Burmese army clears itself of atrocities

BURMA’S army has released a report denying all allegations of rape and murder of Rohingya Muslims, after replacing the general in charge of the operation that drove more than 600,000 of the oppressed group out of the country.

A report posted on the Facebook page of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Burmese army’s commanderin-chief, said an internal investigation had cleared the security forces of all accusations of violent atrocities.

The denial came ahead of a visit tomorrow by Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, who is expected to deliver a stern message to Burma’s generals, over whom Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader, exerts little control.

Senators in Washington are pressing to pass legislation imposing economic and travel sanctions targeting the military and its business interests.

The government in Buddhist-majority Burma regards the Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.