Rohingyas seek help from China

OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, 2nd right, addressing the OIC Contact Group meeting in Jeddah on Sunday. (Photo: Arab News)

April 15, 2013

Arab News

Nadim Al-Hamid

Wakar Uddin, director general of the Arakan Rohingya Union, called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group to persuade China to put pressure on the Myanmar government to stop acts of violence and targeted killings of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

“It is well-known that China has strong relations with the Myanmar government and has big economic and political interests there. So we asked Chinese officials to try to persuade Myanmar to stop violence against and acts of systematic killing of the peaceful Rohingya Muslim minority,” Waqaruddin told Arab News.

He was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an urgent meeting of the OIC contact group here yesterday.

“Arab and Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have strong relations with China, and we hope that these countries come together to play their role. What we are witnessing in Myanmar is a human tragedy in the full sense of the term. What is going on there is unspeakable violence beyond comprehension,” he said. “Islamic identity in Myanmar is at risk of being eradicated, and we appeal to the conscience of all good people to help stop the killing,” he said.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warned of the escalation of violence in other areas, a clear reference to the acts of violence by extremist Buddhists against Sri Lankan Muslims.

“Violence directed against Myanmar’s Muslim population is unacceptable. It is a clear indication of the negative attitude of the government in dealing with ethnic and religious tension in the area,” he said.

“Extremist Buddhists felt that they have the blessing of the government for their atrocities and so they have expanded their actions in other areas,” he said.

He said the OIC has taken a number of actions since last June and that it has tried repeatedly to contact the Myanmar Embassy in Riyadh to no avail.

He called on members of the contact group who have diplomatic missions in Myanmar to use their offices to try to advance the case for the Muslim minority.