Take immediate action on Myanmar: OIC calls on UN Security Council

A meeting of Muslim countries’ grouping, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has called upon the UN Security Council to take “immediate action” on Myanmar to stop the Rohingya crisis.

The meeting also urged the adoption of a resolution by the ongoing 72nd session of the UN General Assembly on the plight of Rohingya Muslims who are facing atrocities by the security forces.

The UN earlier described it a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” as over 400,000 Rohingyas crossed the border into Bangladesh since Aug 25 violence.

The OIC contact group on Myanmar unanimously adopted a resolution in a meeting on the sidelines of the general assembly, according to the Bangladesh foreign ministry.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting presented a six-point proposal that includes their safe return to Myanmar, ending ‘state propaganda’ that labelled the ethnic group as ‘Bengalis’ and implementation of the Kofi Annan report.

The meeting also requested the OIC secretary general to make arrangements for a high-level delegation to visit Myanmar to discuss mutual concerns and the crisis, according to the resolution.

They also called upon the government of Myanmar to receive the delegation and facilitate the visit.

The meeting also requested the OIC secretary general to continue to explore initiatives with the UN secretary general and the ASEAN secretary general to engage with the government of Myanmar in resolving the plight of Rohingyas.