UN reminds int'l community of its responsibility towards Rohingya

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on Myanmar Dr Noeleen Heyzer has expressed concerns at the current situation in Myanmar, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

While acknowledging the generosity of the government of Bangladesh, the special envoy in her briefing in the UN General Assembly has also reminded the international community of its responsibility towards the Rohingya people.

"The situation continues to remain volatile with grave impacts on the civilians, including Rohingya Muslims," she told the Assembly on Monday.

She also shared her future work plan in Myanmar which represents a multi-pronged approach involving the peace, development and humanitarian actors and engagements at both vertical and horizontal level.

Following the briefing, the member states delivered remarks, in which they expressed their full support to the efforts of the special envoy as well as the complementary role of ASEAN countries.

While addressing the General Assembly following the briefing by the special envoy, Bangladesh Ambassador Rabab Fatima called upon her to work towards an early implementation of bilateral return arrangements.

She also urged the UN to scale up its programmes in Rakhine State to support the Rohingya people on their return, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"Five years have passed since the Rohingyas fled home in one of the largest exoduses in recent history. The promise of safe return remains unfulfilled. Not a single Rohingya has been able to return home," said Ambassador Fatima.

The Ambassador called upon the UN, especially the Security Council, to respond with urgency to the recurrent and protracted Rohingya crisis by addressing its root causes.

Referring to the efforts of Bangladesh in providing food, shelter, education, health care and protection to the Rohingyas, she called upon the international community to focus on creating the right conditions in Myanmar.

"Efforts on our side alone will not bring about any lasting solution to the problem. What is needed are actions and programmes in Myanmar, to create the conditions conducive to the return of this population in dignity, to their home. And that is the most desired durable solution and the aspiration of the Rohingyas themselves," she added.

In this regard, she also stressed the importance of ensuring accountability for all violations and abuses in Myanmar and called upon the Security Council to monitor compliance of the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case initiated by Gambia on behalf of the OIC.

"My government is doing everything in its power to ensure justice to the Rohingya victims. We are providing full support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) in their efforts," Ambassador Fatima said.

She urged all countries, especially the regional countries, to provide access and cooperation to all the ongoing accountability mechanisms to ensure justice to the Rohingya Muslims and prevent future recurrence.

The Ambassador expressed appreciation to ASEAN for its efforts to find a resolution to the crisis in Myanmar including by early and full implementation of the five-point consensus concluded between the ASEAN and the Myanmar authorities.

While addressing the assembly, the member states commended the exemplary humanitarian leadership of the government of Bangladesh and expressed their commitment to support Bangladesh in its efforts to forge a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com