread displacement in camps.

The UN says the return of the Rohingya must be voluntary, and conducted in dignity and security.

It conducted conducted a survey of conditions in northern Rakhine state last month and reported "mistrust, fear of neighbouring communities and a sense of insecurity" prevalent in many areas.

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed Tuesday to start returning Rohingya refugees in November, less than a week after UN investigators warned that a genocide against the Muslim minority was still ongoing.

Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed Tuesday to start returning Rohingya refugees in November, less than a week after UN investigators warned that a genocide against the Muslim minority was still ongoing. More than 720,000 of Myanmar's stateless Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in August last year, taking shelter in crowded camps in Bangladesh and bringing with them harrowing tales of rape, murder and arson in a military crackdown. Investigators have said senior Myanmar military officials should be prosecuted for genocide in Rakhine state, but the country has rejected these calls, insisting it was defending itself against militants. Myanmar and Bangladesh announced a large-scale repatriation plan in November 2017. But the process hit bureaucratic hurdles almost immediately and it failed to take off, as both sides blamed the other for the delay and rights group warned returning the Rohingya to Myanmar would condemn them to further reprisals. Authorities in Buddhist-majority Myanmar say more than 100 displaced Rohingya have returned in recent months, but Bangladesh insists that the official process has not commenced. "We are looking forward to starting the repatriation by mid November," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said after talks in Dhaka between officials from both countries. "It is the first phase." Myanmar's permanent secretary of foreign affairs Myint Thu, who attended the talks, said both sides agreed to a "very concrete" plan to start the process next month. "We have shown our political will, flexibility and accommodation in order to commence the repatriation at the earliest possible date," he told reporters. Myanmar's government has trumpeted every occasion where a Rohingya family has returned, though rights groups have questioned whether the refugees did so voluntarily. Many fear returning to Myanmar without guaranteed rights such as citizenship, access to healthcare and freedom of movement -- rights that were denied to them long before last year's crackdown. The pledge to begin returning the Rohingya comes just days after UN investigators warned of an "ongoing genocide" against the Muslim minority in Myanmar. Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, said that beyond mass killings, the conflict included the ostracization of the population, prevention of births, and widespread displacement in camps. The UN says the return of the Rohingya must be voluntary, and conducted in dignity and security. It conducted conducted a survey of conditions in northern Rakhine state last month and reported "mistrust, fear of neighbouring communities and a sense of insecurity" prevalent in many areas.

Bangladesh, Myanmar to start returning Rohingya in November

Six Rohingya were killed early Friday after a blaze tore through an overcrowded camp for the persecuted minority in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the local fire service said.

Global attention has focused on the 720,000 Rohingya Muslims forced from the state's north into Bangladesh last year by a brutal military crackdown.

The UN Human Rights Council has accused top Myanmar generals of genocide over the bloody campaign, allegations the country strongly denies.

But less visible are the 129,000 Rohingya confined to squalid camps further south near the capital Sittwe following an earlier bout of violence in 2012.

Hundreds were killed that year in riots between Rakhine Buddhists and the stateless minority, who were corralled into destitute camps away from their former neighbours.

The conflagration in Ohndaw Chay camp, which houses some 4,000 Rohingya and lies 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Sittwe, started just before midnight and lasted several hours, fire department official Han Soe told AFP.

"Six people, one man and five women were killed," he said, adding that 15 communal longhouses were also destroyed in the blaze thought to have been started in a kitchen accident.

"We were able to bring the fire under control about 1:10 am this morning and had put it out completely by around 3 am," he said.&nbsp;

A total of 822 people were left without shelter, local media reported.

Conditions in the camps are dire and Rohingya trapped there have virtually no access to healthcare, education and work, relying on food handouts from aid agencies to survive.

Access into the camps is also tightly controlled, effectively cutting their inhabitants off from the outside world and leaving their plight largely forgotten.

Fires in the camps are common because of "severe" overcrowding, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Many camp residents have built makeshift extensions to their shelters to create more space for their families. So when a fire breaks out, it is more likely to spread quickly," said OCHA spokesman Pierre Peron.

Hla Win, a Rohingya man from a nearby camp, told AFP that fire trucks were slow to arrive along the dilapidated roads from Sittwe and the lack of water also hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze.

"We have no ponds near the camps," he said. "That's why the fire destroyed so much."&nbsp;

Myanmar has vowed to close nearly 20 of the camps around Sittwe in the coming months.

Rights groups say the move will achieve little without ending movement restrictions or granting Rohingya a pathway to citizenship.

Six Rohingya were killed early Friday after a blaze tore through an overcrowded camp for the persecuted minority in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the local fire service said.

