• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Myanmar, Bangladesh Sign Repatriation Agreement on Rohingya Refugees - Official

Sputnik News

11:40 23.11.2017(updated 17:46 23.11.2017)

The situation in Myanmar remains tense, with the US declaring the actions of the military in the northern Rakhine state "ethnic cleansing" against the Rohingya.

Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed on the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar's Rakhine into Bangladesh seeking safety from a military crackdown in Myanmar, Reuters reports citing a Myanmar's official.

The deal called Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from the Rakhine State does not include the time frame for repatriation, but according to sources in both delegations, the process may kick off within next two months, the Mizzima media outlet reported.

A source in Bangladeshi delegation said that the Dhaka proposed to complete repatriation within a year but pointed out that Myanmar's delegation was not ready to make such a decision now.

More than 600,000 Rohingyas were forced to flee the country as a result of Myanmar's authorities' response campaign launched after the conflict between the Rohingya minority and Myanmar's military had escalated in August following Rohingya militants' attacks on government positions. The actions of Myanmar's military have elicited worldwide condemnation.

The US has recently labeled the violence against the Rohingya as "ethnic cleansing", whereas in early November, Washington made one of its strongest efforts to intervene in Rohingya crisis introducing the bill on sanctions and travel restrictions on Myanmar military officials.

On November 7, The UN Security Council has issued a presidential statement expressing serious concern over human rights violations in Myanmar and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine state that could potentially further destabilize the situation in the region.

Russia and China agreed to the UN Security Council resolution urging Myanmar to refrain from further "excessive use of military force", but they opposed tougher steps against Myanmar.

© Sputnik