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Myanmar ‘Callous’ Toward Anti-Rohingya Violence, U.N. Says Myanmar ‘Callous’ Toward Anti-Rohingya Violence, U.N. Says
(about 7 hours later)
GENEVA — The top human rights official for the United Nations condemned the Myanmar government’s handling of violence in Muslim areas bordering Bangladesh on Friday, saying it risked creating a breeding ground for violent extremism.GENEVA — The top human rights official for the United Nations condemned the Myanmar government’s handling of violence in Muslim areas bordering Bangladesh on Friday, saying it risked creating a breeding ground for violent extremism.
Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, described the government’s approach to the crisis as “shortsighted, counterproductive and even callous.” He warned that the fallout from the surge in violence was spilling into the region.Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, described the government’s approach to the crisis as “shortsighted, counterproductive and even callous.” He warned that the fallout from the surge in violence was spilling into the region.
His comments provided the sharpest response yet from the United Nations to reports of brutal reprisals by the army against the Rohingya, a Muslim community in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, after insurgents attacked border posts in early October, killing nine police officers. His comments were the sharpest response yet from the United Nations to reports of brutal reprisals by the army against the Rohingya, a Muslim group in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, after insurgents attacked border posts in October, killing nine police officers.
Moreover, it reflects deepening frustration and impatience at the way Myanmar’s de facto leader, the democracy activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has brushed off the mounting evidence of military atrocities and allowed international agencies insufficient access to the area either to assess what has occurred or to provide humanitarian aid to the affected population. Moreover, it reflects deepening frustration and impatience at the way Myanmar’s de facto leader, the democracy activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has brushed off mounting evidence of military atrocities and allowed international agencies insufficient access to the area either to assess what has occurred or to provide aid to the affected population.
The United Nations refugee agency estimates that 30,000 Rohingya Muslims have been forced from their homes as troops, on occasion backed by helicopter gunships, have swept through parts of Rakhine, reportedly burning and looting villages, summarily shooting local residents and raping women. The United Nations refugee agency estimates that 30,000 Rohingya Muslims have been forced from their homes as troops have swept through parts of Rakhine, reportedly burning and looting villages, summarily shooting local residents and raping women.
More than 21,900 Rohingyas have fled across the border to Bangladesh, United Nations officials say, some of them injured and bringing horrific accounts of villagers fleeing the violence shot dead as they tried to cross into Bangladesh, young children tossed into burning houses and mass rapes of Rohingya women by troops. More than 21,900 Rohingyas have fled across the border to Bangladesh, United Nations officials say, bringing horrific accounts of villagers fleeing the violence shot dead, young children tossed into burning houses and mass rapes of Rohingya women by troops.
Government officials have denied the reports as fabrications and said militants were responsible for burning houses. Mr. al-Hussein said such denials — coupled with the refusal to allow independent monitors into northern Rakhine State — represented an abdication of the country’s international legal obligations.Government officials have denied the reports as fabrications and said militants were responsible for burning houses. Mr. al-Hussein said such denials — coupled with the refusal to allow independent monitors into northern Rakhine State — represented an abdication of the country’s international legal obligations.
Mr. al-Hussein spoke by telephone to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi this month, and his office said it had had contact with the government at many levels. But information provided by the government about the measures it is taking to address the crisis did not include credible steps to investigate abuses or signal a significant change in policy toward the community, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the refugee agency, said.
The United Nations human rights office was still receiving daily reports of abuses that suggested that security forces were enforcing “collective punishment of an entire community,” Mr. al-Hussein said. “This is clearly the wrong approach.”
The government’s handling of the crisis was “a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse,” Mr. al-Hussein said. He urged Myanmar’s political and military leaders to “step back and consider the long-term implications” of its operations for the stability and development of the country and the region.
“We are concerned that this is going to get further out of hand,” Ms. Shamdasani said of the violence in Rakhine State, describing it as “a perfect recruiting ground for violent extremism.”