Myanmar 'feeling the pinch of international pressure'

WB, UNHCR, ICRC chiefs in city

FE Team | Published: June 30, 2018 22:32:34

A number of high-profile visits to Bangladesh, including that of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, indicate that Myanmar is under 'another spell of pressure' from the international community over Rohingya issue, experts say, reports UNB.
World Bank (WB) Group President Jim Yong Kim, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee are already in Bangladesh.
The UN Secretary General is due to arrive in Dhaka early Sunday.
"Absolutely, this is kind of a pressure on Myanmar. The international pressure is mounting giving some results. Myanmar is feeling the pinch," Distinguished Professor at Illinois State University, USA Ali Riaz told the news agency.
He refereed that the under pressure Myanmar military recently dismissed a general who is alleged to have led a brutal campaign against Rohingya Muslims in August last.
The United States also strongly supported the actions taken by Canada and European Union partners to continue the promotion of accountability for the atrocities in Myanmar.
"So, pressure on Myanmar through current (high profile) visits is visible.
We need to look at how this pressure works," Prof Riaz who is now in Dhaka said.
Union Minister for the Myanmar State Counsellor's Office Kyaw Tint Swe and Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali visited Beijing and they had a meeting there on Friday, a diplomatic source said.
Asked about such meeting, Prof Riaz said China wants to show its 'presence' so far what has been done on bilateral front is based on Chinese formula.
"China's position is consistent.
We always believe that the relevant issue should be resolved through the dialogue and negotiation between Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the international community can play a constructive role in light of the will of the two countries," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang in Beijing on Friday.
At noon on Friday, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a tea break with the two visiting ministers from Bangladesh and China when they exchanged views on properly resolving the issue of the Rakhine State.
"I can tell you that the atmosphere was candid, sincere, light and friendly," Lu Kang said.
The Foreign Ministry in Dhaka says China has assured Bangladesh of facilitating the return of Rohingyas from Bangladesh as Dhaka sought active support from Beijing to this end.
"The displaced Rohingyas are so traumatised that they want solid security guarantee for their return.
They want to return to their original villages and not to any camps; they must be accorded opportunities to earn their livelihood," Foreign Minister Ali said.
About 700,000 Rohingyas have fled into neighbouring Bangladesh since last August to escape what United Nations and US officials have called an "ethnic cleansing" campaign by Myanmar's government.
Ali gave the number of refugees at 1.1 million.
Visiting UK Foreign Office Minister Mark Field has said the UK along with its international partners will continue to put 'maximum pressure' on Myanmar to ensure justice for the Rohingya victims of the persecutions by military in Rakhine State as well as their safe and dignified return from Bangladesh.
"We're working in an effective way and will continue to do what we can to hold perpetrators accountable," he said.
WB President Kim along with the United Nations chief will assess the severity of the crisis and discuss what more can be done.
The WB President will begin his official visit on Sunday, a senior official told the news agency confirming his arrival in Dhaka on Saturday.
They will visit the Rohingya settlements in Cox's Bazar and meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, other senior government officials, and representatives of civil society and other partners.