US concerned over Rohingya pushback by Bangladesh
Dhaka, June 14 (UNB) - The United States has voiced concern over the reports that Bangladesh is turning back Rohingyas fleeing the ethnic violence in Myanmar and urged the government to allow the refugees.
"We're concerned that Bangladeshi authorities appear to have intercepted and turned back persons fleeing the ethnic and religious violence in Burma," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
She stressed, "We've been urging the government of Bangladesh to respect its international obligations under the relevant refugee conventions and to continue its longstanding policy of non-refoulement of refugees."
Replying to a question at a daily press briefing, the spokesperson also said, "We're also continuing to make the point to all sides in Burma that it is important to settle these issues not through violence but through dialogue, and to put down their arms and start talking to each other."
At least 21 people were killed and many others wounded in five days of unrest in Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in northwest Myanmar.
Rohingyas are trying to intrude into Bangladesh by boats since the riot broke out between at Muangdaw district in coastal Rakhine state last Friday.
Hundreds of Rohingyas have been turned away by the members of Border Guards Bangladesh and Coast Guard after attempting to flee the fighting.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the government said it would not allow any more refugees in Bangladesh as the county is already overburdened with more that five lakh Rohingyas.
The government authorities also directed the local administration and law enforcement agencies to beef up vigilance and resist the intrusion.
On the other hand, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a briefing the same day urged the Bangladesh government to allow the people seeking refuge in the country from sectarian clashes in Myanmar.
"We're concerned that Bangladeshi authorities appear to have intercepted and turned back persons fleeing the ethnic and religious violence in Burma," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
She stressed, "We've been urging the government of Bangladesh to respect its international obligations under the relevant refugee conventions and to continue its longstanding policy of non-refoulement of refugees."
Replying to a question at a daily press briefing, the spokesperson also said, "We're also continuing to make the point to all sides in Burma that it is important to settle these issues not through violence but through dialogue, and to put down their arms and start talking to each other."
At least 21 people were killed and many others wounded in five days of unrest in Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in northwest Myanmar.
Rohingyas are trying to intrude into Bangladesh by boats since the riot broke out between at Muangdaw district in coastal Rakhine state last Friday.
Hundreds of Rohingyas have been turned away by the members of Border Guards Bangladesh and Coast Guard after attempting to flee the fighting.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the government said it would not allow any more refugees in Bangladesh as the county is already overburdened with more that five lakh Rohingyas.
The government authorities also directed the local administration and law enforcement agencies to beef up vigilance and resist the intrusion.
On the other hand, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a briefing the same day urged the Bangladesh government to allow the people seeking refuge in the country from sectarian clashes in Myanmar.
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