Bangladesh protests as Myanmar troops threaten refugees

EVER SINCE large numbers of Rohingya people started fleeing to Bangladesh to escape persecution by the Myanmar military forces, international attention has focussed on the refugee camps around Cox’s Bazar.

International attention is all very well: what the Rohingya refugees, the Bangladeshi authorities and millions of humanitarians around the world are looking for is international action and aid.

Even less attention has been paid to a small number of refugees – reported to be around 5,000 – who have fled from their homes in the Rakhine state and set up a makeshift camp on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh. The narrow strip of land lies between the two countries – technically in Myanmar, it has long been seen as a sort of “no man’s land”.

While the Rohingya have been in the camp, Myanmar troops have made various threatening and intimidatory moves on their side of the border. However, in recent days many more members of the Myanmar military, variously armed with machine guns and mortars, have been gathering near the fence which marks the border. There are reports that soldiers have shouted threats at the Rohingya refugees.

The Bangladeshi authorities have taken a number of acts of protest. Bangladesh’s Acting Foreign Secretary, acting on behalf of the Government, has summoned the Myanmar ambassador to hear a formal protest about the military intimidation. The Foreign Secretary told the ambassador that the presence of increasing numbers of Myanmar troops was increasing tension on the border and requested that the troops withdraw from the immediate area.

The AFP news agency has reported that Bangladeshi border guards have tried to hold discussions with local members of the Myanmar military, who have refused to make contact. High ranking members of Bangladesh’s military forces are also reported as having protested to the Maynamar military – protests which, they claim, have led to the Mayanmar troops withdrawing military hardware from the border area.

For their part, the Myanmar troops have said that they are seeking to apprehend Rohingya militants who are suspected of attacking police in Myanmar and whom the forces believe are sheltering in the “no man’s land” camp.

While there may now be a stand off in this particular skirmish, there are no signs of progress in finding a sustainable way of looking after the refugees over the current winter and coming rainy season – let alone find a permanent solution.

•Read more about it:
Rohingya face further crisis as monsoon looms
Rohingya babies face new risks

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