CPA calls for urgent action to end Rohingya crisis

Desk Report: The 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on Tuesday called for urgent action from the international community to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya community.

In a statement adopted by consensus by the 63rd General Assembly of the CPA held in Dhaka said the CPA affirms the collective will of the membership of the commonwealth Parliamentary Association to call for urgent action from the international community to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingyas ethnic minority.

Welcoming the comprehensive briefing provided to Commonwealth Parliamentarians attending the 63rd commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Dhaka on November 5, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali as set out in the background note to this statement.

According to the statement, all commonwealth parliaments and parliamentarians called on to condemn the atrocities, oppression, ethnic cleansing, displacement and all gross violation of human rights including loss innocent lives in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The CPA urged the Myanmar government to stop the violence and practice of ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine state immediately, unconditionally, and indefinitely and to ensure the sustainable return of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh and other countries to their land homes in Myanmar within shortest possible time and to implement the recommendations of the advisory commission on Rakhine state immediately, unconditionally and completely.

The CPA member states also called upon the Myanmar authorities to take urgent measures to ensure the sustainable return of forcibly displaced Rohingyas and internally and externally displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in the Rakhine state in safety, security, dignity and with guaranteed livelihood.

The Parliamentarians participated in the conference highly appreciated the efforts of the Bangladesh government, particularly the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her decision to open the borders of Bangladesh to the forcibly displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar and to help close to end million distressed Rohongyaas with shelter, food, sanitation, water and medical attention.

All commonwealth member states have been invited to help in security basic rights for the Rohingyas, extend humanitarian support to the Rohingyas and join the efforts of the Bangladesh and international community towards a sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

At the CPA conference on November 5, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali addressed the press briefing to let delegates participating in the conference know the Rohingya situation.

Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, among others, were present at the press conference.

Mahmood said, "As you are aware Bangladesh is currently facing colossal challenges due to the unprecedented level of influx of Rohingyas from the neighboring Rakhine state of Myanmar." These people, most of whom are women, children and elderly, are taking shelter in Bangladesh fleeing ethnic cleansing in their homeland, he added.

Since 25 August 2017, more than 600,000 Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh, he said, adding these displaced are traumatized, hungry and some of them are with injuries caused by gunshots, shrapnel, fire and landmines.

"Earlier on several occasions, 400,000 Rohingyas had been forced to take shelter in Bangladesh. Altogether Bangladesh is currently hosting over a million Rohingyas," Mahmood added.

Referring to stance and opinions of global leaders, he said, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his remarks at the 36th human rights Council termed the ongoing military operation as "a textbook example of ethnic cleaning".

Highlighting different historical background of Rohingya people who were living in Myanmar with enjoying different basic rights, including voting right, he said during 1948-61, four to six Rohingyas were elected members of the Parliament.

Rohingyas used to be represented in various political, social and educational institutions. But in 1982, the Citizenship Act denied citizenship right of Rohingyas and identified them as "foreigners".

However, humanitarian responses would help these displaced Rohingyas only temporarily, he said, adding "As our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, the root of the problem lies in Myanmar and it has to be resolved in Myanmar.

To solve the current crisis and also find a permanent solution to this long standing problem, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented a five-point proposal at the 72nd United Nation General Assembly in September this year."

The Rohingya crisis must be solved in line with the five-point proposal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added.

"I would like to refer to the recommendations of the Kofi Annan led Rakhine Advisory Commission which received overwhelming acceptance by the international community," he added.

Source: BSS

risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 7, 2017/Saif/Amirul