“[International media] did not pay much attention to report on the situation of innocent [Rakhine] ethnic villagers who lost their lives in the on-going violence," U Tha Aung Nyun, the Burmese Ambassador to Australia, tells SBS Burmese.
"However, they only focus on the other side of the [Muslim Rohingya] community that fled to the Bangladesh border."
"Media should not take sides," he says. "Their biased news reporting worsens the current situation."
"It is sad to see some of their reports sound even like supporting the terrorist group."
Listen to Part 1 of Ambassador U Tha Aung Nyun's interview (in Burmese) with SBS Burmese below:
Many in the the Burmese population, both in Australia and abroad, are angry at the international media's focus on the Rohingya plight while Buddhist Rakhine and Hindu communities have also been killed by Rohingya muslims during the conflict.
Many in all of these minority communities have been hurt and have had to flee from their homes too.
"International media covered only one side of those who fled to Bangladesh"
In Myanmar, Rohingya are popularly referred to by both the media, the public and the state authorities as 'Bengali' rather than being recognised as their own ethnic group.
Myanmar's ambassador tells SBS Burmese that using the term "return" to Bangladesh is more correct than "flee" because he believes that this is where this Muslim community are from.
"So they return to where they come from," he says.
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meanwhile has urged Myanmar to "take their nationals back."
Myanmar's ambassador to Australia U Tha Aung Nyun Source: Myanmar Embassy
"We will not tolerate injustice," she told the crowd at a rally at a refugee camp, near the border town of Ukhiya.
While online petitions have been set up among the international community to voice concern for the Rohingya community, there are also online campaigns being run by Burmese people speaking out against the international media’s reports about the situation in Rakhine state (also known as Arakan).
One such campaign on Avaaz.org titled Stop Sharing Wrong Information! states, "We, Myanmar People demand news covered in your media to be fully accountable and reliable taking into account of all possible undesirable consequences for our country."
The growth of the internet and social media means that many Burmese people are venting their frustrations online, saying that the media is turning the conflict into Muslim minority against Buddhist majority while the problem is very complex and there is no black and white answer to the situation.
Sydney University's Dr Aim Sinpeng said in a statement today, "The National League for Democracy has been politically unwilling to deal with the Rohingya situation because of the surge in anti-Muslim sentiment within Myanmar, making it 'unpopular' for the government to act humanely and promptly to the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state."
Dr Sinpeng is an expert on the relationships between political participation, political regimes and digital media in Southeast Asia. She explains, "There is also the issue of the military's control."
"From both a policy and practical standpoint when it comes to the issue of the Rohingyas, the NLD has not been able to effectively handle the situation without having to constantly negotiate with the military."
She also highlights the online spread of misinformation, "Another important issue is about anti-Rohingya or anti-Muslim hate speech and misinformation thanks to the rapid growth in Internet access and Facebook use."
On August 25, some 20 police posts were attacked by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) at the same time and killed 10 police, one solider and one immigration officer. The results of this series of attacks forced thousands of local Rakhine and Hindu people to flee their homes and seek refuge in other cities in Myanmar.
Listen to Part 2 of Ambassador U Tha Aung Nyun's interview (in Burmese) with SBS Burmese below:
The Myanmar government allows local and some international media access to Rakhine state to collect information.
"However international media covered only one side of those who fled to Bangladesh," the Myanmar ambassador U Tha Aung Nyun says.
“Now, government and Tamataw [military] are working together on security measure to prevent further violence in the area."
"Local [Rakhine] people who fled their native homes will be able to return once the situation is under control and the rule of law is re-established.”
As Rakhine is the poorest state in Myanmar, "the recent violence creates challenges for the government to work on regional stability and development," he adds.
"Therefore, to overcome these challenges and retain peace and stability government and Burmese people need to work together with the support and understanding of the international communities," Myanmar ambassador U Tha Aung Nyun says.
"Burmese people need to work together with the support and understanding of the international communities"
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres last week called on the international communities to pressure the Burmese government to end the violence in Rakhine state.
Now, Rohingya rebels have now called for a one-month ceasefire in the region and have called on Myanmar's government to do the same.
"The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) hereby declares a temporary cessation of offensive military operations," it said in a statement posted to Twitter.
A United Nations spokesperson said this week that an estimated 370,000 refugees have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since the violence broke out Rakhine’s state last month and aid funding is urgently needed.
The UNHCR says it is working with Bangladesh local authorities and it’s partners to deliver relief supplies for the new arrivals. UNICEF also said that they are facing shortages in providing the humanitarian assistance to the fresh massive new arrival and call for emergency assistance.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop announced this week that Australia will commit up to $5 million to help respond to the humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile the number of local (Rakhine and Hindu) residents displaced by violence in the northern Rakhine state have increased and they are seeking refuge in other cities at Buddhist monasteries, according to some local civil society organizations.
Both the Rakhine and Hindu peoples need more assistance, especially foods and medicines. It is difficult to reach to some areas because the ARSA terrorist group destroyed bridges and roads, the UNHCR said.
The fighting in Rakhine state is the worst it has been in five years. Since the 2012 communal violence, about 140,000 Muslim populations have been living in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in the central Rakhine region - until today.
Burmese authorities declared a state of emergency in the area the violence took place and extended it after the recent conflict.
The Myanmar government says the recent violence has killed about 400 people and taken credit for killing 370 'terrorist' suspects.
The UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said this week that the security operation in Rakhine appeared to be "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
