ROHINGYA TRAGEDY

Myanmar continues ‘disregarding’ UN

Nearly two months into the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces against Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine state, the United Nations has failed to get any access for the UN agencies and other organisations to provide humanitarian assistance and find out what has actually happened.

While speaking to The Independent, multiple diplomatic sources said that Myanmar’s continued disregard for the UN has yet again put the credibility and effectiveness of the global body at stake.

“Since August 25, the UN as well as the international community has been calling on the Myanmar government for unfettered access to the affected areas to provide humanitarian aid and know the actual happenings on the ground,” said a senior diplomat at a Bangladesh mission abroad with a vast experience of dealing with UN.

“But, frankly speaking, Myanmar does not appear to be giving any ‘damn’ to these calls because they know there is little the UN can do due to the division at the UN Security Council. This is not doing any good to the credibility of the UN,” he said.

“So far, they (Myanmar) have arranged some guided tours to Rakhine State that means they showed what they wanted people to see,” he added.

“Let alone an investigation team or fact-finding mission, the Myanmar authorities have not yet allowed any humanitarian access. The world is yet to know as to how many people have died owing to the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces,” said another senior diplomat.

“The impression about the UN among ordinary people is not that high. Its inability to reign in Myanmar against the backdrop of human rights violations, ethnic cleansing and crimes will further affect the image of the world body,” he said.

The diplomat also said, “Let me give you an example. The UN has recalled its resident coordinator amidst allegation of suppressing the findings of an independent report she commissioned. It is very unusual that the UN recalls its envoy without announcing any replacement.”

“We have information that UN wants to replace the current resident coordinator with an UN assistant secretary-general. But, Myanmar would not agree. Even, UN under secretary-general for political affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who just concluded his trip to Myanmar, could not persuade the Myanmar government to accept the replacement,” he said.

On the visit of Feltman, he added, “Prima facie, it can be safely said that the under secretary-general failed to achieve anything but to have a glimpse of the destruction from an aircraft.

“Under this type of hopeless situation, Bangladesh, which has become a victim without any reason, can call upon the UN and international body to resolve the problem and hope,” said another senior diplomat.

“As far as the role of the international community is concerned, for some countries, economic interests seem to have obscured human aspects,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh reiterated its call for the UN Security Council to take collective and firm steps to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

Permanent representative to UN Masud Bin Momen made the call while taking part in an open discussion on Palestinian issue at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.  

Two UN special advisers have called on the government of Myanmar to take immediate action to stop and address the crimes that are reportedly taking place in the northern Rakhine state.

In New York, special adviser on the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng and special adviser of the

responsibility to protect Ivan Simonovic used the expression “atrocity crimes” to refer to three crimes under international law -- genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The advisers also said that the international community has failed to protect the Rohingya populations.

Commenting on this, a senior diplomat, stationed at a Bangladesh mission in an ASEAN countries, said, “The UN just cannot get rid of its responsibility by only mentioning international community. The UN itself is very much part of the international community.”

 

 

ROHINGYA TRAGEDY

Myanmar continues disregarding UN

Nearly two months into the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces against Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine state, the United Nations has failed to get any access for the UN agencies and other organisations to provide humanitarian assistance and find out what has actually happened. While speaking to The Independent, multiple diplomatic sources said that Myanmars continued disregard for the UN has yet again put the credibility and effectiveness of the global body at stake. Since August 25, the UN as well as the international community has been calling on the Myanmar government for unfettered access to the affected areas to provide humanitarian aid and know the actual happenings on the ground, said a senior diplomat at a Bangladesh mission abroad with a vast experience of dealing with UN. But, frankly speaking, Myanmar does not appear to be giving any damn to these calls because they know there is little the UN can do due to the division at the UN Security Council. This is not doing any good to the credibility of the UN, he said. So far, they (Myanmar) have arranged some guided tours to Rakhine State that means they showed what they wanted people to see, he added. Let alone an investigation team or fact-finding mission, the Myanmar authorities have not yet allowed any humanitarian access. The world is yet to know as to how many people have died owing to the atrocities of the Myanmar security forces, said another senior diplomat. The impression about the UN among ordinary people is not that high. Its inability to reign in Myanmar against the backdrop of human rights violations, ethnic cleansing and crimes will further affect the image of the world body, he said. The diplomat also said, Let me give you an example. The UN has recalled its resident coordinator amidst allegation of suppressing the findings of an independent report she commissioned. It is very unusual that the UN recalls its envoy without announcing any replacement. We have information that UN wants to replace the current resident coordinator with an UN assistant secretary-general. But, Myanmar would not agree. Even, UN under secretary-general for political affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who just concluded his trip to Myanmar, could not persuade the Myanmar government to accept the replacement, he said. On the visit of Feltman, he added, Prima facie, it can be safely said that the under secretary-general failed to achieve anything but to have a glimpse of the destruction from an aircraft. Under this type of hopeless situation, Bangladesh, which has become a victim without any reason, can call upon the UN and international body to resolve the problem and hope, said another senior diplomat. As far as the role of the international community is concerned, for some countries, economic interests seem to have obscured human aspects, he said. Meanwhile, Bangladesh reiterated its call for the UN Security Council to take collective and firm steps to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Permanent representative to UN Masud Bin Momen made the call while taking part in an open discussion on Palestinian issue at the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Two UN special advisers have called on the government of Myanmar to take immediate action to stop and address the crimes that are reportedly taking place in the northern Rakhine state. In New York, special adviser on the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng and special adviser of the responsibility to protect Ivan Simonovic used the expression atrocity crimes to refer to three crimes under international law -- genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The advisers also said that the international community has failed to protect the Rohingya populations. Commenting on this, a senior diplomat, stationed at a Bangladesh mission in an ASEAN countries, said, The UN just cannot get rid of its responsibility by only mentioning international community. The UN itself is very much part of the international community.