KUTUPALONG: Some200,000 Rohingya rallied in a Bangladesh refugee camp to mark two years sincethey fled a violent crackdown by Myanmar forces, just days after a secondfailed attempt to repatriate the refugees. Around 740,000 Rohingya fromMyanmar's Rakhine state escaped in August 2017 during the brutal offensive,joining another 200,000 who fled earlier persecution in vast camps in southeastBangladesh.
Children,hijab-wearing women, and men in long-skirt lungis shouted "God is Great,Long Live Rohingya" as they marched at the heart of the world's largestrefugee camp to commemorate what they described as "Genocide Day".Under the scorching sun, thousands joined in a popular song with the lyrics"the world does not listen to the woes of Rohingya". "I havecome here to seek justice for the murder of my two sons. I will continue toseek justice till my last breath," 50-year-old Tayaba Khatun said as tearsrolled down her cheeks.
Myanmar had saidthey were conducting counter-insurgency operations against Rohingya extremistsafter they attacked police posts, but the UN last year called for Myanmar's topgenerals to be prosecuted for genocide over the crisis. Rohingya leader MohibUllah said the stateless minority wanted to return home, but only after theywere granted citizenship, their security was ensured and they were allowed tosettle back in their villages. "We have asked the Burmese government fordialogue. But we haven't got any response from them yet," Ullah told therally.
"We werebeaten, killed and raped in Rakhine. But still that is our home. And we want togo back." Police officer Zakir Hassan told AFP some 200,000 Rohingya tookpart in the peaceful gathering. Security has been tight across Kutupalang camp,the world's largest refugee settlement and home to more than 600,000 Rohingya."Hundreds of police, army and border guards have been deployed to preventany violence," local police chief Abul Monsur told AFP.
The rally camethree days after the failed attempt to repatriate the refugees, which saw not asingle Rohingya turn up to return across the border. On Saturday, Bangladeshpolice said they shot dead two refugees during a gunfight in a camp after thepair were accused of killing a ruling party official. The Rohingya are notrecognized as an official minority by the Myanmar government, which considersthem Bengali interlopers despite many families having lived in the country forgenerations.- AFP