UN chief calls for restraint in Myanmar
- 7 years ago
The surge of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and seeking refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh has reached at least 125,000.
The exodus and consequent suffering of men, women and children has prompted the UN’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres to sent a rare letter to the 15-member Security Council warning of a human catastrophe:
“We are receiving constant reports of violence by Myanmar’s security forces including indiscriminate attacks. These will only further increase radicalization…It’s no longer possible to delay an effective action plan to address the root causes of a crisis. It will be crucial to give the Muslims of Rakhine state either nationality or, at least for now, a legal status that will allow them to have a normal life.”
Gutteres also warned the violence and risk of ethnic cleansing could have implications peace and security in the region.
Latest reports say the Myanmar army has begun laying land mines on the border with Bangladesh.
Article 99
Under the rarely used Article 99 of the UN Charter, Guterres can “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
While Guterres’ letter does not specifically involve Article 99, he writes that “the international community has a responsibility to undertake concerted efforts to prevent further escalation of the crisis.”
Myanmar’s 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya have long complained of persecution in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar.
The current crisis follows attacks by Rohingya insurgents on several police and army posts in Myanmar.
Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against “terrorists”.
Rohingya eat after arriving in Bangladesh.
120,000 refugees in last 2 wks
400,000 trapped in Myanmar conflict zones
UN aid still blocked pic.twitter.com/qWOMQXDNL0— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 5, 2017
Criticism
Leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under increasing fire over her perceived unwillingness to speak out against the treatment of the Rohingya or chastise the military.
Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai and Muslim countries in Asia have led a growing chorus of criticism aimed at Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi over the ongoing crisis.
Malala Yousafzai says “the world is waiting” for Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn treatment of Myanmar’s Rohingya https://t.co/Rk8SfUmwKA— TIME (@TIME) September 4, 2017
Shouldn’t take youngest Nobel laureate—Malala—to get experienced Aung San Suu Kyi to denounce killing of Rohingya. https://t.co/ql04CRpyNN— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 4, 2017
The exodus and consequent suffering of men, women and children has prompted the UN’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres to sent a rare letter to the 15-member Security Council warning of a human catastrophe:
“We are receiving constant reports of violence by Myanmar’s security forces including indiscriminate attacks. These will only further increase radicalization…It’s no longer possible to delay an effective action plan to address the root causes of a crisis. It will be crucial to give the Muslims of Rakhine state either nationality or, at least for now, a legal status that will allow them to have a normal life.”
Gutteres also warned the violence and risk of ethnic cleansing could have implications peace and security in the region.
Latest reports say the Myanmar army has begun laying land mines on the border with Bangladesh.
Article 99
Under the rarely used Article 99 of the UN Charter, Guterres can “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
While Guterres’ letter does not specifically involve Article 99, he writes that “the international community has a responsibility to undertake concerted efforts to prevent further escalation of the crisis.”
Myanmar’s 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya have long complained of persecution in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar.
The current crisis follows attacks by Rohingya insurgents on several police and army posts in Myanmar.
Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against “terrorists”.
Rohingya eat after arriving in Bangladesh.
120,000 refugees in last 2 wks
400,000 trapped in Myanmar conflict zones
UN aid still blocked pic.twitter.com/qWOMQXDNL0— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 5, 2017
Criticism
Leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under increasing fire over her perceived unwillingness to speak out against the treatment of the Rohingya or chastise the military.
Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai and Muslim countries in Asia have led a growing chorus of criticism aimed at Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi over the ongoing crisis.
Malala Yousafzai says “the world is waiting” for Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn treatment of Myanmar’s Rohingya https://t.co/Rk8SfUmwKA— TIME (@TIME) September 4, 2017
Shouldn’t take youngest Nobel laureate—Malala—to get experienced Aung San Suu Kyi to denounce killing of Rohingya. https://t.co/ql04CRpyNN— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 4, 2017