Germany suspends Myanmar dev co-op until Rohingyas’ safe return

Cambodia promises to support Bangladesh within ASEAN framework

Germany has announced that development cooperation with Myanmar will be suspended until the latter allows Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine State safely. German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr Gerd Muller announced the suspension of the development cooperation with Myanmar until the Rohingya refugees return safe.

He made the announcement yesterday after visiting the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday, informed the German embassy in Dhaka.

“Myanmar must do all it can to protect the Rohingyas and to facilitate their voluntary return,” Gerd Muller said while wrapping up his two-day visit to Bangladesh on the day.

He said the plight of Rohingyas is turning into one of the world’s greatest tragedies, second only to that of the Syrian refugees.

He stressed that the international community must act much more decisively on this issue and must take a greater interest in the fate of the Rohingyas.

Germany will use its development policy tools to step up its support for the Rohingya refugees and the communities hosting them, he said.

The German minister said one million Rohingyas fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh and the majority of them live in the Kutupalong refugee camp, one of the largest in the world.

“Many of the refugees are traumatised,” he said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Germany to play a more active role on the Rohingya issue when Muller called on her. She also called upon the international community to put more pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Cambodia yesterday assured Bangladesh that it’d work actively through the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to provide a solution to the Rohingya crisis

and ensure their safe repatriation. It provided assurance that the country would consider all proposals offered by Bangladesh to help resolve the crisis. The issues came up at the first-ever joint commission meeting between Bangladesh and Cambodia that took place in Dhaka, wherein State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam led an 18-member Bangladesh delegation and Cambodia’s Secretary of State of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry Eat Sophea led a 27-member delegation.

“I have received the proposal. Bangladesh wishes for support from Cambodia for the repatriation of the people displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine state. I have provided assurance that Cambodia will lend its full support through ASEAN mechanisms to ensure the safe return of these displaced people,” Sophea told journalists emerging from the meeting.

“We hope the negotiations between Myanmar and Bangladesh will lead to a comprehensive solution for such a return. Cambodia will work actively through ASEAN and take all proposals offered by Bangladesh into consideration. We will continue to work on this,” she added.

On his part, Shahriar Alam said, “Myanmar is an ASEAN member. Cambodia is also an active member of the same regional organisation. Cambodia can use the ASEAN platform to increase talks with Myanmar regarding the repatriation of Rohingyas.”

He also said, “We have explained to Cambodia that the root cause of the issue is Myanmar’s lack of confidence. As part of a confidence-building measure, we have proposed to form a group comprising ASEAN political leaders or civil society members who will engage with Myanmar to make them believe in the merits of expediting the repatriation.”

The two sides agreed that the Technical Working Group Meeting on training cooperation will be held in Dhaka soon.

To implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism, both sides decided to convene the first meeting of the Joint Working Group in Cambodia soon.

Besides, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged the Myanmar government to take action to address the escalating prejudice and incitement against Rohingya Muslims and other minority communities.

“Decisive measures are needed to ensure genuine accountability and civilian oversight of the military. Legal and policy reforms are needed, including with regard to citizenship,” she said in a statement delivered at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.

According to a UNB report, Bachelet said the root causes of these violations are complex, multidimensional and longstanding ones. “Unpacking and untangling this multifaceted human rights challenge require understanding the historical, political, economic and social dimensions as a prerequisite to identifying solutions.”

The UN human rights chief said democratic deficits in Myanmar, as well as entrenched impunity, weak rule of law, and the lack of civilian oversight over the military, have been major enabling factors.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commission in Dhaka yesterday supplied 1,000 sewing machines with pedal, 32 office tents, 32 rescue kits and 99 family tents for the Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar camps.

A UNB report said the relief materials were handed over to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief under India’s fifth tranche of relief assistance for displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

India appreciated the generosity and humanitarian efforts of the government of Bangladesh in providing temporary shelter to the displaced persons from Myanmar.

