Southeast Asia

Myanmar rejects UN probe on Rohingya abuses

This AFP photo taken on February 3, 2018, shows Myanmar military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (C) arriving with senior military officials for the second day of the joint military exercises in the Ayeyarwaddy delta region. Myanmar rejected the findings of a UN probe alleging genocide by its military against the Rohingya, a government spokesman said on August 29, 2018 in the country's first response to a damning report on the crisis. Photo: AFP

A Myanmar government spokesman on Wednesday rejected a report by United Nations investigators that called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, saying the international community was making "false allegations".

His comments came a day after the UN report, which marked the first time the organisation has explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over a brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims last year.

"Our stance is clear and I want to say sharply that we don't accept any resolutions conducted by the Human Rights Council," Zaw Htay, the main government spokesman, said in an interview published in state media.

Myanmar did not allow UN investigators to enter the country, he said. "That's why we don't agree and accept any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council."

He added that the country has "zero tolerance to any human rights violation" and had set up a Commission of Enquiry to respond to "false allegations" made by the UN and "other international communities".

Authorities earlier this year set up a panel comprised of two local and two international members – Filipino diplomat Rosario Manalo and Kenzo Oshima, Japan's former ambassador to the UN - to investigate human rights abuses.

Myanmar has denied most of the allegations, saying the military responded to a legitimate threat from Rohingya militants, who attacked police posts across the western Rakhine state.

"If there is any case against human rights, just give us strong evidence, record and date so that we can take legal action against those who break the rules and regulations," Zaw Htay said.

The same day as the UN released its report, Facebook shut down the account of army general Min Aung Hlaing and other top military officials, accusing them of using its platform to spread "hate and misinformation".

In the interview published on Tuesday, Zaw Htay said the government had not ordered the ban and was questioning Facebook about the action, saying it had caused "mounting criticism and fear among the people".

Myanmar's civilian government shares power with the military, which controls key ministries including home affairs and immigration.

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Myanmar rejects UN probe on Rohingya abuses

This AFP photo taken on February 3, 2018, shows Myanmar military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (C) arriving with senior military officials for the second day of the joint military exercises in the Ayeyarwaddy delta region. Myanmar rejected the findings of a UN probe alleging genocide by its military against the Rohingya, a government spokesman said on August 29, 2018 in the country's first response to a damning report on the crisis. Photo: AFP

A Myanmar government spokesman on Wednesday rejected a report by United Nations investigators that called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, saying the international community was making "false allegations".

His comments came a day after the UN report, which marked the first time the organisation has explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over a brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims last year.

"Our stance is clear and I want to say sharply that we don't accept any resolutions conducted by the Human Rights Council," Zaw Htay, the main government spokesman, said in an interview published in state media.

Myanmar did not allow UN investigators to enter the country, he said. "That's why we don't agree and accept any resolutions made by the Human Rights Council."

He added that the country has "zero tolerance to any human rights violation" and had set up a Commission of Enquiry to respond to "false allegations" made by the UN and "other international communities".

Authorities earlier this year set up a panel comprised of two local and two international members – Filipino diplomat Rosario Manalo and Kenzo Oshima, Japan's former ambassador to the UN - to investigate human rights abuses.

Myanmar has denied most of the allegations, saying the military responded to a legitimate threat from Rohingya militants, who attacked police posts across the western Rakhine state.

"If there is any case against human rights, just give us strong evidence, record and date so that we can take legal action against those who break the rules and regulations," Zaw Htay said.

The same day as the UN released its report, Facebook shut down the account of army general Min Aung Hlaing and other top military officials, accusing them of using its platform to spread "hate and misinformation".

In the interview published on Tuesday, Zaw Htay said the government had not ordered the ban and was questioning Facebook about the action, saying it had caused "mounting criticism and fear among the people".

Myanmar's civilian government shares power with the military, which controls key ministries including home affairs and immigration.

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ভারতে বাংলাদেশি কার্ডের ব্যবহার কমেছে ৪০ শতাংশ, বেড়েছে থাইল্যান্ড-সিঙ্গাপুরে

বিদেশে বাংলাদেশি ক্রেডিট কার্ডের মাধ্যমে সবচেয়ে বেশি খরচ হতো ভারতে। গত জুলাইয়ে ভারতকে ছাড়িয়ে গেছে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র।

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