EU sends message to Myanmar by shunning generals: Ambassador

The new head of the European Union Delegation in Bangladesh has said Brussels has sent a message to Myanmar with the suspension of invitations to Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other top military commanders of the country.

“It’s a symbolic measure but I think it’s an important one and a significant message to Myanmar,” Rensje Teerink said on Wednesday. It was her first interaction with journalists after presenting credentials to President Md Abdul Hamid on Tuesday.

The Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh organised the event as part of ‘DCABtalk’.

The ambassador said the EU would wait to see how Myanmar responds to the announcement of different measures that include reviewing all practical defence cooperation before taking any harsh steps such as economic embargo.

“Let’s first see how they reply and in due course other measures can be taken,” she said, replying to questions.

Earlier, the European Council’s announcement came in response to the brutal operation against Rohingya Muslims, which has driven over half a million people to flee Rakhine State into Bangladesh.

The EU described the operation as 'disproportionate use of force' carried out by the security forces'.

The violence shook the international community with the UN describing it as ‘ethnic cleansing’.

Amnesty International says Myanmar security forces are using crimes against humanity in a targeted, systematic and widespread campaign of violence to drive Rohingyas out of Rakhine State.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States was "extraordinarily concerned" by what was happening to Myanmar's Rohingya minority and held Myanmar's military leadership accountable.

Earlier in September, the 28-nation bloc was the first to ask the Myanmar security forces involved in ongoing operations in Rakhine State to exercise “maximum restraint” and to protect unarmed civilians.

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini also stood in solidarity with the Bangladesh authorities in a statement following the massive exodus.

During presenting her credentials on Tuesday, President Md Abdul Hamid praised the EU’s support during this crisis, insisting that the it should continue to exert pressure on Myanmar so that it takes back the Rohingya refugees who have escaped to Bangladesh.

Profile of Ambassador Teerink

Born in Luxembourg, Teerink is a Dutch national. She studied Cultural Anthropology/Non-Western Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. Specialising in Asian studies she conducted extensive field research in western India -- Gujarat and Maharashtra.

She joined the European Commission in 1995 as administrator for South Asia.

In 2006 she was appointed Deputy Head of Unit for India, Nepal, Bhutan and SAARC.

In 2011 she joined the newly created European External Action Service as Deputy Head of Division for the same countries.

She was nominated by EU HR/VP Catherine Ashton as EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation to Nepal and EU Representative to SAARC in April 2013.

Teerink is married with two children and, apart from her Dutch mother tongue, is fluent in English, French, German and Italian and has a working knowledge of Spanish, Hindi and Nepali.

The EU is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh where all products enjoy duty-free market access.

With Bangladesh, the EU is engaged with the 2001 cooperation agreement that sets the legal framework. Democracy and human rights are the cornerstones of that agreement.