Dhaka is using all sorts of dehumanizing language to refer to these refugees. “Bangladesh has resurrected a plan to relocate thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine State to a flooded island in the Bay of Bengal to prevent them from “intermingling” with Bangladeshi citizens. The United Nations says around 69,000 people have fled the Muslim-majority northern part of Rakhine to Bangladesh since attacks that killed nine Myanmar border police on Oct. 9, sparking a heavy-handed security response in which scores were killed. Bangladesh first proposed the idea of sending the Rohingya to Thengar Char, which floods at high tide, in 2015, prompting anger among rights groups. In a Jan. 26 notice on its website, Bangladesh’s cabinet said several panels were set up to examine the influx of Rohingya Muslims, which the country fears could lead to law and order issues as they mix with residents.” (Reuters https://yhoo.it/2knL8xh)
Humanity Affirming News of the Day…“Colombian FARC rebels gathered in demobilization zones on Tuesday to start a historic disarmament process to end Latin America’s last major armed conflict, authorities said. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are due to disband with UN supervision under a peace deal with the government after 52 years of conflict. Meanwhile, the country’s last active rebel group, the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN), was taking the final steps towards its own peace talks with the government. The government’s top delegate for the peace process, Sergio Jaramillo, said a total of 6,300 FARC fighters were due to reach the disarmament zones by Wednesday, and thousands had already arrived. ‘What is happening is really most extraordinary. This is the peace process in action,’ he told a news conference.” (AFP https://yhoo.it/2jrdEP7)
UNICEF launches appeal…“The UN children’s agency on Tuesday launched an appeal for $3.3 billion to help 48 million children caught up in crises worldwide amid fears of a funding cut from top donor the United States.” (AFP https://yhoo.it/2jrcOCc)