The United Nations human rights chief said on Wednesday that he strongly suspected that “acts of genocide” may have taken place against Rohingyas in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state since August. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine into Bangladesh since insurgent attacks sparked a security crackdown in August, joining 200,000 refugees from a previous exodus. “This Council is aware that my office has strong suspicions that acts of genocide may have taken place in Rakhine State since August,” he added. His office had received reports of land inhabited by Rohingya being appropriated and members of other ethnic groups replacing them. Myanmar’s government must take steps to provide real accountability for violations and respect the rights of Rohingya, including to citizenship, Zeid said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 07, 2018 11:15 UTC