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Showing posts from August, 2017

Myanmar : Myanmar violence leaves 98 dead as Rohingya Muslims flee into Bangladesh

PHOTO:  There are about 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.  (Reuters: Mohammad Ponir Hossain) Thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar are trying to cross the border with Bangladesh, Bangladeshi security officials say, as fresh fighting erupted in Myanmar's north-western Rakhine state. The death toll from widespread attacks staged by Rohingya insurgents on Friday has climbed to 98, including nearly 80 insurgents and 12 members of the security forces, the Government said, prompting it to evacuate staff and villagers from some areas. The attacks marked a dramatic escalation of a conflict that has simmered since last October, when a similar offensive prompted a major military sweep beset by allegations of serious human rights abuses. The treatment of approximately 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar has emerged as the biggest challenge for national leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who late on Friday condemned the morning raids — in whi...

Myanmar: Rohingya: 'Even a baby was not spared by the army'

Residents accuse security forces of shooting 'indiscriminately' at the Muslim minority, forcing thousands to flee. Faisal Edroos The Myanmar army has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the restive Rakhine region, with residents and activists accusing soldiers of shooting indiscriminately at unarmed  Rohingya  men, women and children and carrying out arson attacks. Authorities in Myanmar say close to 100 people have been killed since Friday when armed men, reportedly from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), launched a pre-dawn raid on police outposts in the restive region. UPFRONT: Aung San Suu Kyi: Turning her back on Rohingya? (12:15) The army has declared a war against "terrorism", encircling the townships of Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung, home to around 800,000 people, and imposed a curfew from 6pm (11:30 GMT) to 6am (23:30 GMT). However, advocates for the Rohingya have given a...