Myanmar/Australia: Forced starvation of Rohingya highlights danger of premature returns

Amnesty International Australia was appalled to see the timid ‘diplospeak’ as laid bare in the FOI documents obtained by Guardian Australia. This confirms that not only is Australia intent on continuing its ties with the Myanmar military, but it is employing a sickening softly softly approach despite the horror being inflicted on the Rohingya people. …

Myanmar: Fresh evidence of ongoing ethnic cleansing as military starves, abducts and robs Rohingya

“An arms embargo and targeted sanctions are urgently needed to send a message that these violations will not be tolerated. There is also an urgent need for unfettered and sustained humanitarian access throughout northern Rakhine State.” – Matthew Wells, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International The Myanmar security forces’ devastating campaign against the Rohingya population …

Bangladesh/Myanmar: Postponing returns arrangement provides temporary relief for Rohingya refugees

The government of Bangladesh’s announcement that it is to postpone the return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar is a welcome relief for hundreds of thousands currently living in Bangladesh, Amnesty International said today. Implementing a returns arrangement – finalised last week – in its current form would put the safety and rights of more than …

Bangladesh: Returning Rohingya to Myanmar illegal and premature

Responding to an announcement by the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry that it will aim to repatriate all Rohingya refugees within two years, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said: “With memories of rape, killing and torture still fresh in the minds of Rohingya refugees, plans for their return to Myanmar …

Myanmar: Reuters journalists must be released

The Myanmar authorities must immediately release two journalists from the Reuters news agency who have been arbitrarily detained for investigating military abuses in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Amnesty International said. The two journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, are due in court today. They had been investigating the recent military operations in Rakhine State when …

UN / Rohingya apartheid: Australia must support robust resolution

Ahead of tomorrow’s United Nations Human Rights Council “special session” on the situation of the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said: “Australia must show leadership in guiding the Human Rights Council towards a robust resolution on the Rohingya crisis. Any resolution passed must send a strong …

Rohingya Crisis: Australia out of step as U.S. State Department acknowledges ethnic cleansing in Myanmar

United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the sustained and systemic attacks on the Rohingya population by the Myanmar military “ethnic cleansing” overnight  in an acknowledgment of the nature of the humanitarian crisis. He also called for an independent probe into north Rakhine State. The announcement comes a week after promising an additional US$47 …

Myanmar: Rohingya trapped in dehumanising apartheid regime

Rohingya segregated and abused in “open air prison” Two-year investigation reveals root causes of current Rakhine State crisis System of discrimination amounts to the crime against humanity of apartheid Australia must immediately cut ties to the Myanmar military, including the provision of training and other military and security assistance The Rohingya people in Myanmar are …

Rohingya crisis: Australia must cut ties with Myanmar Army

  Earlier today the United Kingdom cut ties to the Myanmar military including any non-combat support.   “While a campaign of ethnic cleansing is being committed against the Rohingya people, the Australian Government must suspend all forms of support to Myanmar’s military,” Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said. “Amnesty International is calling on …

UN: Myanmar Rohingya exodus exposes abject failure of world leaders to deliver solution to refugee crisis

        More Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh in the space of three weeks than the total number of refugees who fled by sea to Europe in 2016         Worldwide situation goes from bad to worse as rich countries fail to do their part in addressing the refugee crisis, leaving poorer countries to pick up the pieces …