Six Rohingya were killed early Friday after a blaze tore through an overcrowded camp for the persecuted minority in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the local fire service said. Global attention has focused on the 720,000 Rohingya Muslims forced from the state's north into Bangladesh last year by a brutal military crackdown. The UN Human Rights Council has accused top Myanmar generals of genocide over the bloody campaign, allegations the country strongly denies. But less visible are the 129,000 Rohingya confined to squalid camps further south near the capital Sittwe following an earlier bout of violence in 2012. Hundreds were killed that year in riots between Rakhine Buddhists and the stateless minority, who were corralled into destitute camps away from their former neighbours. The conflagration in Ohndaw Chay camp, which houses some 4,000 Rohingya and lies 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Sittwe, started just before midnight and lasted several hours, fire department official Han Soe told AFP. "Six people, one man and five women were killed," he said, adding that 15 communal longhouses were also destroyed in the blaze thought to have been started in a kitchen accident. "We were able to bring the fire under control about 1:10 am this morning and had put it out completely by around 3 am," he said. A total of 822 people were left without shelter, local media reported. Conditions in the camps are dire and Rohingya trapped there have virtually no access to healthcare, education and work, relying on food handouts from aid agencies to survive. Access into the camps is also tightly controlled, effectively cutting their inhabitants off from the outside world and leaving their plight largely forgotten. Fires in the camps are common because of "severe" overcrowding, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Many camp residents have built makeshift extensions to their shelters to create more space for their families. So when a fire breaks out, it is more likely to spread quickly," said OCHA spokesman Pierre Peron. Hla Win, a Rohingya man from a nearby camp, told AFP that fire trucks were slow to arrive along the dilapidated roads from Sittwe and the lack of water also hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze. "We have no ponds near the camps," he said. "That's why the fire destroyed so much." Myanmar has vowed to close nearly 20 of the camps around Sittwe in the coming months. Rights groups say the move will achieve little without ending movement restrictions or granting Rohingya a pathway to citizenship.

Six dead in fire at Rohingya camp in Myanmar

'Better to die in India than return to Myanmar', say Rohingya refugees

Rahima Akter, also known as Khushi, wants to become the most educated Rohingya woman in the world.

Akter lives at Balukhali refugee camp for Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The 19-year-old is one of the very few girls in her community of now more than 900,000 to have graduated high school. But she doesn't plan to stop there. She is already working on a thesis for the university.

Akter said that education helped her to understand herself better and that's why she is still unmarried. Lots of her friends in the camps are married and have children.&nbsp;

Akter had to hide her Rohingya identity, and bribe school officials to be enrolled at a high school in Cox's Bazar, according to an Associated Press (AP) report.

But that, she says, was the easy part.

There were other hurdles such as convincing her father, to let her live independently in a town two hours away from the camps.

"My father tried to stop my education and one day he told me that you don't need to go to school, and you have to get married because this is our culture and that is the thing," Akter told AP.

"But I was crying a lot, I was requesting that 'please try to understand, my parents, I really want to get education. And one day I will be able to do it. Please believe me and let me go to school'."

Her mother, a refugee who had fled another spate of violence in Myanmar to come to Bangladesh in 1992, came to her rescue, the AP report said.

Minara Begum, who was never able to go to school, not only convinced her husband to let their daughter study, she fought off rebukes from the elders in her community who warned that sending girls to school was a sin.

She said if she could help her children get a better future by education, then "that is what I am going to do."

Begum now sends three of her four daughters to school and hopes to educate her youngest daughter and only son as well, according to AP report.

Rahima Akter, also known as Khushi, wants to become the most educated Rohingya woman in the world. Akter lives at Balukhali refugee camp for Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Rahima Akter, also known as Khushi, wants to become the most educated Rohingya woman in the world. Akter lives at Balukhali refugee camp for Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The 19-year-old is one of the very few girls in her community of now more than 900,000 to have graduated high school. But she doesn't plan to stop there. She is already working on a thesis for the university. Akter said that education helped her to understand herself better and that's why she is still unmarried. Lots of her friends in the camps are married and have children. Akter had to hide her Rohingya identity, and bribe school officials to be enrolled at a high school in Cox's Bazar, according to an Associated Press (AP) report. But that, she says, was the easy part. There were other hurdles such as convincing her father, to let her live independently in a town two hours away from the camps. "My father tried to stop my education and one day he told me that you don't need to go to school, and you have to get married because this is our culture and that is the thing," Akter told AP. "But I was crying a lot, I was requesting that 'please try to understand, my parents, I really want to get education. And one day I will be able to do it. Please believe me and let me go to school'." Her mother, a refugee who had fled another spate of violence in Myanmar to come to Bangladesh in 1992, came to her rescue, the AP report said. Minara Begum, who was never able to go to school, not only convinced her husband to let their daughter study, she fought off rebukes from the elders in her community who warned that sending girls to school was a sin. She said if she could help her children get a better future by education, then "that is what I am going to do." Begum now sends three of her four daughters to school and hopes to educate her youngest daughter and only son as well, according to AP report.

