Pope urges decisive measures for Myanmar refugees avoids 'Rohingya'
Francis
DHAKA (Reuters) - Pope Francis called on Thursday for decisive measures to resolve the political reasons that caused mostly Muslim refugees in Myanmar to flee to Bangladesh and urged countries to help the Dhaka government deal with the crisis.
Pope Francis is accompanied by Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid after arriving to Dhaka  Bangladesh November 30  2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
In a speech before Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and diplomats hours after arriving under heavy security in Dhaka  the chaotic and dusty capital of 14 million people  Francis instead spoke of ârefugees from Rakhine Stateâ.
In his speech  Francis  who used the term Rohingya twice this year in appeals from the Vatican  praised impoverished Bangladeshâs âspirit of generosity and solidarityâ in helping âa massive influx of refugees from Rakhine Stateâ.
âNone of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation  the immense toll of human suffering involved  and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters  a majority of whom are women and children  crowded in the refugee camps  â Francis  said at the presidential palace.
 Pope Francis  is welcomed after arriving at the airport in Dhaka  Bangladesh November 30  2017. At right is Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Even though  his  calls for justice  human rights and respect in Myanmar were widely seen as applicable to the Rohingya  who are not recognized as Myanmar citizens or as members of a distinct ethnicity  rights groups such as Amnesty International said they were disappointed  he  did not defend them by name.
 Francis  is due to meet a group of Rohingya refugees in Dhaka on Friday.
In  his  address to the pope  the president of Bangladesh  which is predominantly Muslim  used the term Rohingya several times and accused the Myanmar army of committing âruthless atrocitiesâ.  He  called for a âsafe  sustainable and dignified returnâ of the refugees to their homes.
The popeâs visit to the South Asian country unfolded under heavy security. While  Francis  stuck to  his  custom of using a simple car   he  was escorted by many armored military and police vehicles.
DHAKA (Reuters) -  [TGT]  called on Thursday for decisive measures to resolve the political reasons that caused mostly Muslim refugees in Myanmar to flee to Bangladesh and urged countries to help the Dhaka government deal with the crisis.
 [TGT]  is accompanied by Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid after arriving to Dhaka  Bangladesh November 30  2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
In a speech before Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and diplomats hours after arriving under heavy security in Dhaka  the chaotic and dusty capital of 14 million people   [TGT]  instead spoke of ârefugees from Rakhine Stateâ.
In  [TGT]  speech   [TGT] who used the term Rohingya twice this year in appeals from the Vatican  praised impoverished Bangladeshâs âspirit of generosity and solidarityâ in helping âa massive influx of refugees from Rakhine Stateâ.
âNone of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation  the immense toll of human suffering involved  and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters  a majority of whom are women and children  crowded in the refugee camps  â  [TGT] said at the presidential palace.
  [TGT] is welcomed after arriving at the airport in Dhaka  Bangladesh November 30  2017. At right is Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Even though  his  calls for justice  human rights and respect in Myanmar were widely seen as applicable to the Rohingya  who are not recognized as Myanmar citizens or as members of a distinct ethnicity  rights groups such as Amnesty International said they were disappointed   [TGT]   did not defend them by name.
  [TGT] is due to meet a group of Rohingya refugees in Dhaka on Friday.
In   [TGT]   address to the pope  the president of Bangladesh  which is predominantly Muslim  used the term Rohingya several times and accused the Myanmar army of committing âruthless atrocitiesâ.  He  called for a âsafe  sustainable and dignified returnâ of the refugees to their homes.
The popeâs visit to the South Asian country unfolded under heavy security. While   [TGT] stuck to   [TGT]   custom of using a simple car    [TGT]   was escorted by many armored military and police vehicles.