UN report highlights carnage in Myanmar

It is heartening to note that the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar on Tuesday released a full 440-page report detailing the unimaginable horrific atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar military against Rohingya people in Rakhine state. The report, submitted before the UN Human Rights Commission by the three members of mission, contained the account of the findings of its 15-month examination of the situation in three states in Myanmar – Rakhine, Kachin and Shan. The report reiterated the mission’s call for the investigation and prosecution of Myanmar’s commander-in-chief, senior general Min Aung Hlaing, and his top military leaders for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The report calls on the United Nations Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, or to establish an ad hoc international criminal tribunal. It also calls for targeted individual sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes against those who appear most responsible, and an arms embargo on Myanmar. There will be no peace while the military remains above the law. The military is the greatest impediment to Myanmar’s development as a modern democratic nation.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Rohingya women and girls were brutally raped, including in public mass gang rapes. Many victims were then killed or mutilated. The military burnt or razed to the ground hundreds of villages of the unarmed civilians for no fault of their own.  It also established a climate of impunity for its soldiers. The perpetrators of the gross human rights violations and international crimes must not go unpunished. The top generals should be investigated and prosecuted for genocide in Rakhine State.

More than one million Rohingyas have been passing their days and nights as stateless citizens in Bangladesh. Absence of sufficient food, shelter and medical care has made their lives miserable. It is an obligation for the Myanmar government to accept the Rohingyas as its citizens and ensure their rights in their native soil. But the Myanmar government’s role on this vital issue has surprised the world community.

Being an overpopulated country Bangladesh cannot take the responsibility of the Rohingyas for a long time as it has many more own problems to address. It is the responsibility of the Myanmar government to take   back all the Rohingyas immediately and create a congenial environment so that in future no Rohingya comes back to Bangladesh. If the Security Council fails to act  decisively in Myanmar, the generals could well be let off the hook. Hope must emanate from the International Court of Justice or a special UN tribunal.

UN report highlights carnage in Myanmar

It is heartening to note that the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar on Tuesday released a full 440-page report detailing the unimaginable horrific atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar military against Rohingya people in Rakhine state. The report, submitted before the UN Human Rights Commission by the three members of mission, contained the account of the findings of its 15-month examination of the situation in three states in Myanmar Rakhine, Kachin and Shan. The report reiterated the missions call for the investigation and prosecution of Myanmars commander-in-chief, senior general Min Aung Hlaing, and his top military leaders for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The report calls on the United Nations Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, or to establish an ad hoc international criminal tribunal. It also calls for targeted individual sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes against those who appear most responsible, and an arms embargo on Myanmar. There will be no peace while the military remains above the law. The military is the greatest impediment to Myanmars development as a modern democratic nation. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Rohingya women and girls were brutally raped, including in public mass gang rapes. Many victims were then killed or mutilated. The military burnt or razed to the ground hundreds of villages of the unarmed civilians for no fault of their own. It also established a climate of impunity for its soldiers. The perpetrators of the gross human rights violations and international crimes must not go unpunished. The top generals should be investigated and prosecuted for genocide in Rakhine State. More than one million Rohingyas have been passing their days and nights as stateless citizens in Bangladesh. Absence of sufficient food, shelter and medical care has made their lives miserable. It is an obligation for the Myanmar government to accept the Rohingyas as its citizens and ensure their rights in their native soil. But the Myanmar governments role on this vital issue has surprised the world community. Being an overpopulated country Bangladesh cannot take the responsibility of the Rohingyas for a long time as it has many more own problems to address. It is the responsibility of the Myanmar government to take back all the Rohingyas immediately and create a congenial environment so that in future no Rohingya comes back to Bangladesh. If the Security Council fails to act decisively in Myanmar, the generals could well be let off the hook. Hope must emanate from the International Court of Justice or a special UN tribunal.