
The ministry said the illegal influx of large numbers of Rohingya into India began four to five years ago, long before an exodus that saw more than 400,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh since August 25 to escape a Myanmar military counterinsurgency offensive that the United Nations has called "ethnic cleansing". U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called for Myanmar to let in a U.N.
The Swedish premier, for his part, described the Myanmar as a "tragedy" and said Sweden will do whatever it can to help in this regard.
Around 40,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to India over the past decade, out of which 16,500 are registered with the UN's refugee agency. N. accusations of ethnic cleansing by the security forces, drawing a cool worldwide response.
Reacting to the Centre's affidavit in the apex court that the issue of Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar posed serious threat to national security, the Hyderabad MP said it was propaganda by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.
The 1.1-million-strong Rohingyas, a remnant of British colonialism, have failed to secure citizenship in Myanmar even though they have been in that country for long. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of homes have been burned. The indiscriminate and systematic attacks against Muslims by extremist elements and some associated with government security forces of Myanmar have resulted in significant loss of life and exacerbated a history of discrimination and desperation. Aid organisations and refugees have claimed the military attacked Rohingyas, committed sexual violence against them and burned down their homes.
The violence and the exodus of refugees has brought global condemnation and raised questions about the commitment of government leader Aung San Suu Kyi to human rights, and prospects for Myanmar's political and economic transition. Like India, Malaysia too has not signed the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as illegal immigrants.
According to the Guardian, the deputy director of Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson said that the Rohingya were forced to get the word out about their cause on Facebook and Twitter because the few media outlets in Myanmar that exercise independence in reporting on the situation in Rakhine face threats of boycotts and retaliation.
"I've been doing this work for 30 years", Schwartz said by phone as he flew back from Bangladesh.
As a result, smugglers abandoned several Rohingyas, who were fleeing persecution in Myanmar, at sea.
Chander said India and Myanmar have agreed "to undertake both infrastructure and socio-economic projects, particularly in the spheres of education, health, agriculture and allied activities, agro-processing, community development, construction of small bridges, upgrade of roads, small power projects, livelihood activity, setting up of training centres, promotion of household crafts, conservation of environment and cultural heritage".