Myanmar army chief accuses media of exaggerating Rohingya exodus issue

Commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Min Aung Hlaing said the media is exaggerating the Rohingya Muslims exodus issue.

Asserting that Rohingyas are not native to Myanmar, Hlaing said they are merely returning to their motherland.

Rebutting the accusations of ethnic cleansing by his forces, Senior general defended his forces actions and said "The native place of Bengalis is really Bengal and Rohingyas are merely returning to their motherland."

Senior general justified Myanmar's actions after the UN human rights released a report blaming Myanmar security forces for driving out half a million Muslim Rohingya from northern Rakhine state and other brutalities including, torching their homes, crops and villages to prevent them from returning.

Over 500,000 Rohingyas have fled the violence-hit Rakhine state to seek refuge in Bangladesh in recent months.

Hlaing said, "media is exaggerating the number of Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh, it is "instigation and propaganda" of the media," Global media reports.

Based on-the-ground interviews in Cox's Bazar, in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have sought refuge, the UN report draws attention towards a alleged strategy of Myanmar where deep fear is being instilled among the Rohingya population.