File photo: A Myanmar policeman stands outside of a camp set up by Myanmar's Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister to prepare for the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas, who fled to Bangladesh, outside Maungdaw in the state of Rakhine
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted on Thursday in favour of establishing a body to consolidate evidence of human rights abuses in Myanmar, including possible genocide, and prepare files for any future prosecution.
The 47-member Council voted by 35 votes to three, with seven abstentions, in favour of a resolution brought by the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. China, the Philippines and Burundi voted against the move.
A newly released report by the U.S. Department of State has described the Myanmar army’s persecution of Rohingya Muslims as “well-planned and coordinated.”“The scope and scale of the military’s operations indicate they were well-planned and coordinated,” said the report released on Monday, referring to the Myanmar’s military violence against Rohingya people in northern Rakhine State of the country.The report included interviews with the Rohingya people, who escaped the persecution in Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh over the last two years.“The results of the survey show that the vast majority of Rohingya refugees experienced or directly witnessed extreme violence and the destruction of their homes,” it said.According to the report, 84 percent of Rohingya, who were part of the research, pointed the military as the perpetrator of the killings or the injuries they witnessed.The Rohingya said that the security forces used flamethrowers, incendiary devices to burn down houses and to kill and injure them.They also listed the violent acts such as rape, burning the holy Quran, dismembering the victims, beating or killing the babies and children, and attacking women and babies during birth or after that.“The survey reveals that the recent violence in northern Rakhine State was extreme, large-scale, widespread, and seemingly geared toward both terrorizing the population and driving out the Rohingya residents,” it said.The report added that perpetrators, in some areas, also locked people in houses to burn them and sank boats full of hundreds of fleeing Rohingya.“Imagery analysis from August 30 to October 23, 2017 indicates that more than 38,000 buildings were destroyed by fire,” it said.In August, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said in an address to the UN Security Council that “the world can no longer avoid the difficult truth of what happened.”The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar also called for the trial of Myanmar’s top military officials, including army commander-in-chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, at the International Criminal Court for committing genocide against Rohingya Muslims.- Rohingya PersecutionSince Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the OIDA report, entitled "Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience".Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police, and over 115,000 Rohingya houses were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly children and women, fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
Rohingya experienced ‘extreme’ violence in Myanmar
A Turkish aid agency has opened a learning center for children at a refugee camp in Bangladesh where Rohingya Muslims took shelter after fleeing Myanmar's Rakhine State.In a written statement, Sadakataşı Foundation, an Istanbul-based non-governmental organization, said it opened "DNA Digital Education Center" at the Mainnerghona camp which is currently hosting at least 22,000 Rohingya refugees.Two teachers will provide education at the learning center which was made from bamboo to withstand heat and humid climate of the region.Foundation head Kemal Özdal, cited in the statement, drew attention to the overloaded refugee camps, saying that the education is one of the biggest problems in the camps in Bangladesh."We are happy to open our 8th school for Rohingya children," Özdal added.Aid should focus on development: Turkey’s first ladyPersecuted RohingyaSince Aug. 25, 2017, more than 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).In a report, "Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience", the OIDA increased the estimated number of murdered Rohingya to 23,962 (±881) from an earlier Doctors Without Borders figure of 9,400.More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, the OIDA report said, adding that 17,718 (±780) Rohingya women and girls were raped by the Myanmar army and police.More than 115,000 Rohingya houses were burned and 113,000 others were vandalized, it added.According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly children, and women have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community.The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In its report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.Turkish FM discusses Rohingya with counterparts
Turkish aid group offers education to Rohingya children
Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday discussed the plight of Rohingya Muslims with his British and French counterparts in New York.Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter that the foreign ministers "evaluated" the state of Rohingya Muslims, stressing on the microblogging site that "humanitarian aid must be increased."His talks with Jeremy Hunt and Jean-Yves Le Drian came on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.Cavusoglu said Rohingya Muslims' voluntary and safe return from Bangladesh to Myanmar must be secured.Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).Amnesty International had said more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly children and women, fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community since August 2017.The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.Cavusoglu also held talks with the Secretary General of Council of Europe, Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation, foreign ministers of Moldova, Japan and Colombia, he said on Twitter.
Turkish FM discusses Rohingya with counterparts