ANC slates Myanmar

The ANC yesterday condemned “in the strongest terms” the actions of the Myanmar military, that have resulted in the displacement of about 509 000 Rohingya Muslims from the Northern Rakhine State to Bangladesh.

This has led to a significant humanitarian and refugee crisis that includes an estimated 100 000 children.

In a statement attributed to Edna Molewa, pictured, chairperson of the ANC national executive committee subcommittee on international relations, the party said: “The ANC adds its voice to growing international condemnation of the violence directed against the Rohingya.”

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar and despite having lived in the country formerly known as Burma for centuries, they are not considered one of the country’s official ethnic groups. This has effectively rendered them stateless.

“The ANC condemns not only the violence being perpetrated against Rohingya men, women and children by the military, but also the decades-long apartheid discrimination they have faced, dating back to British colonial rule,” said Molewa.

She said the United Nations has described the Rohingya as “the world’s most persecuted minority”.

“They live in one of the poorest states in the country and are forced into a ghetto-like existence, where they are denied access to opportunities and services,” she said. –ANA