News Desk :
The UN Security Council will meet on Thursday to discuss the violence in Myanmar and hear a briefing from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the crisis, diplomats said.
Britain, France, the United States and four other countries requested for the meeting after more than 430,000 people, mostly Rohingya Muslims, fled an army campaign in Myanmar in recent weeks and crossed into Bangladesh, according to agencies.
Antonio Guterres will publicly brief the Security Council on Thursday on violence in Myanmar, which he has described as ethnic cleansing, after seven countries on the 15-member body requested the meeting.
In preparation for Thursday’s public meeting, the council will be briefed behind closed doors on Tuesday by UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman, diplomats said.
The United Nations has described the military operation as “ethnic cleansing” and French President Emmanuel Macron last week went further, calling it “genocide.
Earlier on Wednesday US Vice President Mike Pence said US President Donald Trump wants the UN Security Council to take “strong and swift action” to end the violence,
Sweden, the United States, Britain, France, Egypt, Senegal, and Kazakhstan requested for the meeting.
The council has already met twice behind closed doors since the Rohingya crisis began and earlier this month issued an informal statement to the press condemning the situation and urging Myanmar authorities to end the violence.
Diplomats say that the Security Council could consider adopting a formal statement if the situation does not improve, but China and Russia are unlikely to agree to stronger action that would require the adoption of a resolution, even they could veto.
A Security Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by any of Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France.
Myanmar said earlier this month it was negotiating with two veto powers China and Russia to ensure that Myanmar would be protected from any Security Council action.
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has denounced the plight of the Rohingya, accused Myanmar of waging a “Buddhist terror” against the Muslim minority and also denounced the “genocide.”
The 1.1-million strong Rohingya have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have longstanding roots in the country.
In early September, Guterres took the rare step of sending a letter to the council to express concern about the “humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding, raising fears that it could have “implications for peace and security” beyond Myanmar’s borders.
Rights groups are pushing the council to threaten sanctions against Myanmar’s government and urging countries to review military cooperation.
Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has disappointed human rights groups who had campaigned for her freedom during the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s 15 years under house arrest by a military junta. Suu Kyi failed to quell outrage over the plight of the Rohingya when she delivered a nationwide address last week in which she appealed for patience.