This teen refugee wants to become most educated Rohingya woman

There was a time, not so long ago, when a much less economically empowered India was talked about as a candidate for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. The status of India being a "regional superpower" grew steadily to that of an "aspiring global power". What's more, apart from being the world's fastest-growing major economy, India is already a member of the G-20 group of the world's elite economies.

So, do you expect a country like India to deport and expel a mere seven Rohingya refugees from Myanmar back to where they came from? I should think not. Especially when other Rohingyas in India fear a threat to their lives.

Apart from seven being an insignificant number in a nation of 125 crore people that already has an estimated 40,000 Rohingyas, it is important for India to see itself as a large-hearted nation, though a no-nonsense one. I am beginning to wonder if we have a method in all this. We should, if we still have any aspiration left for the UN Security Council seat in mind.

Let us take a look around. When Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan in 1979, a huge bunch of those affected by communist forces and later by the Taliban's Islamist rule found their safe haven in India. A visit to Lajpat Nagar, in the heart of Delhi, would find many Afghan Muslims who have come to India for safety. An estimated 30,000 Afghan families live in India as refugees or their offspring. Some estimates put the overall number at 60,000. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in India puts it at only 13,000, probably because it only lists the official "people of concern" who are listed at more than 200,000 -- about half of them Tibetans.

Over the decades, Tibetans, Afghans, Iranians, Somalia, Sri Lankans, Myanmarese and Bangladeshis have waded into India as political refugees of various kinds and compulsions. It is time to ask what has changed and what has not -- and what can be done. India has generally followed the principle of "non-refoulement' -- refusing to send refugees back to a place where they face a threat to their lives. But India is now turning against its own past as the Rohingya create a new diplomatic conundrum.&nbsp;

Though a narrative is being built to give the Rohingya refugees a colour similar to illegal immigrants in Assam, or another that sees them as a security threat in view of some Islamist connections, the fact is that there is a Buddhist majority in Myanmar which, supported by the Army, is giving hell to the Rohingya in the Rakhine province. I saw recently a documentary series on BBC World Service television by Simon Reeves that brought some chilling aspects of this crisis into focus. Across the Rakhine border, Bangladesh now has the world's largest refugee camp, that houses one million people!&nbsp;

India is understandably walking a wedge because, apart from the socio-economic fallouts of taking on a refugee burden, there are geopolitical concerns that China may get close to Myanmar's generals if India acts tough on Yangon. India signed an agreement last year to help development in the Rakhine state and pledged $25 million in aid. It is also a partner of the UN Security Council along with other neighbours. But the theme here is of a "safe, speedy and sustainable return of displaced persons."

The Ministry of External Affairs says the seven Rohingya currently in the news are willing to go back, but if that was truly so, why would there be such a fuss? Is New Delhi trying to impress the generals in Yangon?

What should India do? I would suggest India should engage more with the European Union that has its own refugee crisis to handle. Refugees from Africa, Syria and parts of troubled West Asia have crossed into Europe even as it struggles with the adverse fallouts of liberal multiculturalism in a right-wing backlash. Nearly 1.5 million migrants have come into Europe over the past four years or so.&nbsp;

China and US are in the middle of a trade war that is worsening historical frictions over human rights as well as a rivalry to dominate the world. Under President Donald Trump, Washington is more concerned about building walls to stop migrants -- be they from Mexico to the US or across the Sahara!&nbsp;

India and Europe have been having a wide-ranging dialogue that includes a three-year project on migration and mobility that focuses mainly on Indian migration to Europe. But there is a case to expand this into a global role in which India can engage in a wide-ranging dialogue as a thought leader and traditional humanitarian supporter of political refugees. That would be a truly strategic partnership that can help India raise its voice in the UN and hopefully become a permanent member of the Security Council.

Europe needs India as a key trading partner and also as a rising technology powerhouse rich in talent. Both have shared concerns over global security. India can be a Western ally without being seen too much in the company of an unpredictable Trump administration. (Trump recently called India the "Tariff King". Seriously!)&nbsp;

India has to balance its interests not just between Beijing and Yangon but also between various global groupings. The best course for India is to seek funds from Europe to help refugees, engage as a thought leader on migrant/refugee issues and seek creative new ways to buttress its image as a positive global power built over the decades as a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement and a respected figure in the UN General Assembly. 
 
