UN council calls for ‘immediate steps’ to end Myanmar violence
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) The UN Security Council on Wednesday broke its weekslong silence on the crisis in Myanmar and called for an end to the violence as UN chief Antonio Guterres said the military campaign amounted to ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.
Following a closed-door meeting, the 15-member council including China, a supporter of Myanmar’s former ruling junta, expressed concern about excessive force during security operations in Rakhine state and called for ‘’immediate steps’’ to end the violence.
It was the first time the council agreed on a united response to the crisis sparked by a military crackdown that followed attacks by Rohingya militants late last month.
Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi will address the crisis engulfing Rakhine state next week, in her first speech since scores were killed in violence that has sent nearly 380,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and sullied her reputation as a defender of the oppressed.
Speaking ahead of a Security Council meeting to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis there, Guterres described reports of security forces attacking civilians in Rakhine as ‘’disturbing’’ and ‘’completely unacceptable.’’
‘’I call on the Myanmar authorities to suspend military activities and violence and uphold the rule of law,’’ the secretary general said in a press conference.
Guterres called for authorities ‘’to assure the delivery of vital humanitarian aid,’’ with thousands of Rohingya still crossing the border every day.
Guterres said that the Myanmar government should either grant the Rohingya nationality or legal status that would allow them to live a normal life.