December 31, 2016

Myanmar Threatens NGOs Over Planned Flotilla to Help Rohingyas

The Malaysian flotilla will deliver aid to the persecuted Muslims in Myanmar and has vowed to go ahead with plans even if permission to enter is not granted.

An aid flotilla carrying food and emergency supplies for Rohingya Muslims will sail from Malaysia for Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state next month, a Malaysian organizer said Friday. But some fear a confrontation with security forces at sea, as the organizers vowed to go ahead with their plans even if they are not granted permission to enter Myanmar.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations secretary general Zulhanis Zainol said the flotilla's organizers had applied for permission to enter Myanmar through its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, but had yet to receive a reply.

"Even if we do not receive a response, we will continue to sail as we believe this is an important humanitarian mission," he said. A showdown with security forces could worsen Myanmar's already-frayed ties with predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

Malaysia has been an outspoken critic of the Myanmar government's handling of a violent crackdown in Rakhine, which has killed scores of people and displaced 30,0000 Rohingya amid allegations of abuses by security forces. (Courtesy of telesurtv.net)

No comments:

Post a Comment