ASEAN rights body seeks arms embargo on Myanmar

FE Team | Published: January 24, 2018 23:57:23

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on the Rohingya crisis laid emphasis on Wednesday on imposing arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Myanmar and its senior officials respectively to create a safe environment for Rohingyas to return to their homeland from Bangladesh, reports UNB.
"I think it's time to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar army, including targeted sanctions against the generals who are behind these atrocities," APHR Chairperson and Malaysian MP Charles Santiago said seeking a role from India, China and Russia who sell arms to Myanmar.
Addressing a press conference at a city hotel, chief of the APHR fact-finding mission also said it is their arms and bombs which are used against Rohingyas.
Santiago also sought steps to deploy peacekeeping force to oversee the movement of Rohingyas.
He said Rohingyas should be consulted in repatriation process and they should be given clear idea about the content of the deal between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"Rohingyas are nowhere in discussion. They should be given a clear idea about the repatriation agreement and its content," Santiago said.
He said without presence of peacekeeping force repatriation will be difficult, in other words, he said, it will be almost impossible. "Repatriation should be safe and voluntary."
Another report adds: Improved security and unimpeded humanitarian access to Myanmar are essential before Rohingya children can be sent back from Bangladesh, Unicef Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said on Wednesday.
"Some 58 per cent of the refugees are children, many of whom are still traumatised by their experiences of violence", said Forsyth, speaking from the Kutapalong refugee camp in the district.