Myanmar hits back at criticism over Rohingya crisis

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Myanmar’s Union Minister Kyaw Tint Swe said that international attention has been too greatly focused on the outflow of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh and has failed to appreciate the “broader picture”, during an address at the UN General Assembly in New York City on Friday.

“International attention has been focused on the outflow and overlooked the broader picture of the various reasons, immediate as well as longstanding, that brought about the displacement of these people”, Tint Swe said.

According to the Myanmar representative, attacks carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in August 2017 led to “fear and instability” and the mass migration of refugees to Bangladesh.

He stressed that his Government has been persisting in its efforts to work towards a more harmonious Rakhine State and that the UN report released in August, which accused Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya, was “based on narratives and not hard evidence.”

Tint Swe then called on the Bangladeshi government to “allow without delay the return of verified persons under voluntary, safe and dignified conditions.”

The UN has estimated that around 500,000 people have fled since August 25, more than 90 percent are Rohingya, amid widespread reports of indiscriminate killings, arson, looting and rape by the Myanmar military. Myanmar’s military claims to be pursuing Rohingya militants, after an attack that left 12 police officers dead on 25 August this year.