February 5th, 2020
More than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees are currently living in Bangladesh
The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order that Myanmar must do all it can to prevent genocide against the Rohingya Muslims was discussed widely by the UN Security Council (UNSC) but the world body failed to take action on it.
Myanmar’s ally China and member of the regional Association of Southeast Nations (Asean), Vietnam, along with Myanmar, objected to a statement in the closed-door meeting, Al Jazeera quoted diplomats seeking anonymity as saying.
The EU members of the Security Council at joint statement to media after the meeting however urged Myanmar to comply with the measures ordered by the UN’s top court, stressing that they were “compulsory under international law.”
Germany, France, Belgium, and Estonia along with former UNSC member Poland also urged Myanmar “to take credible action to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations.”
“Myanmar must address the root causes of its conflicts, in Rakhine state, but also in Kachin and Shan states,” Al Jazeera quoted the EU members as saying.
“Accountability of perpetrators of human rights and humanitarian law violations is a necessary part of this process,” they added.
Some 740,000 Rohingya fled to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh after Myanmar military launched a brutal crackdown on the Muslim minority in August 2017. More than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees are currently living in Bangladesh.
Thousands of Rohingya are suspected to have been killed in the crackdown which has been described by UN investigators as a genocide.
Refugees reported widespread rape and arson in Rakhine state by Myanmar’s military and local Buddhist militias.
The EU countries furthered: “Myanmar must also create conditions for and facilitate a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar.”
They also reiterated the Security Council’s call for Myanmar to implement the recommendations of the Annan Commission which called for Myanmar to grant citizenship and ensure other rights to the Rohingya before the August 2017 attacks took place, reports Al Jazeera.
It also urged the government to promote investment and community-directed growth to alleviate poverty in Rakhine.
