Myanmar authorities on Monday described Bangladesh as "the root" of the migrant crisis facing the region, after hundreds of people -- many from the Muslim Rohingya minority -- were found adrift at sea.
Nearly 2,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh had been rescued or swum to shore in Malaysia and Indonesia by late Monday, after people smugglers apparently abandoned them in boats.
As the trafficking trail snaking south from Bangladesh and Myanmar, via Thailand and onto Malaysia, slowly gives up some of its secrets, attention has turned on the departure points for desperate migrants who risk death by taking rickety boats in heavy seas.
More than 1.3 million Rohingya, a stateless Muslim ethnic group viewed by the United Nations as one of the world's most persecuted minorities, live in Myanmar's western Rakhine State.
But authorities deny them citizenship, refusing to recognise them as one of the nation's minority groups and labelling them "Bengalis" -- short hand for foreigners on their soil.
"From a humanitarian perspective, the help given by the Malaysians and Indonesians is very good... but the issue is whether these people -- who say they are from Myanmar -- really come from Myanmar," Zaw Htay, the director of the Myanmar's president office told AFP.
"The root of this problem is Bangladesh. Bangladesh carries the major responsibility for this," he said, disputing the existence of a "Rohingya" minority in Myanmar.
"We do not acccept that term," he added.
Deadly communal violence between local Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in impoverished Rakhine in 2012 left some 200 dead and tens of thousands -- mainly Rohingya -- trapped in squalid camps, catalysing the latest exodus by sea.
The Rohingya say they can trace their ancestry in Myanmar back generations yet they remain expunged from the nation's official narrative.
Many tens of thousands languish in fetid camps for the displaced, unable to work, attend school or access healthcare.
Their status in Myanmar is an incendiary issue for Buddhist hardliners, moreso ahead of elections this year, which observers fear could be derailed if major communal violence was to re-ignite.
Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Rohingya, have been told to hand over their temporary identity cards over the last two months after Myanmar's president voided the documents.
"At the moment Rakhine State is stable. But the whole state is still in an emergency situation. People need to understand that," Zaw Htay warned.
Some 300,000 Rohingya also live in coastal Bangladesh bordering Myanmar following decades of discrimination. But only a tiny fraction are recognised as refugees there.
The United Nations refugee agency estimates 25,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh have taken to boats headed south in the first three months of this year alone.
AFP
Mon May 11 2015
![Myanmar says boat people belong to Bangladesh, not its shores Myanmar says boat people belong to Bangladesh, not its shores](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/51431352055_295x200.jpg)
An illegal Bangladeshi migrant raises his hand for clothes as they wait at the Police headquarters in Langkawi on May 11, 2015 after landing on Malaysian shores earlier in the day. - AFP Photo/Manan Vatsyana
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/61716857632_CycloneRemalWeather.jpg)
Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia yang berada di kawasan yang terjejas untuk sentiasa berwaspada.
![Ahli Parlimen parti pemerintah Bangladesh dibunuh semasa lawatan ke India Ahli Parlimen parti pemerintah Bangladesh dibunuh semasa lawatan ke India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/61716436988_AnwarulAzimAnar.jpg)
Ahli Parlimen parti pemerintah Bangladesh dibunuh semasa lawatan ke India
Anwarul Azim Anar, 56, seorang Ahli Parlimen selama tiga penggal pergi ke India pada 12 Mei dan hilang pada hari berikutnya.
![Mesir galas jawatan Presiden D8, utamakan PKS dan pertumbuhan berasaskan teknologi Mesir galas jawatan Presiden D8, utamakan PKS dan pertumbuhan berasaskan teknologi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81715957421_TBMesir.jpg)
Mesir galas jawatan Presiden D8, utamakan PKS dan pertumbuhan berasaskan teknologi
Mesir telah mengambil alih jawatan Presiden Pertubuhan Kerjasama Ekonomi Lapan Negara Membangun (D8) untuk tempoh sehingga akhir 2025, menggantikan Bangladesh.
![Lelaki maut dipijak gajah di Gua Musang Lelaki maut dipijak gajah di Gua Musang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51715575365_Lelakimautjpg.jpg)
Lelaki maut dipijak gajah di Gua Musang
Dalam kejadian jam 5 petang itu, mangsa berusia 29 tahun maut di lokasi akibat kecederaan parah.
![Suhu cecah 42 celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu Suhu cecah 42 celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81714084049_heatwavedhakaba.jpg)
Suhu cecah 42 celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu
Untuk rekod, ini merupakan tahun kedua berturut-turut pihak berkuasa Bangladesh mengambil langkah sama akibat cuaca ekstrem.
![Umat Islam di Bangladesh, India dan Pakistan mula berpuasa pada Selasa Umat Islam di Bangladesh, India dan Pakistan mula berpuasa pada Selasa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71710200288_TurkeyRamadanTar.jpg)
Umat Islam di Bangladesh, India dan Pakistan mula berpuasa pada Selasa
Arab Saudi mengumumkan anak bulan kelihatan pada Ahad dan Isnin merupakan hari pertama Ramadan.
![Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-10/81476241959_Rakhine.jpg)
Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar
Bangladesh menghantar pulang kira-kira 330 warga Myanmar yang mencari perlindungan di negara itu, di tengah-tengah konflik di sempadan.
![Menteri Luar India, Bangladesh bincang situasi di Myanmar Menteri Luar India, Bangladesh bincang situasi di Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/71707372271_TBburuhaiwanjpg.jpg)
Menteri Luar India, Bangladesh bincang situasi di Myanmar
Menteri Luar India dan Bangladesh mengadakan perbincangan berhubung situasi di Myanmar.
![Lebih ramai Rohingya lari ke Bangladesh susulan pertempuran etnik di Myanmar Lebih ramai Rohingya lari ke Bangladesh susulan pertempuran etnik di Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81707170405_Rohingyarefugees.jpg)
Lebih ramai Rohingya lari ke Bangladesh susulan pertempuran etnik di Myanmar
Ramai telah menyeberang ke kem pelarian Rohingya di tenggara Cox's Bazar yang menempatkan kira-kira 1.2 juta komuniti Islam dari Myanmar.
![Hari pertama 2024, ratusan warga asing di Brickfields 'digempur' Imigresen Hari pertama 2024, ratusan warga asing di Brickfields 'digempur' Imigresen](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71704100791_TBwargaasing.jpg)
Hari pertama 2024, ratusan warga asing di Brickfields 'digempur' Imigresen
Dalam serbuan itu, seramai 370 warga asing telah diperiksa manakala lebih 100 daripada mereka didapati melakukan kesalahan di bawah Akta Imigresen 1959/63.