Stop ‘cleansing’ of Rohingya Muslims: HRW
Ethnic Arakanese with weapons walking away from a village in flames while a soldier stands by. Arakan State, Burma, June 2012. Photo: HRW
International rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has blamed Myanmar authorities of organising a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State, urging them to put an immediate stop to the abuses.
In a report, HRW accused the authorities of committing crimes against humanity for attacks backed by state security forces on Muslim neighbuorhoods and villages in October last year to terrorise and forcibly relocate the population.
Around 125,000 Rohingya and other Muslims were displaced in the attacks coordinated by Maynamar officials, community leaders, and Buddhist monks, said the HRW report.
“The Burmese government engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya that continues today through the denial of aid and restrictions on movement,” said deputy Asia director of HRW, Phil Robertson.
He urged the government to put an immediate stop to the abuses and hold the perpetrators accountable or it will be responsible for further violence against ethnic and religious minorities in the country.
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