RUSSIA and China recently expressed their interest to make deeper engagement in implementing the bilateral agreements between Bangladesh and Myanmar for a peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis. Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming and Russian Ambassador Alexander I Ignatov expressed their eagerness to this end in separate meetings with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday in Dhaka. As Myanmar is wasting time showing various excuses in creating an environment conducive for repatriation of the religious minority community, the suffering of the host community in Cox’s Bazar becomes acute. Bangladesh hoped that China and Russia would actively engage with Myanmar for facilitating the resumption of the repatriation process that had faltered twice since November last year. Bangladesh stressed strong efforts for reconciliation between returnee Rohingya people and members of the majority Buddhist community for permanent solutions to the crisis.
Myanmar’s image has been severely damaged internationally, as rights group’s efforts to prosecute the country and its leadership at the International Criminal Court, the UN’s International Court of Justice and a court in Argentina last week. More than 7,00,000 Rohingyas, mostly women, children and aged people, entered Bangladesh after fleeing murder, arson and rape during ‘security operations’ by Myanmar military in Rakhine, what the United Nations denounced as ethnic cleansing and genocide, beginning from August 25, 2017. The UNHCR and Bangladesh government failed in their first attempt to send the first batch of Rohingyas on November 15 last year as nobody agreed to go back without assurance of nationality and safety of their lives.
We are optimistic that Russia and China, two veto-powered countries, would stay beside the oppressed and the persecuted people putting economic interest aside for brushing up their image in the international arena. They should mount pressure on Myanmar government to create a favourable environment for Rohingya repatriation. Bangladesh, also the victim of the influx, should steer up the issue with intensifying diplomatic efforts.
Myanmar’s image has been severely damaged internationally, as rights group’s efforts to prosecute the country and its leadership at the International Criminal Court, the UN’s International Court of Justice and a court in Argentina last week. More than 7,00,000 Rohingyas, mostly women, children and aged people, entered Bangladesh after fleeing murder, arson and rape during ‘security operations’ by Myanmar military in Rakhine, what the United Nations denounced as ethnic cleansing and genocide, beginning from August 25, 2017. The UNHCR and Bangladesh government failed in their first attempt to send the first batch of Rohingyas on November 15 last year as nobody agreed to go back without assurance of nationality and safety of their lives.
We are optimistic that Russia and China, two veto-powered countries, would stay beside the oppressed and the persecuted people putting economic interest aside for brushing up their image in the international arena. They should mount pressure on Myanmar government to create a favourable environment for Rohingya repatriation. Bangladesh, also the victim of the influx, should steer up the issue with intensifying diplomatic efforts.
