UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the military junta that took power in Myanmar (former Burma) in 2021 to include the Rohingya in a solution to the country’s political crisis.
Five years ago today, more than 700,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled Myanmar to Bangladesh to escaping suspected murders and mass rapes committed by the military.
The long-running conflict began on August 25, 2017, when the army launched what it called a clean-up campaign in western Rakhine province in response to attacks on police and border guards by Rohingya militants.
Guterres underscored “the tireless aspirations for an inclusive future” of the Rohingya, who face Widespread discrimination in Myanmarwhose population is mostly Buddhist, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday.
Burmese authorities have denied citizenship to most Rohingya, claiming they are illegal immigrants.
In January 2020, the International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest court, ordered Myanmar to do everything possible to prevent the genocide against the Rohingya.
Two days earlier, an independent commission set up by Myanmar’s then civilian government concluded there was reason to believe security forces had committed war crimes against the Rohingya, but not genocide.
Dujarric said that “the perpetrators of all international crimes committed in Myanmar must be held accountable,” adding that “justice for the victims will contribute to a sustainable and inclusive political future for the country and its people.”
The UN spokesman lamented that there was no immediate prospect of the Rohingya returning, noting that more than 150 thousand are still confined in camps in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
After the military junta took power in February last year, “the humanitarian, human rights and security situation in Myanmar has deteriorated,” Dujarric said.
António Guterres “underlines that the full and effective participation of the Rohingya people is an inherent part of a Myanmar-led solution to the crisis,” he stressed.
It is essential that the international community continue to seek comprehensive, lasting and inclusive solutions to the crisis”, defended the UN Secretary General.
Spokesman Dujarric added that increased access to affected areas by UN officials and humanitarian and development partners “is crucial.”
On Monday, more than 860 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called on the UN General Assembly to abolish the post of special envoy to Myanmar, which they believe has served to legitimize the military junta.
The request, sent in a letter, came after the current UN special envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, visited the country last week and held a meeting with the head of the military junta, Min Aung Hlaing, in Naypyidaw. .
Source: Observadora
