Rohingya refugees protest exodus, demand rights in Myanmar

COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh – Thousands of angry and frustrated Rohingya refugees have marked the second anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar into Bangladesh by demanding their citizenship and other rights in the country they fled from.

FILE – In this file photo dated Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, Rohingya refugees shout slogans during a protest against the repatriation process at Unchiprang refugee camp near Cox’s Bazar, in Bangladesh. Sexual violence carried out by Myanmar’s security forces against the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority was so widespread and severe that it demonstrates intent to commit genocide as well as warrants prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to a U.N. report released Thursday Aug. 22, 2019. The Rohingya refugees still live in squalid camps in Bangladesh, and a planned effort Thursday to repatriate an initial large group to Myanmar collapsed when none showed up to be taken back. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, FILE)

The event comes days after Bangladesh attempted to start the repatriation of 3,450 Rohingya Muslims but none agreed to go back voluntarily.

More than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh.

On Sunday morning, more than 3,000 gathered at a playground in Kutupalong camp.

Some carried placards and banners reading “Never Again! Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day,” and “Restore our citizenship.”

Organizer Muhib Ullah says they plan a massive rally later Sunday.

Myanmar has consistently denied human rights violations and says military operations in Rakhine state were justified in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents. /gsg