UN highlights Rohingya cleansing in Myanmar

UN has stated that Myanmar is seeking the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya minority in northern Rakhine state. Armed forces of Myanmar have been conducting counter-insurgency operations since the murder of nine border guards on October 9, which some blamed on a Rohingya militant group. The armed forces have been accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture, rape and executions. The satellite images released by the Human Rights Watch show that more than 1,200 houses have been razed in the past six weeks in the Rohingya villages. However, the Burmese officials have denied all these charges and say Rohingya are setting fire to their own houses.

In Buddhist Myanmar, the Muslim Rohingya’s are seen as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They number around one million and have been repeatedly denied citizenship, even though some of them have been living in Myanmar for generations.

Due to the actions of the armed forces, Rohingya’s are forced to flee to nearby Bangladesh. Thousands of refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh and much more are expected to flee Myanmar in the coming days.

Though Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is Myanmar’s de facto leader, security is not under her control. The security of the nation is under the control of the autonomous armed forces.