Uzbekistan calls on Myanmar to stop violence

By Bahtiyar Abdukerimov

TASHKENT

Uzbekistan Wednesday called on Myanmar to put an end to the ongoing violence against the Rohingya Muslim population.

In a statement, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry expressed the government's concerns over deteriorating situation in Myanmar, especially the continuously growing violence against the Muslim minority.

"We call on Myanmar government to halt violence against the innocent Muslims,” it said, adding that the Southeast Asian country should prevent violence only through peaceful means.

The Uzbek government also pledged to send humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees, according to the statement.

Since Aug. 25, more than 370,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

The refugees are fleeing a fresh security operation in which security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted homes and torched Rohingya villages. According to the Bangladesh government, around 3,000 Rohingya have been killed in the crackdown.

Turkey has been at the forefront of providing aid to Rohingya refugees and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will raise the issue at the UN.

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.

Last October, following attacks on border posts in Rakhine's Maungdaw district, security forces launched a five-month crackdown in which, according to Rohingya groups, around 400 people were killed.

The UN 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.

Reporting by Bahtiyar Abdukerimov; Writing by Merve Aydogan