India should not squander away decades of painstakingly built diplomatic advantage.

(This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/blogs/i-witnessed-one-superstar-molest-another-bollywood-allows-it-to-happen-2147082.html">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

There was a time, not so long ago, when a much less economically empowered India was talked about as a candidate for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

There was a time, not so long ago, when a much less economically empowered India was talked about as a candidate for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. The status of India being a "regional superpower" grew steadily to that of an "aspiring global power". What's more, apart from being the world's fastest-growing major economy, India is already a member of the G-20 group of the world's elite economies. So, do you expect a country like India to deport and expel a mere seven Rohingya refugees from Myanmar back to where they came from? I should think not. Especially when other Rohingyas in India fear a threat to their lives. Apart from seven being an insignificant number in a nation of 125 crore people that already has an estimated 40,000 Rohingyas, it is important for India to see itself as a large-hearted nation, though a no-nonsense one. I am beginning to wonder if we have a method in all this. We should, if we still have any aspiration left for the UN Security Council seat in mind. Let us take a look around. When Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan in 1979, a huge bunch of those affected by communist forces and later by the Taliban's Islamist rule found their safe haven in India. A visit to Lajpat Nagar, in the heart of Delhi, would find many Afghan Muslims who have come to India for safety. An estimated 30,000 Afghan families live in India as refugees or their offspring. Some estimates put the overall number at 60,000. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in India puts it at only 13,000, probably because it only lists the official "people of concern" who are listed at more than 200,000 -- about half of them Tibetans. Over the decades, Tibetans, Afghans, Iranians, Somalia, Sri Lankans, Myanmarese and Bangladeshis have waded into India as political refugees of various kinds and compulsions. It is time to ask what has changed and what has not -- and what can be done. India has generally followed the principle of "non-refoulement' -- refusing to send refugees back to a place where they face a threat to their lives. But India is now turning against its own past as the Rohingya create a new diplomatic conundrum. Though a narrative is being built to give the Rohingya refugees a colour similar to illegal immigrants in Assam, or another that sees them as a security threat in view of some Islamist connections, the fact is that there is a Buddhist majority in Myanmar which, supported by the Army, is giving hell to the Rohingya in the Rakhine province. I saw recently a documentary series on BBC World Service television by Simon Reeves that brought some chilling aspects of this crisis into focus. Across the Rakhine border, Bangladesh now has the world's largest refugee camp, that houses one million people! India is understandably walking a wedge because, apart from the socio-economic fallouts of taking on a refugee burden, there are geopolitical concerns that China may get close to Myanmar's generals if India acts tough on Yangon. India signed an agreement last year to help development in the Rakhine state and pledged $25 million in aid. It is also a partner of the UN Security Council along with other neighbours. But the theme here is of a "safe, speedy and sustainable return of displaced persons." The Ministry of External Affairs says the seven Rohingya currently in the news are willing to go back, but if that was truly so, why would there be such a fuss? Is New Delhi trying to impress the generals in Yangon? What should India do? I would suggest India should engage more with the European Union that has its own refugee crisis to handle. Refugees from Africa, Syria and parts of troubled West Asia have crossed into Europe even as it struggles with the adverse fallouts of liberal multiculturalism in a right-wing backlash. Nearly 1.5 million migrants have come into Europe over the past four years or so. China and US are in the middle of a trade war that is worsening historical frictions over human rights as well as a rivalry to dominate the world. Under President Donald Trump, Washington is more concerned about building walls to stop migrants -- be they from Mexico to the US or across the Sahara! India and Europe have been having a wide-ranging dialogue that includes a three-year project on migration and mobility that focuses mainly on Indian migration to Europe. But there is a case to expand this into a global role in which India can engage in a wide-ranging dialogue as a thought leader and traditional humanitarian supporter of political refugees. That would be a truly strategic partnership that can help India raise its voice in the UN and hopefully become a permanent member of the Security Council. Europe needs India as a key trading partner and also as a rising technology powerhouse rich in talent. Both have shared concerns over global security. India can be a Western ally without being seen too much in the company of an unpredictable Trump administration. (Trump recently called India the "Tariff King". Seriously!) India has to balance its interests not just between Beijing and Yangon but also between various global groupings. The best course for India is to seek funds from Europe to help refugees, engage as a thought leader on migrant/refugee issues and seek creative new ways to buttress its image as a positive global power built over the decades as a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement and a respected figure in the UN General Assembly. India should not squander away decades of painstakingly built diplomatic advantage. (This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India must emerge as global thought leader on refugees