A high-ranking UN official on Monday said the intention of the perpetrators in the Rakhine State of Myanmar was to cleanse the State of Rohingyas.
They possibly wanted to destroy this ethnic minority, which, if proved, would constitute the crime of genocide, he said.
"What I have heard and witnessed in Cox's Bazaar is a human tragedy with the fingerprints of the Myanmar government and of the international community," said Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, on his visit to Bangladesh to assess the situation of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
He was briefing journalists in the city to share the experience of her visit to Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar on March 7-13.
Urging the international community to take the responsibility to protect Rohingyas from the risk of further atrocities, he said, under the present conditions, returning to Myanmar will put the Rohingya population at risk of becoming victims of further crimes.
In this regard he also mentioned that China and Russia should play due role in protecting the Rohingyas from atrocities.
"Accepting the current status quo would be a victory for those who planned the attacks. We must not accept either of these scenarios."
She pointed out that without addressing the issue of citizenship and safety of the Rohingyas in Myanmar, their repatriation would be futile. She also urged the international community to ensure accountability of the perpetrators.
Blaming the international community for allowing the crimes to take place against Rohingyas, she said, the scorched-earth campaign carried out by the Myanmar security forces since August 2017 against the Rohingya population was predictable and preventable.
"Despite the numerous warnings I have made of the risk of the crimes, the international community has buried its head in the sand."
"However, whether or not we consider that the crimes committed amount to crimes against humanity or genocide, this should not delay our resolve to act immediately. We owe this to the Rohingya population".
"First, the root causes of the problem must be addressed. Only then can this population return in safety and dignity to Myanmar. The fate of the Rohingyas has been sealed since the day they were born - a fate of persecution and exclusion," she said.
"We must change this and give them the opportunity that every human being should be afforded in life: to enjoy their fundamental human rights in freedom and safety," she also noted.
The recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission provide a road map for the Myanmar Government. As a priority the stateless status of the Rohingya community must end and the issue of their citizenship must be addressed properly and definitively.
About the accountability issue she said, there must be accountability for the crimes that have been committed.
"I am perplexed by the denial of the widespread commission of serious crimes that has characterised the response of the Myanmar authorities. I urge the international community, in particular the United Nations Security Council, to consider different accountability options. The world needs to show that it is not ready to tolerate such barbaric acts".
"What I have heard and seen makes it clear that the majority of the Rohingyas want to return to Myanmar, but only when they are able to do so in safety, dignity and with access to the basic rights that are fundamental to us all."
She observed that the solution to this problem lies first and foremost with the Myanmar authorities, by creating the conditions for the Rohingya population to return home in safety and be entitled to the same rights as any other citizen of Myanmar.
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