Time to consider harder options on Myanmar

IT’S time for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) to take bold steps in dealing with the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. It’s always good to use a diplomatic approach but in this regard, we need to be more realistic as thousands of Rohingyas have been subjected to years of inhuman treatment and persecution.

Some countries are taking the initiative to hold dialogues and diplomatic discussions but the inhuman treatment and persecution of the Rohingya people continues.

According to several international human rights groups, the Rohingyas are the most persecuted minority group in the world. Amnesty International has said that these people have continued to suffer from human rights violations since 1978 under the Burmese junta, and many have fled to neighbouring countries including Malaysia.

It would be sad if no concrete solution is found to end the horrors faced by the Rohingyas soon. It would be sadder still if Asean fails to take immediate action to help them. Asean should not have a member that does not respect international law and the right of people to exist.

As such, the time has come for Asean members to meet and produce a strong warning to the Myanmar government that it immediately ends its persecution of the Rohingyas or face suspension or full expulsion from Asean.

DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW Faculty of Syariah & Law Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia