The UN human rights chief warned on Monday that possible acts of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” against Myanmar’s Rohingya minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country’s borders. “Myanmar faces a very serious crisis – with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region, “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said during a speech in Jakarta. Myanmar denied the mass grave report and wider allegations of rights abuses, saying it launched a proportionate crackdown on Rohingya rebels. But it has blocked reporters and UN investigators from independently accessing the conflict zone and investigating refugee claims about genocide. Zeid on Monday said Myanmar had enjoyed strong growth including a focus on socio-economic development in the Rakhine region, but that this could not mask “institutionalised discrimination” against the minority.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 05, 2018 06:33 UTC