Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

US warns crackdown in Myanmar could radicalise Rohingya

WASHINGTON — The US government, a key sponsor of Myanmar’s democratic transition, says a security crackdown that has displaced tens of thousands Rohingya Muslims and left an unknown number dead risks radicalising a downtrodden people and stoking religious tensions in Southeast Asia.

File photo of Bangladeshi activists of an Islamic group protesting against the deaths of the Rohingya people in the Rakhine state of Myanmar on Dec 1. Photo: Reuters

File photo of Bangladeshi activists of an Islamic group protesting against the deaths of the Rohingya people in the Rakhine state of Myanmar on Dec 1. Photo: Reuters

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

WASHINGTON — The US government, a key sponsor of Myanmar’s democratic transition, says a security crackdown that has displaced tens of thousands Rohingya Muslims and left an unknown number dead risks radicalising a downtrodden people and stoking religious tensions in Southeast Asia.

The military moved in after armed attacks by unknown assailants on police posts along the border with Bangladesh in October. The attacks were a possible sign that a small number of Rohingya were starting to fight back against persecution by majority Buddhists who view them as illegal immigrants although many have lived in Myanmar for generations.

The top US diplomat for East Asia, Mr Daniel Russel, is critical of the military’s heavy-handed approach and says the escalation of violence risks inciting jihadist extremism in the country also known as Burma. AP

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.