ANKARA: A leading rights activist while welcoming the US House of Representative vote declaring persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar a genocide said that the move will encourage other nations and world bodies to take notice of the worst human right violations in
In an interview with Turkish media, Harn Yawnghwe, son of Myanmar’s first president Sao Shwe Thaike, said the US move “affirms the action taken by the International Criminal Court to further investigate, and the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IIFFM) report that there is credible evidence against the Myanmar government and its security forces.
On December 14, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution by a vote of 394-1 declaring “the Burmese military’s actions were genocide against the Rohingya people”.
A UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar found the military guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced nudity, mutilations, torture, persecution, and enslavement.
The Canadian government, parliament and Senate also recognized atrocities against Rohingya a genocide in September.
The U.S. House of Representative vote declaring persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar a “genocide” should encourage other nations to follow suit, a senior rights activist said.
In an interview with Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency Yawnghwe said that this should encourage other nations that are undecided to also recognize that what is happening in Myanmar is a genocide.
Yawnghwe is the executive director of Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office, which promotes democracy in his home country.
The U.S. move would mean that “the international community has an obligation to act to stop the genocide,” according to Yawnghwe.
“Immediate action is needed to protect the Rohingya. They need a protected homeland in Myanmar.”
He also voiced concern over the repatriation process of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from Bangladesh, where they took shelter fleeing brutality in the Rakhine state of Myanmar last year.
A repatriation “until a protected homeland is established”would put the devastated minority “in grave danger because the Myanmar government has not changed its policies or put into place any measures to prevent another massacre of Rohingya.”
He suggested broader economic and political sanctions against the Myanmar government and military to show “they cannot get away with genocide”.
“They need to reform and change. The Myanmar public needs to also know that they cannot kill or persecute a minority with impunity.
“It will give the Rohingya hope that they may be able to return safely and live a secure life in their former homes without fear of further persecution. Without hope and without a measure of control over their own lives, people get desperate. Desperate people do desperate things. But the international community must act before it is too late.”
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August last year.
Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).
Read More …..Mahathir Flays Australia for Reconsigning Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the OIDA report, titled “ForcedMigration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience.”
Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000others vandalized, it added.
The UN has also documented mass gang rapes, killings –including of infants and young children — brutal beatings and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces.
In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
