EU’s laudable stance on Rohingya

Given the united Nations Security Council’s inaction against the Myanmar regime over the brutalities, EU’s move can go a long way to pressurize the regime in solving the problem

We wholeheartedly congratulate European Union (EU) that is about to halt its ties with senior Myanmar military chiefs in protest against the "disproportionate use of force" against the country’s Rohingya minority. The block has also, very positively, warned that it may slap sanctions on Myanmar if it fails to stop persecution of the helpless people. Given the United Nations Security Council’s inaction against the Myanmar regime over the brutalities; EU’s move can go a long way to pressurize the regime in solving the problem.

The US has not made any commitment like the EU as yet, but at the last meeting of UNSC, it made a strong case against Myanmar in tough terms. The UNSC meeting fell short of taking a unanimous decision to stop Myanmar because China and Russia gave support for what Myanmar authorities were doing to ensure security in the Rakhine state.

The Rohingya problem is not created by Bangladesh, but it is bearing the burden of taking the forcibly displaced population numbering about a million after the recent entry of more than 500,000 Rohingya beginning on August 25. Around the same number of Rohingya is already living in Bangladesh who had entered Bangladesh at different periods in the past. Given the huge international response this time, authorities in Myanmar sent its ministers to talk to Bangladesh about repatriation of the displaced people.

But as of now it appears that Myanmar is not serious about its commitment and the move was only eyewash. Even the Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A H Mahmud Ali expressed doubt that Bangladesh might have to bear the burden of Rohingya population forever. This expression of doubt reflects Bangladesh’s hopelessness which should not have been the case. We believe time is now for Bangladesh to take a similar action like what EU wants to do. Besides, it must engage diplomatically with China and Russia to change their position over what Myanmar is doing in Rakhine in the name of security operations.

Bangladesh should also pursue India so that it stands beside Bangladesh in this crisis. In the third week of October, India’s external minister Shushma Swaraj would make a visit to Bangladesh. It is expected that during the visit Bangladesh would make a strong case of Rohingya before Shushma Swaraj and clearly express what it expects from India as a friend to the nation. Authorities in Myanmar are playing a game and Bangladesh must not allow it to have a winning edge over the matter.   

 

EUs laudable stance on Rohingya

Given the united Nations Security Councils inaction against the Myanmar regime over the brutalities, EUs move can go a long way to pressurize the regime in solving the problem

We wholeheartedly congratulate European Union (EU) that is about to halt its ties with senior Myanmar military chiefs in protest against the disproportionate use of force against the countrys Rohingya minority. The block has also, very positively, warned that it may slap sanctions on Myanmar if it fails to stop persecution of the helpless people. Given the United Nations Security Councils inaction against the Myanmar regime over the brutalities; EUs move can go a long way to pressurize the regime in solving the problem. The US has not made any commitment like the EU as yet, but at the last meeting of UNSC, it made a strong case against Myanmar in tough terms. The UNSC meeting fell short of taking a unanimous decision to stop Myanmar because China and Russia gave support for what Myanmar authorities were doing to ensure security in the Rakhine state. The Rohingya problem is not created by Bangladesh, but it is bearing the burden of taking the forcibly displaced population numbering about a million after the recent entry of more than 500,000 Rohingya beginning on August 25. Around the same number of Rohingya is already living in Bangladesh who had entered Bangladesh at different periods in the past. Given the huge international response this time, authorities in Myanmar sent its ministers to talk to Bangladesh about repatriation of the displaced people. But as of now it appears that Myanmar is not serious about its commitment and the move was only eyewash. Even the Bangladeshs Foreign Minister A H Mahmud Ali expressed doubt that Bangladesh might have to bear the burden of Rohingya population forever. This expression of doubt reflects Bangladeshs hopelessness which should not have been the case. We believe time is now for Bangladesh to take a similar action like what EU wants to do. Besides, it must engage diplomatically with China and Russia to change their position over what Myanmar is doing in Rakhine in the name of security operations. Bangladesh should also pursue India so that it stands beside Bangladesh in this crisis. In the third week of October, Indias external minister Shushma Swaraj would make a visit to Bangladesh. It is expected that during the visit Bangladesh would make a strong case of Rohingya before Shushma Swaraj and clearly express what it expects from India as a friend to the nation. Authorities in Myanmar are playing a game and Bangladesh must not allow it to have a winning edge over the matter.