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Cameron offers Burma more military co-operation | Cameron offers Burma more military co-operation |
(about 3 hours later) | |
David Cameron offered increased military co-operation with Burma during a meeting with the country's president. | David Cameron offered increased military co-operation with Burma during a meeting with the country's president. |
Mr Cameron spoke of "growing links in terms of our militaries" when he met Thein Sein at Downing Street. | Mr Cameron spoke of "growing links in terms of our militaries" when he met Thein Sein at Downing Street. |
But the prime minister also said he was "particularly concerned" treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Burma and called for greater action on human rights. | But the prime minister also said he was "particularly concerned" treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Burma and called for greater action on human rights. |
Protesters near Parliament say hundreds of Rohingya Muslims have been killed in recent sectarian violence in Burma. | Protesters near Parliament say hundreds of Rohingya Muslims have been killed in recent sectarian violence in Burma. |
They had set up gravestones bearing the words "RIP Rohingya" ahead of the meeting. | They had set up gravestones bearing the words "RIP Rohingya" ahead of the meeting. |
'Growing links' | 'Growing links' |
More details of the proposed military co-operation are expected later, but the Daily Telegraph has reported that Britain will appoint a "defence attache" in Rangoon to "oversee the establishment of military to military contacts between the Burmese armed forces and their UK counterparts". | More details of the proposed military co-operation are expected later, but the Daily Telegraph has reported that Britain will appoint a "defence attache" in Rangoon to "oversee the establishment of military to military contacts between the Burmese armed forces and their UK counterparts". |
Greeting the Burmese president on his first visit to Britain, Mr Cameron raised the issue of sectarian violence which has left hundreds dead and thousands of Rohingya displaced. | Greeting the Burmese president on his first visit to Britain, Mr Cameron raised the issue of sectarian violence which has left hundreds dead and thousands of Rohingya displaced. |
Mr Cameron said he was "very keen to see greater action in terms of promoting human rights and dealing with regional conflicts". | Mr Cameron said he was "very keen to see greater action in terms of promoting human rights and dealing with regional conflicts". |
He added: "We very much welcome the reform process you are undertaking in your country and look forward to free, fair and open elections in 2015. | He added: "We very much welcome the reform process you are undertaking in your country and look forward to free, fair and open elections in 2015. |
"We believe there are many areas for Britain and your country to co-operate together, diplomatically, in terms of trade and investment, the aid and development relationship and also our growing links in terms of our militaries." | "We believe there are many areas for Britain and your country to co-operate together, diplomatically, in terms of trade and investment, the aid and development relationship and also our growing links in terms of our militaries." |
But Jamal Ahamed, general secretary of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, said inviting Thein Sein meant Britain was supporting him "despite knowing all that is happening in the country". | But Jamal Ahamed, general secretary of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, said inviting Thein Sein meant Britain was supporting him "despite knowing all that is happening in the country". |
An online petition set up by campaign group Avaaz, calling for an end to attacks on Rohingya people, has more than a million signatures. | An online petition set up by campaign group Avaaz, calling for an end to attacks on Rohingya people, has more than a million signatures. |
The petition compares the situation to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and Avaaz executive director Ricken Patel said: "The ethnic cleansing attacks on the Rohingya and other Muslims should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. | The petition compares the situation to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and Avaaz executive director Ricken Patel said: "The ethnic cleansing attacks on the Rohingya and other Muslims should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. |
"Prime Minister Cameron has a responsibility to use all his diplomatic leverage to get real, concrete measures from President Thein Sein to protect these groups. | "Prime Minister Cameron has a responsibility to use all his diplomatic leverage to get real, concrete measures from President Thein Sein to protect these groups. |
"He has to put peoples' lives ahead of trade talks." | "He has to put peoples' lives ahead of trade talks." |
'Horrendous violence' | 'Horrendous violence' |
Amnesty International said Burma's Rohingya Muslims are "effectively stateless" and equal citizenship must be granted. | Amnesty International said Burma's Rohingya Muslims are "effectively stateless" and equal citizenship must be granted. |
Clashes between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Rakhine state started in June 2012 and have continued since, Amnesty said. | Clashes between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Rakhine state started in June 2012 and have continued since, Amnesty said. |
The organisation's UK director Kate Allen said: "Hundreds have died, thousands are displaced and the security forces have failed to protect civilians and are themselves responsible for some horrendous acts of violence." | The organisation's UK director Kate Allen said: "Hundreds have died, thousands are displaced and the security forces have failed to protect civilians and are themselves responsible for some horrendous acts of violence." |
She added: "Thein Sein's dismal handling of the situation is unacceptable, and we fully expect to hear Cameron say so." | She added: "Thein Sein's dismal handling of the situation is unacceptable, and we fully expect to hear Cameron say so." |
Thein Sein has introduced major reforms since the elections of November 2010, which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. | Thein Sein has introduced major reforms since the elections of November 2010, which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. |
Many political prisoners have been freed and media restrictions have been relaxed in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar. | Many political prisoners have been freed and media restrictions have been relaxed in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar. |
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy - which boycotted the November 2010 polls - has rejoined the political process and now has a small presence in parliament. | Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy - which boycotted the November 2010 polls - has rejoined the political process and now has a small presence in parliament. |
Last year the EU lifted sanctions against Burma, but an arms embargo remains in place. | Last year the EU lifted sanctions against Burma, but an arms embargo remains in place. |
'Persecuted minority' | |
The United Nations describes the Rohingya, a religious and linguistic group from western Burma, as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. | |
The Burmese government says they are relatively recent migrants from the Indian sub-continent, and so the country's constitution does not include them among indigenous groups qualifying for citizenship. | |
There is widespread hostility towards the Rohingya Muslims in Burma, which is largely Buddhist. | |
Neighbouring Bangladesh already hosts several hundred thousand refugees from Burma and says it cannot take any more. |