Turn up the pressure on Myanmar
THE world must not turn a blind eye to the on-going atrocities against ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar, which have intensified in recent weeks.
With the new humanitarian crisis unfolding in Myanmar, the global community must take a united stand to end the brutality of Myanmar military troops in Rakhine state, which houses some one million Rohingya people.
It was reported that since October, more than 130 Rohingyas have been killed and 30,000 displaced, with satellite images showing that hundreds of houses in their villages were burnt down.
Escaped Rohingyas at the Bangladesh border claimed that Myanmar troops were killing men, shooting them, slaughtering children, raping women, burning and looting houses, forcing the others to cross the river into Bangladesh. (Picture shows debris of burned houses in Warpait village in the Rakhine State)
To make matters worse, most humanitarian assistance has been cut off as aid workers are not allowed access to affected areas.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 120,000 Rohingyas have fled Rakhine since the previous bloody riot in 2012, with many braving a treacherous sea journey to Malaysia.
The latest atrocity is turning into an ethnic-cleansing of minority Rohingyas by Myammar military.
It is sad to know that the Rohingyas, despite residing in Myanmar for decades, are treated as illegal immigrants and denied citizenship, with laws restricting their marriage and their children not being issued with birth certificates. One cannot imagine their deplorable living conditions with children having no access to proper education.
It is also baffling that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader has remained remarkably silent towards the humanitarian crisis. The failure of the human rights icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner, to protect the Rohingyas against the military violence, is seen by some as “legitimising the genocide.” It could that she is unwilling or unable to control Myanmar’s armed forces.
On Friday, tens of thousands protestors took to the streets in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok to Dhaka to condemn the atrocities against the Rohingya community in Rakhine state.
Although our government did not withdraw our football team from the AFF Suzuki Cup co-hosted by Myanmar, it is pursuing other avenues to pressure Myanmar to stop the violence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the atrocities in Myanmar and has summoned the Myanmar Ambassador over the crisis. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will also meet with Aung San Suu Kyi and other top Myanmar officials soon.
While our government is taking initiatives through diplomatic channels, I call on all peace-loving citizens in Malaysia, non-governmental organisations, youth associations, political and non-political bodies to rally against the brutality committed by Myanmar troops.
If need be, peaceful demonstrations should be held every week to protest the violence.
The international community, particularly countries that speak so much about human rights, must come forward to stop the atrocities in Myanmar and alleviate the sufferings of the Rohingya community.
Unlike their governments, the local and international media from the US, the UK and other countries are strongly condemning the genocide in Myanmar and are pressuring the de factor leader, Aung San Suu Kyi to do something about it.
It is time that their respective governments listen and take appropriate action.
If necessary, economic sanctions should be re-applied to Myanmar. While state-sponsored violence towards the Rohingya community has been going on for years, many countries and foreign investors continue to invest in and maintain trade with Myanmar.
Multilateral institutions like the World Bank, Asia Development Bank and European Union have increased their development support to Myanmar in recent years.
Malaysia, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, can do its part by pressuring the UN to act by imposing heavy sanctions on Myanmar.
In the meantime, international pressure is also needed to ensure that the aid to the Rohingya community reaches them. It is imperative for the international community to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingyas who have fled from Myanmar and those who are still in the Rakhine state.