Some sanctions to stay until Rohingya issue solved

US Ambassador-at-Large David N Saperstein warns Myanmar govt

The United States will keep on imposing some sanctions against Myanmar as long as the Rohingya issue and other human rights-related problems are not properly addressed by the government of that country, visiting US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom David N Saperstein said yesterday.
Speaking to The Independent at the American Centre in the capital, he also said that based on the testimony of those Rohingyas who had to flee Rakhine to Bangladesh in the face of atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar forces, it can be said that religious component might have worked behind the events taking place in Bangladesh’s neighbouring country.
“US lifted some sanctions as Myanmar undertook the path of democracy. But, some sanctions will remain in place and they are connected to addressing human rights problems and ending the plight of Rohingyas,” Ambassador Saperstein said while replying to a
volley of questions regarding Rohingyas and the logic of lifting US sanctions against Myanmar before addressing the Rohingya issue.
To a question, however, he all but ruled out any possibility of imposing new sanctions against Myanmar in the wake of violence being perpetrated by its forces in Rakhine state.
Referring to his visit to Cox’s Bazar where he talked with some Rohingyas, the Ambassador said that he was told that people are burnt alive, mosques were burnt down and holy books were set afire.
The envoy was full of praise for Bangladesh for giving shelter to many Rohingyas, saying, “This country should be proud for giving shelter to 200,000 to 500,000 Rohingyas. Some say the figure is even higher.”
As far as the international community is concerned, the focus remains on ensuring basic and citizenship rights of the Rohingyas, he said.
“We have continuously raised the issue of the plight of Rohingyas and will continue to so,” Saperstein said, adding that his country will keep on cooperating with the government of Myanmar, which has a nascent democracy.
About religious freedom in Bangladesh, the envoy said that Bangladesh’s longstanding history of religious harmony, diversity and peaceful coexistence is real.
There is absolute freedom for people to build places of worships, worship openly and celebrate religious festivals.
“I cite Bangladesh as a model in this regard,” he added. Saperstein, however, said that it is not surprising to know that there are some rare incidents targeting people belonging to minorities.
“It does not change the reality that after any such incident everyone feels vulnerable and endangered. That sense of vulnerability, I think, is very deep,” he said.
The Ambassador revealed that he had raised the issue during his meetings with politicians and government officials.

Some sanctions to stay until Rohingya issue solved

US Ambassador-at-Large David N Saperstein warns Myanmar govt

The United States will keep on imposing some sanctions against Myanmar as long as the Rohingya issue and other human rights-related problems are not properly addressed by the government of that country, visiting US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom David N Saperstein said yesterday. Speaking to The Independent at the American Centre in the capital, he also said that based on the testimony of those Rohingyas who had to flee Rakhine to Bangladesh in the face of atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar forces, it can be said that religious component might have worked behind the events taking place in Bangladeshs neighbouring country. US lifted some sanctions as Myanmar undertook the path of democracy. But, some sanctions will remain in place and they are connected to addressing human rights problems and ending the plight of Rohingyas, Ambassador Saperstein said while replying to a volley of questions regarding Rohingyas and the logic of lifting US sanctions against Myanmar before addressing the Rohingya issue. To a question, however, he all but ruled out any possibility of imposing new sanctions against Myanmar in the wake of violence being perpetrated by its forces in Rakhine state. Referring to his visit to Coxs Bazar where he talked with some Rohingyas, the Ambassador said that he was told that people are burnt alive, mosques were burnt down and holy books were set afire. The envoy was full of praise for Bangladesh for giving shelter to many Rohingyas, saying, This country should be proud for giving shelter to 200,000 to 500,000 Rohingyas. Some say the figure is even higher. As far as the international community is concerned, the focus remains on ensuring basic and citizenship rights of the Rohingyas, he said. We have continuously raised the issue of the plight of Rohingyas and will continue to so, Saperstein said, adding that his country will keep on cooperating with the government of Myanmar, which has a nascent democracy. About religious freedom in Bangladesh, the envoy said that Bangladeshs longstanding history of religious harmony, diversity and peaceful coexistence is real. There is absolute freedom for people to build places of worships, worship openly and celebrate religious festivals. I cite Bangladesh as a model in this regard, he added. Saperstein, however, said that it is not surprising to know that there are some rare incidents targeting people belonging to minorities. It does not change the reality that after any such incident everyone feels vulnerable and endangered. That sense of vulnerability, I think, is very deep, he said. The Ambassador revealed that he had raised the issue during his meetings with politicians and government officials.