US' Tillerson calls Myanmar army chief over Rohingya

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on late Thursday spoke with the head of Myanmar’s military to express his concern about the violence in Rakhine state, and in particular the plight of Rohingya refugees.

In a phone call to Commander-in-Chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson urged Myanmar “security forces to support the government in ending the violence in Rakhine State and allowing the safe return home of those displaced during this crisis, especially the large numbers of ethnic Rohingya, in accordance with the 1992 Joint Statement with Bangladesh and without further conditions," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.

Since Aug. 25, over 600,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

The refugees are fleeing a military operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages.

The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.

Nauert said Tillerson also urged the military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people in affected areas, as well as allowing media access, and cooperating with the UN to ensure a thorough, independent investigation into all allegations of human rights abuses and violations and to ensure accountability.

According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, around 3,000 Rohingya have been killed in the Myanmar crackdown.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.