Bangladesh should lobby China to pressure Myanmar to end Rohingya crisis, says UN Security Council president

Bangladesh should lobby China to put pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis, says the United Nations Security Council president.

Tekeda Alemu's suggestion came on Friday during a meeting with former Bangladesh permanent representative to the UN AKA Momen, a day before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to fly to New York to address the UN General Assembly.

“The Security Council president has urged [Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina] to strengthen her international lobbying efforts,” Momen told bdnews24.com. “He said it was especially important to enlist the support of China because it is very sensitive on the matter of Myanmar.”

“[Alemu] believes China’s support is required to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission’s report. The solution to the problem will only be delayed further if the Rohingya crisis becomes entangled with other issues.”

Momen said he thanked the Security Council president for the statement calling for an ‘immediate end’ to violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

Nearly 400,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh in the wake of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state since Aug 25.

Almost half a million members of the Muslim minority had already been living as refugees in Bangladesh over the last few decades.

PM Hasina is expected to present these facts alongside proposals for a solution to the crisis during her address to the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.

While most countries have praised Bangladesh’s handling of the Rohingya crisis, Security Council permanent members Russia and China have said the crisis is an ‘internal matter’ for Myanmar.

But the Security Council, in a statement, unanimously called on Myanmar for a swift end to the violence, resolve the crisis, restore law and order and protect civilians.

“Never before has the council passed a unanimous resolution on the Rohingya issue, but it happened on Sept 13,” Alemu said then.

“In my national capacity, I probably would have liked it to move a little bit further,” said the Ethiopian Ambassador to the UN.

Alemu’s term as the Security Council president ends on Sept 30. He will be replaced by the French representative.