The Muslim minority refugees fleeing violence in their home state of Rakhine in Burma describe soldiers and Buddhist leaders carrying out a systematic campaign of murder and burning villages, accusations which military leaders have denied.
Alistair Dutton, director of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf) which has raised more than £160,000 to help the refugees, said: “I don’t know who’s guilty of what but what has happened are crimes against humanity.
“The chopping people up, shooting them, burning bodies, torching villages, stealing belongings and driving people out their country – these are crimes against humanity whoever perpetrated them.”
Speaking on a visit to the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh, Mr Dutton said: “There are an overwhelming number of reports. Everyone spoken to has seen or knew of someone who had family killed.
“I think if these reports were verified they would quite clearly be crimes against humanity.”
Despite a recent agreement by the Bangladesh and Burmese government for repatriation, refugees continue to arrive, joining some 646,000 who have braved the dangerous border crossing since the surge in violence after Rohingya militants reportedly attacked border posts in August.
Mr Dutton warned the crisis could last for years, stressing that Sciaf and charity partner Caritas Bangladesh were planning for the long term as…
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