Arakan News Agency
The Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU) at the United Nations meeting in security council on Rohingya crisis.
The Security Council Members, United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, China, Bolivia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine, and Uruguay spoke on the current situation in Arakan and other major issues faced by Rohingya ethnic minority of Myanmar. Additionally, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, OIC, EU, UNHCR, OHCHR, and OCHA also spoke and made very compelling statements for expediency on finding a solution.
Commission Chairman, Kofi Annan, spoke on major issues the Commission has outlined in the report, the 88 recommendations, Commission’s insights on the communal issues, the roles of the Government of Myanmar (past and present), and the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. Chairman Annan lauded State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for accepting the recommendations, and support for implementation.
There was a general theme in the statements of the delegates in the meeting:
1. The expediency of safe, voluntary, dignified return of the refugees to their original homes/lands/properties, to rebuild
their lives.
2. Immediate cessation of military operation and protection of the civilians.
3. Urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Northern Arakan and in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
4. Implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission recommendations.
5. Enforcement of rule of law in Arakan.
6. Condemnation of all forms of violence and bringing all the perpetrators of crimes to justice.
7. Expression of appreciation to Bangladesh for hosting the refugees and international support for its engagement with the Government of Myanmar in resolving the refugee issues.
8. Addressing the root cause of the problem – the Citizenship issue.
9. Addressing the human right and humanitarian issues.
10. Urgent need for communal and interfaith dialogue in Arakan.
Specific statements emphatically made by several certain delegations include:
• Disproportional use of force by the Myanmar armed forces.
• A safe zone to be administered by multi-national security forces.
• Sexual violence against Rohingya women.
• The crisis threatening the regional stability.
• Violence against Rohingya civilians leading to radicalization of individuals.
• Violence against Rohingya a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.
• The perpetrators committing crimes with impunity.
• Involvement of external factors in pursuit of finding a political solution.
• Victims in camps remain vulnerable to human-trafficking.
The statement by the Myanmar delegate appeared to be conciliatory, that is a significant departure from Myanmar’s usual statements at the international stage that often show some levels of defiance. The main question is whether this soft-toned conciliatory statement is sincere or just a politically crafted statement to avert the rising concerted international outcry on the crisis in Arakan. Nonetheless, the statement is encouraging, and if truly “sincere”, it will be reasonable to think that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
