U Thaung Tun rejects 'ethnic cleansing' charge in Geneva

By AFP

GENEVA — A senior Myanmar official on Thursday rejected a UN accusation that his government has been carrying “ethnic cleansing” against the Rohingya.

“We often heard many accusations that there is ethnic cleansing or even genocide in Myanmar … it is not the policy of the government,” Myanmar’s National Security Advisor U Thaung Tun told a press conference in the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva.

“Whenever there is clear evidence we will make sure that action is taken against those who have perpetrated any crimes or those who have cause human rights abuses,” he added.

On Wednesday, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called for a new body tasked with preparing criminal indictments over atrocities committed in Myanmar, after a similar panel was created for the Syrian conflict.

Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.

In his annual report to the council, Zeid restated his concern that “acts of genocide may have taken place” in Rakhine State.

An estimated 700,000 Rohingya have fled over the border to Bangladesh since an army crackdown was launched in Rakhine in August.

Myanmar blames Rohingya militants for an August 25 strike on security posts in Rakhine state that triggered a fierce army crackdown.

The UN and the US have said the retaliatory response by Myanmar security forces amounted to “ethnic cleansing”.

Thaung Tun said that “the vast majority of Muslims in that part of the country remain in the villages”.

If there had been a genocide attempt then they would surely all have fled the region, he added.

“The very fact that Myanmar is willing to take back people who have crossed over the border” from Bangladesh indicates “we are not planning to have them out of the country,” he said.

Bangladesh says more than one million Rohingya refugees are living in squalid camps in the country’s south, having fled successive waves of violence in Rakhine.

More stories

Latest Issue

Stories in this issue
Myanmar enters 2021 with more friends than foes
The early delivery of vaccines is one of the many boons of the country’s geopolitics, but to really take advantage, Myanmar must bury the legacy of its isolationist past.
Will the Kayin BGF go quietly?
The Kayin State Border Guard Force has come under intense pressure from the Tatmadaw over its extensive, controversial business interests and there’s concern the ultimatum could trigger fresh hostilities in one of the country’s most war-torn areas.

Support our independent journalism and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content and analysis

Stay on top of Myanmar current affairs with our Daily Briefing and Media Monitor newsletters.

Sign up for our Frontier Fridays newsletter. It’s a free weekly round-up featuring the most important events shaping Myanmar