Don't shift focus from Myanmar's Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh tells UN Security Council

Bangladesh has urged the UN Security Council to keep the Rohingya issue “alive” until a "logical conclusion" is reached over the crisis, while drawing attention to reports of Myanmar's heightened military activities near the border.

“Our experience from the last three decades makes it obvious that the bilateral track [Bangladesh, Myanmar] loses its momentum as soon as the international community shifts its attention elsewhere,” said Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh's ambassador to the UN.

He invited the 15 members of the council to conduct field missions in Bangladesh and Myanmar to gather first-hand accounts of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

“The forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals should return to their places of original abode in safety, security and dignity,” he told the Security Council on Thursday, during its first public meeting on Myanmar in eight years.

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the violence against Rohingya Muslims in the northern part of Rakhine State could spread to central Rakhine, where another 250,000 faced the risk of displacement.

The US demanded punishment for Myanmar’s military leaders, who by fuelling a violent campaign, caused over half a million Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh in a month following the army's Aug 25 crackdown, which the UN has called 'textbook ethnic cleansing'.

Myanmar has rejected the criticisms while denouncing rights abuses.

A Rohingya refugee child crawls through mud in Cox's Bazar Bangladesh September 21 2017

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who received global appreciation for her decision to allow in the refugees, earlier told UN General Assembly that the “crisis has its root in Myanmar and its solution has to be found in Myanmar.”

Momen said Bangladesh remains “committed to engage with Myanmar and the international community for resolution of this outstanding critical issue.”

But he countered the various claims Myanmar leaders have been making about Bangladesh since the start of the crisis.

“As a responsible and responsive state, we shall forge ahead seeking peaceful and lasting solution to this protracted situation through diplomacy, dialogue and cooperation,” he said.

He said this state of volatility constitutes a “larger threat to regional peace and security and as such should be a major security concern for the international community, including this council.”

He said the new narratives of ‘Muslims-killing-Muslims’ or ‘Muslims-killing-Hindus’ should be seen as the “state’s failure or abnegation” of its primary responsibility to protect its civilians.

“Allegations and counter-allegations of various forms of atrocities, which amount to crimes against humanity, must be fully investigated by a Security Council-mandated fact-finding mission,” he said,   thanking the council for giving Bangladesh an opportunity to present its case.

Myanmar 'war machines' near border

He said the council should take into account that more than two divisions of Myanmar armed forces had reportedly been deployed in areas near Bangladesh border since the first week of August 2017.

“Troops were spotted within 200 meters of the zero line, and heavy armaments and artillery are reportedly placed in close proximity of our border.

“There have been 19 reported incidents of Bangladesh’s air space violation by Myanmar helicopters and drones, including the latest one the day before yesterday.

“Anti-personnel mines have reportedly been laid along the stretch of the border to prevent the return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

“There have been incidents of firing on Bangladeshi fishermen resulting in death of one,” he said.

 “But Bangladesh continues to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such repeated, unwarranted and wilful provocations.”

A house is seen on fire in Gawduthar village, Maungdaw township, in the north of Rakhine state, Myanmar September 7 2017

He said the Security Council has a “responsibility” to examine whether military operations and consequent developments in northern Rakhine State point to any "threat to peace" and "breach of peace", and also to carve out paths for restoration peace.

“Under the present circumstances, it is of utmost importance that the remaining Rohingya civilians in northern Rakhine State are guaranteed unconditional protection by creating UN-administered ‘safe zones’ inside Myanmar.”

 It must also be ensured that the humanitarian assistance being provided reach all affected communities, particularly the Rohingyas, he said.

 “Myanmar must ensure full and unfettered humanitarian access to the UN and other humanitarian agencies.”

Paying heed to Dhaka's ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism and violent extremism, the Bangladesh ambassador “unequivocally” condemned the alleged attacks on Myanmar security forces by extremists, and offered to help Myanmar to combat terror through 'coordinated patrol', ‘joint inspections’ and even ‘joint operations’.

'No taker for Myanmar's lies'

“Regrettably, in the backdrop of our overtures, we have heard senior Myanmar leaders and state entities referring to the alleged extremists as ‘Bengali terrorists’.”

“There is perhaps no taker for the baseless and malicious propaganda to project Rohingyas as ‘illegal immigrants from Bangladesh’.

“This is not only a blatant denial of the ethnic identity of the Rohingyas, but also an affront to Bengalis all over the world. This has to stop,” he said.

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech to the nation over the Rakhine and Rohingya situation, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar September 19, 2017.

Bangladesh also wants to immediately start working with Myanmar and the international community to help implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State and ensure the safe return of Rohingyas living in Bangladesh for decades, he said.

In this regard, previous precedents, including the 1992 arrangement, can be adapted to the context of present challenges and priorities, he said. In the issue of repatriation, Bangladesh wants joint-verification in the presence of international observers.

With this fresh influx, Bangladesh is currently hosting over 900,000 forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar.