Bangladesh, June 30 -- Thousands of people in western Myanmar have been fleeing their villages over the past week after an evacuation order from officials due to clashes between the government and ethnic rebels.

The Rakhine state government, in an order last Tuesday, instructed village administrators in Rathedaung township to tell residents to stay away from their homes due to military plans to conduct a "clearance operation" against the rebels. "Clearance operation" is Myanmar military parlance for counterinsurgency action.

"Since the day the order was issued, more than 10,000 people from the operation area fled their villages," Khin Maung Latt, an upper house member of parliament for Rathedaung township, said Monday, reports Associate...