Turkish NGO calls on Myanmar to stop 'genocide'

By Meryem Goktas

ANKARA

The Turkish Human Rights and Justice Movement (IHAK) has called on the government of Myanmar to “stop the genocide” in Rakhine state.

Deadly attacks on border posts in western Myanmar's Rakhine state broke out on Friday, resulting in mass civilian casualties.

Later, media reports emerged saying Myanmar security forces used disproportionate force and displaced thousands of Rohingya villagers, destroying homes with mortars and machine guns.

"The genocide in Arakan [Rakhine state] should be stopped immediately and those who are involved in the acts of genocide and torture should be brought to justice as soon as possible," the statement read.

IHAK said Rohingya Muslims were being "subjected to systematic violation and derogation by the Myanmar government".

The group said eyewitness testimonies and visual media from Rakhine state showed "torture and genocide" in the region was ongoing.

IHAK also called on the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all international organizations "to stop the genocide and torture" in Rakhine state.

Humanitarian Relief Foundation starts aid campaign for Rohingya Muslims

Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) will start a donation campaign for Rohingya Muslims, the group's deputy chair said on Tuesday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, IHH’s Deputy Chair Vahdettin Kaygan said the campaign will support Rohingya civilians forced to flee ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

"In the last three days, members of the Myanmar army have conducted operations 50 villages and set some of the villages on fire," said.

He also said around 20,000 Rohingya had been forced to flee into Bangladesh illegally because of border security set up by the Bangladeshi government.

According to a statement released by IHH on Tuesday, the group said they had distributed emergency food aid to nearly 1,000 families who managed to flee to Bangladesh.

Kaygan stated nearly 50,000 Rohingya Muslim villagers who could not flee to Bangladesh had fled to the country’s highlands.

IHH will also deliver aid during Eid al-Adha later this week.