washington myanmar military accuse ethnic cleanse country muslim rohingya minority invite back observer major multinational military exercise next year lead unite state thailand lieutenant colonel christopher logan pentagon spokesman tell reuters thailand invite myanmar take part annual cobra gold exercise involve thousands u.s thai military personnel participants asian countries myanmar invite observe humanitarian assistance disaster relief portion exercise logan say senior officer directorate joint intelligence royal thai arm force tell reuters unclear whether myanmar accept invitation thailand eager join ask thailand decide invite myanmar despite concern crackdown rohingya whether issue part deliberations official say never come discussions separate issue rohingya focus train education military cooperation wish myanmar involve politics soldier military exercise add official decline name authorize speak media myanmar military respond several request comment ask whether u.s. military attempt apply pressure thailand invite myanmar international condemnation crackdown pentagon decline comment internal deliberations myanmar military crack muslim rohingya rakhine state follow rohingya militant attack army base police post august crackdown cause around 650,000 rohingya flee bangladesh recent months unite state unite nations describe campaign ethnic cleanse stateless rohingya people myanmar military say internal investigation exonerate security force accusations atrocities rakhine early week unite state impose sanction 13 serious human right abusers corrupt actors include myanmar general maung maung soe oversee crackdown rohingya zachary abuza professor u.s. national war college say invite myanmar exercise outrageous send wrong message invite u.s. government label ethnic cleanse treasury department yesterday designate commander egregious violations human right seem wrong put mildly say abuza focus southeast asia security issue include human right 2017 cobra gold exercise 29 nations either participate observe exercise include myanmar include 3,600 u.s. personnel cobra gold annual exercise thailand 2018 war game expect hold february unite state thailand carry joint war game decades even though bangkok record human right democracy often criticize washington u.s.-thai relationship cool thai military take power 2014 coup improve president donald trump two reuters journalists arrest myanmar dec. 12 thursday appear court remand custody reporters wa lone kyaw soe oo detention nine days detail hold access visitors lawyers myanmar accuse crackdown invite u.s.-thai military exercise