EU chief urges Myanmar to take back refugees

NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (Agencies): EU President Donald Tusk on Friday urged Myanmar to adhere to its international rights obligations and allow Rohingya refugees to return after weeks of violence that have forced more than half a million to flee to Bangladesh.

On the other hand the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has been urged to take urgent action on the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State.

Amnesty International sent a letter to the Asean Secretary on Friday - Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano - calling upon the regional bloc to end "grave human rights abuses" against the stateless Rohingya population of Myanmar.

EU President said Myanmar must give aid workers access to the troubled state of Rakhine, where the Rohingya ethnic minority say the military are burning their villages in a campaign of retribution for attacks on police posts.

He made the comments after talks with Indian leaders in New Delhi, which he said was first in line to respond to the refugee crisis as a neighbouring country.

"The EU continues to assume its responsibilities by receiving people in need of protection and by assisting host countries close to the conflict zones," said Tusk after the talks.

"We addressed the situation in Myanmar and the Rohingya refugee crisis. We want to see de-escalation of tension and the full adherence to international human rights obligations as well as full humanitarian access so the aid can reach those in need."

The UN says more than half a million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since an upsurge in violence in Rakhine at the end of August.

Myanmar has tightly controlled aid workers' access to the state since attacks in August by Rohingya militants which sparked a massive army crackdown.

Refugees interviewed in Bangladesh have accused the military and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in the state of burning villages and raping and killing Rohingya Muslims, who are regarded as illegal immigrants in Myanmar.

A small UN team visited the crisis-wracked region in majority Buddhist Myanmar in recent days and described "unimaginable" suffering.

Tusk made his comments at the end of the 14th EU-India Summit, at which the two sides also discussed a long delayed trade agreement.

Meanwhile, James Gomez, Amnesty International's Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific said "Asean is failing to take a stand as one of its member states carries out a violent campaign of ethnic cleansing."

Amnesty accused the security forces of unleashing a "unlawful and disproportionate campaign of violence" against the persecuted minority group. Along with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty has accused Burma of crimes against humanity.

The group called for the government to end violence, ensure assistance for Rohingya refugees and the safe return to Burma of those wishing to go back, ending "entrenched discrimination" against Rohingya Muslims, and supporting independent investigations into human rights violations.

International criticism of the government of Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been widespread over her failure to end what UN Human Rights Chief has called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".