Clashes between Myanmar's military and the insurgent Arakan Army, which mainly recruits from the Rakhine ethnic group, have displaced more than 5,000 people in parts of Rakhine and Chin states since early December. Win Thein, a member of the nongovernmental Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, said he had visited the refugees, who are members of the Khumi, Cho and Rakhine ethnic groups, in their remote jungle camp. Some villagers said they later witnessed Myanmar soldiers looting and setting fire to homes, he said. Two spokesmen for the Myanmar military and the government's main spokesman, Zaw Htay, did not pick up phone calls seeking comment on Thursday. Bangladesh summoned Myanmar's ambassador on Tuesday to protest over the new arrivals, according to a senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 07, 2019 11:15 UTC