Yunus urges UNSC to intervene Rohingya crisis

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in an open letter on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to intervene the humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

"As you are aware, the human tragedy and crimes against humanity have taken a dangerous turn in the Arakan region of Myanmar. It needs your immediate intervention," said Yunus in the letter sent to the president and members of the Security Council, according to a press release.

According to different organisations, recent military offensive by the Myanmar army in Rakhine state has led to the killing of hundreds of Rohingya people, Yunus added.  

The Nobel peace laureate mentioned hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, and villages have been burned, women raped, many civilians arbitrarily arrested, and children killed.

He pointed out humanitarian aid organisations have been almost completely denied access to Myanmar, creating an appalling humanitarian crisis in an area already extremely poor.

Quoting local administration sources, around 120,000 people have fled to Bangladesh during the last twelve days, Yunus said.

He said human misery created by such massive displacement of men, women, and children under the threat of death is getting worse every day.

"I, along with several Nobel laureates, and eminent global citizens denounced the previous spate of violence late last year and wrote to you to intervene. Despite initiatives taken by you, the situation has not improved. This time, I urge you to take decisive actions to stop the violence against innocent civilians and bring permanent peace in Rakhine," said Yunus.  

The Nobel laureate said, "I call on UNSC to intervene immediately by using all available means. I request you to take immediate action for cessation of indiscriminate military attack on innocent civilians that is forcing them to leave their home and flee country to turn into stateless people."

"I urge you to persuade Myanmar government to take immediate steps to implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission which the Myanmar government established in 2016 under the pressure of international community," Yunus said. 

He said the commission, mostly comprised of Myanmar citizens, chaired by Kofi Annan, recommended providing citizenship to the Rohingyas, to allow them freedom of movement, rights and equality before the law, to ensure communal representation, lack of which affects Muslims disproportionately, to facilitate UN assistance in ensuring safety and security of returning people.

Yunus mentioned decades of persecution appears to be breeding radicalisation which the Rakhine Advisory Commission, rightly apprehended.

He said the fear became reality through the attack on Myanmar security forces by the militants.

Unless, constructive effort to build lasting peace is taken, the situation will get worse which in turn may pose serious security threat to the neighbouring countries, Yunus observed.

He suggested a bold change in approach is needed by United Nations and the international community if there is to be an end to the cycle of violence against the Rohingyas.

The Nobel laureate said the government of Myanmar needs to be told that international support and finance is conditional on a major change in policy towards the Rohingya.

Yunus said propaganda and incitement of hatred and all violence, particularly state violence against Rohingyas must stop, discriminatory laws and policies must go, the recommendations of Kofi Annan's commission must be implemented immediately.

He also said the world is waiting to see that UNSC has played its role to bring end to a humanitarian crisis and build peace in the region.

Source: Prothom Alo