US suspends official travel to Myanmar's troubled Rakhine

International Desk: The United States has temporarily suspended travel for American officials to parts of Burma's Rakhine state, the US embassy said on Thursday, citing concerns over potential protests after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused the country of carrying out the “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims in the state.

Tillerson threatened penalties for military officials engaged in a brutal crackdown that has sent more than 620,000 refugees flooding over the border to Bangladesh. 

The US Secretary of State blamed Burma's security forces and “local vigilantes” for what he called “intolerable suffering” by the Rohingya. Although the military has accused Rohingya insurgents of triggering the crisis, Tillerson said “no provocation can justify the horrendous atrocities that have ensued.”

“After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya,” Tillerson said in a statement. 

Although the designation carries no legal obligations for the US to act, Tillerson said those who perpetrated the atrocities “must be held accountable.” He added that the US wanted a full investigation and was considering “targeted sanctions” against those responsible - but not broader sanctions against the nation.

Rohingya from Burma's Rakhine state have been fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh, seeking refuge from what Burma's military has called “clearance operations.” The crisis started in August, when Rohingya insurgents attacked Burmese security forces, leading to a brutal crackdown in which soldiers and Buddhist mobs have killed men, raped women and girls and burned homes and property to force the Rohingya to leave.

Source: Independent UK

risingbd/Dhaka/November 23, 2017/A K Azad