United Nations: The UN Security Council has urged Myanmar’s government to step up efforts to create conditions that will allow Rohingya Muslims who fled a violent crackdown to safely return to the country from neighbouring Bangladesh.
The council stressed in a statement following closed briefings yesterday that progress is also needed by Myanmar on implementing agreements on relations with the UN refugee and development agencies and with Bangladesh on returning Rohingya.
Rohingya face official and social discrimination in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, which denies most of them citizenship and basic rights because they are looked on as immigrants from Bangladesh, even though the families of many settled in Myanmar generations ago.
Dire conditions led more than 2,00,000 to flee the country between 2012 and 2015. The latest crisis began with attacks by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar security personnel last August.
The military responded with counterinsurgency sweeps and was accused of widespread human rights violations, including rape, murder, torture and the burning of Rohingya homes. (AP)
