Put in a cage': Rohingya remaining in Myanmar consigned to life of fear

One year after brutal attacks by the military that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes in Myanmar, life remains precarious for those who didn't flee.

Rohingya in Rakhine state, where the violence took place, are locked out of healthcare, work and education. Denied citizenship cards, they must apply for permission from the government if they want to travel and face daily discrimination.

The situation is especially hard for young people.

Ko Lwin*, 21, comes from Rakhine. Of his nine friends who passed their exams, he was the only one to be accepted into university. He was accepted because his parents are a Rohingya and Mon inter-race couple and therefore he holds a citizenship card.

But just when Ko Lwin was about to start studying law, attacks were launched last year in August by Muslim militants in northern Rakhine State,killing 12 members of the security forces. In response the Myanmar army began brutal attacks killing at least 6,700 Rohingya and razing their villages. Human rights groups have documented cases of widespread torture and rape of women and the United Nations say these crimes could amount to genocide.

Source: The Gaurdian