Apply pressure on Myanmar generals: British MP on Rohingya crisis

The British prime minister’s trade envoy for Bangladesh, Rushanara Ali, has said that international community must apply pressure on the Myanmar’s military and the civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi to end the Rohingya crisis.

She also pointed out that China and India as regional partners are “really important” to apply pressure. A “strong cohesive” voice is necessary, she said, interacting with journalists in Dhaka on Tuesday.

“It's right that we have called on Aung San Suu Kyi to speak out, but pressure must be applied to the generals of the Myanmar army,” she said.

“It’s the generals in Myanmar who are doing that. They have 25 percent reserve seats in the parliament, and they control defence, security, border, civil service, and media reports.”

A Bangladesh born Labour Party politician, Rushanara has long been a campaigner for the rights of Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship by the Burmese government.

After the latest atrocities that began on Aug 25, she called on the international community to "apply pressure on Myanmar, and that could be started immediately with the UK government suspending and reviewing its military to the military training programme."

Some 180 British parliamentarians have also signed a letter to the Foreign Secretary condemning the escalation of violence targeted towards Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State which is described as the “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” by the UN.

Asked whether the international community is doing enough, she said “there is no question that this is a very difficult situation. There is no easy answer. The International community needs to put on pressure.”

“The dilemma of the international community is that its an imperfect democracy and military still controls it. This is a country that has made the transition.”

“But we want to end the conflict and improve the conditions,” she said.

“My appeal to this country and around the world we need to put pressure on our own government to continue to work together to put pressure on Burmese military and the State Counselor. All need to work together in cooperation and cohesion,” she said.

She, however, said now there is recognition that this is a “major catastrophe”.

She thanked the people of Bangladesh for their “extraordinary sense of responsibility and generosity and sympathy as well as empathy” and said this should be “commended and admired”.

She, however, urged the international community to step up their humanitarian assistance as “Bangladesh is not a wealthy country. You still have lots of poverty.”