UN Security Council should play its role

A resolution on the repatriation of the Rohingya people, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh fleeing violence in Myanmar, have been passed overwhelmingly in the United Nations General Assembly. The UN resolution calls on the Myanmar government to allow access for aid workers, ensure the return of all refugees with honour and grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingya. It requests that the UN secretary general appoint a special envoy to Myanmar.

The resolution put forward by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was adopted by a vote of 122 to 10 with 24 abstentions. Earlier on November 16, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly made the same call at a resolution which was passed overwhelmingly.

More than 650,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military operation was launched in Rakhine state in late August. Myanmar army burned down villages, raped women and girls, and killed thousands of men indiscriminately during the operation. Bangladesh government has given shelter to the persecuted Rohingyas on humanitarian ground. Myanmar authorities insist the campaign is aimed at rooting out Rohingya militants who attacked police posts on 25 August but the United Nations has said the violence amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Earlier in 1978 and 1992, several lakh Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh in the face of ethnic riots in Myanmar. Some of those Rohingyas were sent back to Myanmar through talks but most of them remained in Bangladesh. Socio-economic and law and order situation are being deteriorated in border districts of Bangladesh due to Rohingyas. This situation is putting negative impact on the environment. So, it is necessary to solve the issue immediately.

The United Nations, EU and different human rights organizations have been vocal against the anti-humanity role of the Myanmar government. It has been clear from the UN vote on Rohingya issue that the world opinion is in favour of humanity. But no resolution was still passed against Myanmar in the UN Security Council although resolution on the Rohingya issue was passed twice within less than one and a half months in the UN General Assembly. The reason is the opposition from China, Russia and some regional countries.

Diplomatic efforts of Bangladesh should be strengthened in this situation. China, Russia and even India have taken position in favour of Myanmar due to geopolitical and strategic cause. So, we have to try our level best to earn the support of the three influential states through the strengthening of diplomatic efforts. To this end, the UN Security Council alongside its General Council will have to come forward to resolving the issue immediately.


risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 29, 2017/Ali Nowsher/AI