Asean urged to exert pressure on Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean bloc was urged to exert pressure on the Myanmar government to address reported atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.

In making the call, the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War also expressed hope that United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon would meet Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to seek an end to the violence.

The foundation’s secretary-general, Yaacob Hussain Merican, yesterday said the alleged systematic persecution and brutal repression of the Rohingya community over the past months had resulted in the loss of innocent lives and displacement of people.

“We call upon Asean to immediately put pressure on the government of Myanmar to stop all human rights violations,” he said in a Bernama report.

Yaacob said the foundation was also demanding the UN to establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the recent human rights violations and the current situation in Rakhine State.

Meanwhile, the Muslim League of Penang, coalition of Muslim leagues in the state, as well as Muslim associations, also joined the chorus of protests against the Myanmar government.

Muslim League of Penang president Datuk Haja Najmudeen Kader, in a statement, urged the UN to intervene as the military had resorted to using heavy-duty weapons to destroy the homes of the Rohingya community.

“There is clear evidence of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya community, but it has been ignored by the Myanmar government.

“The Rohingya community is in perpetual fear due to the violence and are seeking ways to leave the country,” he said.

Haja Najmudeen said there were still tens of thousands of people belonging to the Rohingya community in Myanmar, with many others fleeing to other countries, including Malaysia, for safe haven.

“International pressure should be put on Myanmar urging them to stop the violations against the Rohingya community,” Haja Najmudeen said.

He also suggested that the UN send a peacekeeping force and assist Muslims in affected areas, while humanitarian aid should be sent from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

The situation was also becoming worse with a decision by the Bangladesh government to prevent Rohingya Muslims from entering their country through the sea.

MyCare Pahang deputy chairman Zool Fadli Hamzah said thousands of Rohingyas were being pushed back by the Bangladeshi authorities.

“Even the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has appealed to Bangladesh to keep its border open for the safe passage of civilians but it’s not happening,” he said.