HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MUST CONVENE ON THE ROHINGYA ISSUE

Press Release MAPIM
9th February 2013

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MUST CONVENE ON THE ROHINGYA ISSUE

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) urge for a special session of the Human Rights Council of the UN be convened immediately to discuss on the on going suppression of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar.

The recent developement of Rohingya fleeing out from Arakan signals the continuing status of the ruling government not taking heed on international call for a stop to the atrocities inflicted on the Rohingya.

We are very concern that the exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar is an indication that the situation until recent developments, is unbearable for the victims to survive in Myanmar.

It is without doubt that the security forces and the Rakhine mobs are continuing their pressure on the Rohingya to drive them away and push them to another country. Recently boats loaded with the Rohingya refugees are making their way to the Thailand and Malaysian shores. Some have even sailed to the waterways of Singapore and Sri Langka.

The Malaysian shores has up untill now being receiving arrivals of the Rohingya loaded boats crammed with refugees including women and children.

The UN cannot wait untill the situation worsen as this will escalate into a complete extermination of the Rohingya in Arakan.

The UNHCR must dispatch a Commision of Inquiry to Myanmar the soonest possible to assess the situation.

The June 2012 eruption of attacks on the Rohingya must be recorded as violations of human rights and the culprits who has orchestrated the violence must be brought to justice.

We are deeply disturbed by the exodus , triggered by the Myanmar regime to empty the Arakan state of Rohingya Muslim ethnic with the intention of settling them in a third country . Malaysia as the main destination , would signal a potential instability in the region if the Myanmar authorities continue implementing its policy of no Rohingya in the country.

MAPIM call for the Human Rights Council of UN to intervene before the situation descends into a full blown human catastrophe .The UN must take the initiative to halt the carnage and to employ legal intervention to stop the regime from driving the Rohingya away to neighboring countries.

Yangon must be held accountable for all the human rights violations inflicted on the Rohingya minority.

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
Secretary General MAPIM

Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations
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