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UN's Zeid toughens warning of 'genocide' in Myanmar, fears jihadi groups in refugee camps

By REUTERS

DECEMBER 18, 2017 02:05

GENEVA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The top UN human rights official has said he would not be surprised if a court one day ruled that acts of genocide had been committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, according to a television interview to be shown on Monday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein told the BBC that attacks on the Rohingya had been "well thought out and planned" and he had asked Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi to do more to stop the military action.

Zeid has already called the campaign "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and asked rhetorically if anyone could rule out "elements of genocide," but his latest remarks put the case plainly, toughening his stance.

Myanmar denies committing atrocities against the Rohingya and has previously rejected UN criticism for its "politicization and partiality." The Myanmar military says the crackdown is a legitimate counter-insurgency operation.

He told the BBC he feared jihadi groups could form in the huge refugee camps in Bangladesh and even launch attacks in Myanmar, perhaps targeting Buddhist temples there.

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