United Nations: Violence in Myanmar is a stark example of ethnic cleansing
From Stephanie Nebhai
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad al-Hussein, on Monday criticized Myanmar for its "brutal security operation" against Muslim Rohingyas, describing the measures as "a blatant example of ethnic cleansing."
Prince Zeid made the remarks to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where the official number of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar to southern Bangladesh in two weeks exceeded 300,000.
"We have received a number of reports and satellite images showing security forces and a local militia burning the Rohingya villages, and we have received consistent accounts of ongoing killings outside the law, including shooting at fleeing civilians," Prince Zeid said.
"I call upon the government to end its current brutal military operation and to hold accountable all violations that have occurred and to stop the widespread pattern of discrimination against the Rohingyas."
"The situation is a stark example of ethnic cleansing."
A complete denial of the truth
Human rights observers and Rohingyas accused the army and Buddhist villagers in Rakhine of launching a burning campaign to expel the Rohingya.
Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country with more than a million Muslim Rohingyas marginalized and has repeatedly denied accusations of "ethnic cleansing."
Myanmar officials have accused rebels and Rohingya of burning their villages to attract international attention to their cause.
Prince Zeid called on Myanmar to "stop pretending" that the Rohingyas were burning their homes and said that their "total denial of reality" was detrimental to the position of their government on the international scene.
Estimates of the number of newcomers to the Cox-Bazar region in Bangladesh since August 25 were 313,000, an increase of 19,000 in just 24 hours.
There are clear signs that more will pass before the situation stabilizes, "the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.
"Newcomers at all locations are in desperate need of life-saving assistance such as food, water, sanitation, health care and protection."
Thousands of Rohingyas were stranded in Myanmar on the other side of the river Naf, which separates them from Bangladesh. Observers and sources in the area told Reuters that the largest gathering of fugitives is located south of Maungdao town.
From Stephanie Nebhai
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad al-Hussein, on Monday criticized Myanmar for its "brutal security operation" against Muslim Rohingyas, describing the measures as "a blatant example of ethnic cleansing."
Prince Zeid made the remarks to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where the official number of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar to southern Bangladesh in two weeks exceeded 300,000.
"We have received a number of reports and satellite images showing security forces and a local militia burning the Rohingya villages, and we have received consistent accounts of ongoing killings outside the law, including shooting at fleeing civilians," Prince Zeid said.
"I call upon the government to end its current brutal military operation and to hold accountable all violations that have occurred and to stop the widespread pattern of discrimination against the Rohingyas."
"The situation is a stark example of ethnic cleansing."
A complete denial of the truth
Human rights observers and Rohingyas accused the army and Buddhist villagers in Rakhine of launching a burning campaign to expel the Rohingya.
Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country with more than a million Muslim Rohingyas marginalized and has repeatedly denied accusations of "ethnic cleansing."
Myanmar officials have accused rebels and Rohingya of burning their villages to attract international attention to their cause.
Prince Zeid called on Myanmar to "stop pretending" that the Rohingyas were burning their homes and said that their "total denial of reality" was detrimental to the position of their government on the international scene.
Estimates of the number of newcomers to the Cox-Bazar region in Bangladesh since August 25 were 313,000, an increase of 19,000 in just 24 hours.
There are clear signs that more will pass before the situation stabilizes, "the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.
"Newcomers at all locations are in desperate need of life-saving assistance such as food, water, sanitation, health care and protection."
Thousands of Rohingyas were stranded in Myanmar on the other side of the river Naf, which separates them from Bangladesh. Observers and sources in the area told Reuters that the largest gathering of fugitives is located south of Maungdao town.