Myanmar has rejected calls to establish a ‘safe zone’ for its minority Muslim Rohingya community and urged Bangladesh to carry out the repatriation of the refugees in accordance with a bilateral agreement between the neighbouring countries.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Kyaw Tint Swe, Myanmar’s minister for the office of the state counsellor, said, “Issues between neighbours can and must be resolved bilaterally in an amicable and friendly manner.”
“There have been persistent calls to put pressure on Myanmar. There is also a call to set up a ‘safe zone’ inside Myanmar. Such a demand is neither warranted nor workable.” Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas. Over 700,000 Rohingyas sought shelter in Cox’s Bazar following August 2017 military crackdown in the Rakhine State that the UN termed “ethnic cleansing”.
