Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar Kutupalong camps and on no-mans’-land on Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday told the visiting UN Security Council members that they want justice and want to get back to their home in full safety.
Over a million Rohingya refugees are now living under open sky and in shanties in muddy refugee camps. They left the Rakhine State to escape killing and rapes as Myanmar military torched their villages as
part of ethnic cleansing.
As the UNSC team arrives in Bangladesh it made headlines in major global media. People were expecting something highly positive from the tour. But comment by Chinese and Russian representative at refugee camp appears to have dashed out the hope that the world was looking from this visit.
When the Russian representative Dmitry Polyanskiy said ‘they have no magic to quickly end the crisis’ it has in fact diminished the hope for a quick solution to this crisis. People wanted to hear words of hope but the euphoria was evidently missing.
Similar comment by Chinese representative Mr Wu Haitao that “this is a very complicated issue that needs time” shows the repeat of their stance on the issue in the UN Security Council where they used the veto power to defeat attempts by other Security Council members on several occasions to protect Myanmar from international pressure.
Both the veto powers allowed Myanmar to flare up the situation, it is at least not fair when they say they have no magic to end the crisis. In our view a change of their outlook may do a lot to end the crisis.
Many believe the visit may prove fruitful with some change in the two veto-powers mindset. In our view the Rohingya issue as the world’s severest humanitarian crisis at this moment needs to be effectively handled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It must be saved from falling into big power game again.
It is time the UNSC members must force Myanmar to engage in meaningful repatriation process to end the crisis. The UNHCR is mandated to work for the United Nations to effectively intervene and resolve such crisis. Many had hoped the UNSC would play a decisive role and this visit now may expedite it.
The UNSC’s attempts largely failed over the past eight months in the face of Chinese and Russian vetoes. It is unfortunate they are giving support to Myanmar government to exterminate its Muslim minorities; which is living there over the generations. There is no heroism in it.
Dmitry Polyanskiy comments that ‘it is not yet time to come to a resolution; they are here to gather more information to find a solution’ is highly frustrating. In our view the UN has enough information in hands and UNSC members should not have been burdened to collect further information.
They need to act and now before a big humanitarian catastrophe is befalling on the homeless people. Delay may eventually deny justice.
In fact the UNSC members visit to Bangladesh has been planned to see for themselves the plight of the Rohingyas — the world’s most persecuted people hoping that their listening of the horrific tales may clear many things and particularly to overcome Chinese and Russian opposition to urgently end the crisis.
But remarks by representatives of both veto powers have invariably reflected their earlier stance on the issue at the UNSC. People wanted to hear new ideas and approach from them this time.
Both powers are pressing for bilateral solution to the crisis supporting Myanmar position not to involve third party-such as the UNHCR or other human rights organizations. Many believe it is time the UNSC should agree to a broad-based repatriation and rehabilitation plan involving UNHCR and other countries like India, Japan as Bangladesh yesterday said.
Bangladesh has signed an agreement on Rohingya repatriation with Myanmar apparently on advice of the Chinese government. But there is no visible breakthrough as time is passing out deepening the humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, rainy season is already hitting the homeless people calling for urgent measures to start repatriation.
Bangladesh recently signed an agreement with UNHCR providing it a role in the repatriation process and in our view the UNSC should also bring pressure on Myanmar to accept its role to start a meaningful repatriation process.
Observers believe the UNSC members visit to Myanmar on Monday will pave the way for a wider approach to end the crisis.
