The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority group in Myanmar, have been systematically disenfranchised and increasingly marginalized, including through denial of citizenship and restriction of movement. Over the years successive UN Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Myanmar have reported serious continuing human rights violations against this community. Following a 12-day visit to Myanmar in January, Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee noted allegations of ongoing human rights abuses in Rakhine State. She also raised concerns regarding widespread fear amongst civilians of potential reprisals as punishment for speaking out. In her upcoming report to the 34th session of the Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur Lee will call for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the Rohingya situation. As you know, on 3 February the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report based on interviews with Rohingya who had fled from Myanmar, which detailed "widespread and systematic" attacks against the Rohingya and reiterated "the very likely commission of crimes against humanity" – as had already been concluded by the High Commissioner in June 2016.1 The High Commissioner, likewise, has called for a Commission of Inquiry.
Following a series of attacks on border guard posts on 9 October 2016 and subsequent joint army-police counterinsurgency operation, there have been consistent reports of extrajudicial executions, rape and other crimes of sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, mass arrests, and the widespread destruction of Rohingya buildings and mosques. During your tenure as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, you witnessed first-hand the discriminatory treatment of the Rohingya, including the proposal by then-President Thein Sein to settle all Rohingya in displacement camps or send them to third countries. The situation has only deteriorated since. (Courtesy of globalr2p.org)
February 17, 2017
Amid allegations of Rohingya mass killings, Myanmar says military operation in Rakhine has ended
Myanmar's military has ended a clearance operation in the country's troubled Rakhine state, government officials said, ending a four-month sweep that the United Nations said may amount to crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing.
The security operation had been under way since nine policemen were killed in attacks on security posts near the Bangladesh border on Oct 9. Almost 69,000 Rohingyas have since fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, according to UN estimates.
The violence has renewed international criticism that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has done too little to help members of the Muslim minority. (Courtesy of straitstimes.com)
The security operation had been under way since nine policemen were killed in attacks on security posts near the Bangladesh border on Oct 9. Almost 69,000 Rohingyas have since fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, according to UN estimates.
The violence has renewed international criticism that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has done too little to help members of the Muslim minority. (Courtesy of straitstimes.com)
U.N. wants to negotiate with U.S., Canada to resettle Rohingya refugees
The United Nations' refugee agency has asked Bangladesh to allow it to negotiate with the United States, Canada and some European countries to resettle around 1,000 Rohingya Muslims living in the South Asian nation, a senior official at the agency said.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya live in Bangladesh after fleeing Buddhist-majority Myanmar since the early 1990s, and their number has been swelled by an estimated 69,000 escaping an army crackdown in northern Rakhine State in recent months.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would push for resettlement of those most in need, despite growing resistance in some developed countries, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, UNHCR's Bangladesh representative, Shinji Kubo, told Reuters on Thursday.
"UNHCR will continue to work with the authorities concerned, including in the United States," Kubo said. (Courtesy of reuters.com)
Tens of thousands of Rohingya live in Bangladesh after fleeing Buddhist-majority Myanmar since the early 1990s, and their number has been swelled by an estimated 69,000 escaping an army crackdown in northern Rakhine State in recent months.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would push for resettlement of those most in need, despite growing resistance in some developed countries, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, UNHCR's Bangladesh representative, Shinji Kubo, told Reuters on Thursday.
"UNHCR will continue to work with the authorities concerned, including in the United States," Kubo said. (Courtesy of reuters.com)
Filmmaker: Push for inquiry into Rohingya genocide
Malaysia should take the lead in getting the United Nations’ Human Rights Council to set up a Commission of Inquiry on the atrocities against the Rohingya, said investigative filmmaker Mahi Ramakrishnan.
She said Malaysia was in a perfect position to lead the initiative after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s strong stand on the issue.
She pointed out that no other leader in the region had urged the world to stop the genocide of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority.
“When the killing stops, the Rohingya will stop fleeing Myanmar,” said Mahi after the screening of her documentary Bodies for Sale about Rohingya refugees.
She said non-governmental and civil society organisations should also support this push for an inquiry on crimes committed by Myanmar’s army. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
She said Malaysia was in a perfect position to lead the initiative after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s strong stand on the issue.
She pointed out that no other leader in the region had urged the world to stop the genocide of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority.
“When the killing stops, the Rohingya will stop fleeing Myanmar,” said Mahi after the screening of her documentary Bodies for Sale about Rohingya refugees.
She said non-governmental and civil society organisations should also support this push for an inquiry on crimes committed by Myanmar’s army. (Courtesy of thestar.com.my)
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