 

Germany suspends Myanmar dev co-op until Rohingyas safe return

Cambodia promises to support Bangladesh within ASEAN framework

Germany has announced that development cooperation with Myanmar will be suspended until the latter allows Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine State safely. German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr Gerd Muller announced the suspension of the development cooperation with Myanmar until the Rohingya refugees return safe. He made the announcement yesterday after visiting the refugee camp in Coxs Bazar on Wednesday, informed the German embassy in Dhaka. Myanmar must do all it can to protect the Rohingyas and to facilitate their voluntary return, Gerd Muller said while wrapping up his two-day visit to Bangladesh on the day. He said the plight of Rohingyas is turning into one of the worlds greatest tragedies, second only to that of the Syrian refugees. He stressed that the international community must act much more decisively on this issue and must take a greater interest in the fate of the Rohingyas. Germany will use its development policy tools to step up its support for the Rohingya refugees and the communities hosting them, he said. The German minister said one million Rohingyas fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh and the majority of them live in the Kutupalong refugee camp, one of the largest in the world. Many of the refugees are traumatised, he said in a statement. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Germany to play a more active role on the Rohingya issue when Muller called on her. She also called upon the international community to put more pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Cambodia yesterday assured Bangladesh that itd work actively through the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to provide a solution to the Rohingya crisis and ensure their safe repatriation. It provided assurance that the country would consider all proposals offered by Bangladesh to help resolve the crisis. The issues came up at the first-ever joint commission meeting between Bangladesh and Cambodia that took place in Dhaka, wherein State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam led an 18-member Bangladesh delegation and Cambodias Secretary of State of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry Eat Sophea led a 27-member delegation. I have received the proposal. Bangladesh wishes for support from Cambodia for the repatriation of the people displaced from Myanmars Rakhine state. I have provided assurance that Cambodia will lend its full support through ASEAN mechanisms to ensure the safe return of these displaced people, Sophea told journalists emerging from the meeting. We hope the negotiations between Myanmar and Bangladesh will lead to a comprehensive solution for such a return. Cambodia will work actively through ASEAN and take all proposals offered by Bangladesh into consideration. We will continue to work on this, she added. On his part, Shahriar Alam said, Myanmar is an ASEAN member. Cambodia is also an active member of the same regional organisation. Cambodia can use the ASEAN platform to increase talks with Myanmar regarding the repatriation of Rohingyas. He also said, We have explained to Cambodia that the root cause of the issue is Myanmars lack of confidence. As part of a confidence-building measure, we have proposed to form a group comprising ASEAN political leaders or civil society members who will engage with Myanmar to make them believe in the merits of expediting the repatriation. The two sides agreed that the Technical Working Group Meeting on training cooperation will be held in Dhaka soon. To implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism, both sides decided to convene the first meeting of the Joint Working Group in Cambodia soon. Besides, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged the Myanmar government to take action to address the escalating prejudice and incitement against Rohingya Muslims and other minority communities. Decisive measures are needed to ensure genuine accountability and civilian oversight of the military. Legal and policy reforms are needed, including with regard to citizenship, she said in a statement delivered at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday. According to a UNB report, Bachelet said the root causes of these violations are complex, multidimensional and longstanding ones. Unpacking and untangling this multifaceted human rights challenge require understanding the historical, political, economic and social dimensions as a prerequisite to identifying solutions. The UN human rights chief said democratic deficits in Myanmar, as well as entrenched impunity, weak rule of law, and the lack of civilian oversight over the military, have been major enabling factors. Meanwhile, Indian High Commission in Dhaka yesterday supplied 1,000 sewing machines with pedal, 32 office tents, 32 rescue kits and 99 family tents for the Rohingyas living in Coxs Bazar camps. A UNB report said the relief materials were handed over to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief under Indias fifth tranche of relief assistance for displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar. India appreciated the generosity and humanitarian efforts of the government of Bangladesh in providing temporary shelter to the displaced persons from Myanmar.