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Thousands of Rohingya Demand Justice a Year After Violence

by AFP

   COX'S BAZAR, BANGLADESH --

   Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim refugees marked the one-year anniversary of
   the attacks that sent them fleeing to safety in Bangladesh, praying
   they can return home and demanding justice for their dead relatives and
   neighbors.

   A crowd, estimated at more than 15,000, gathered Saturday morning on a
   hilltop in the Kutupalong refugee camp, part of a sprawling web of
   settlements that are now home to nearly 900,000 Rohingya who have fled
   Myanmar, the Associated Press reported.

   Thousands marched peacefully and attended rallies chanting, "We want
   justice from the UN." At the Kutupalong camp, a giant banner
   proclaimed: "Never Again: Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. 25 August,
   2018."

   Some wore bandanas emblazoned with the slogan "Save Rohingya" while
   others waved flags.

   Other marches and gatherings were planned across what has become the
   world's largest refugee camp, activists told AFP.

   Crackdown sparked

   Rohingya militants staged attacks on Myanmar police posts, Aug. 25,
   2017, last year sparking the crackdown in which an unknown number of
   Rohingya were killed. Many have arrived in the Bangladesh camps with
   stories of rape, torture and villages burned to the ground.

   Myanmar authorities have insisted their forces only targeted radicals.
   They have made an agreement with Bangladesh to take back refugees, but
   no progress has been made on returns and the Rohingya insist they will
   not go back unless their safety is guaranteed.

   "We are here remember to August 25. We want justice," said Mohammad
   Hossain, a 40-year-old protester at Kutupalong. "We want them to
   recognize us as Rohingya. We are very sad because we are not in our
   native land. Everyone wants justice. We are complaining about this to
   the world."

   Another protester, Noor Kamal, added: "We faced genocide. Last year,
   August 25, we faced genocide in Myanmar. We want justice for that."