The Rohingya repatriation issue has come up with immense importance to the global leaders just after return of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from China. She could successfully impart the seriousness of the problem being faced by Bangladesh since 2017.
At the same time, UN has also initiated a meeting of the General Assembly and Security Council on the issue. According to UN Special Envoy’s briefing to General Assembly and Security Council, the western countries’ focus was on accountability and worry about the conflict between Arakan Army and the government forces of Myanmar. While other members including China, Russia and Indonesia look forward to the repatriation progress to begin and hope to resolve the issue through dialogue and trust building.
The interventions by the members of the Security Council, are highlighted below:
United Kingdom termed the Rohingya issue as crimes against humanity. United States mentioned it a crime against humanity and the perpetrators should be held accountable.
France referred to the Rosenthal’s report about UN’s failure in Myanmar. They stressed that the Council would need to be engaged under the principle of “Rule of Law”.
Kuwait criticized for the minimal progress.
Taking a balanced approach, Russia mentioned that the solution to crisis would have to be through political means. They further mentioned that the recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission should be upheld.
Indonesia showed interest to work with all parties to facilitate ASEAN’s common strategy. Peru along with South Africa and France highlighted that diversity is a value and called for interfaith dialogue
and trust building among the minority communities in Myanmar.
Saudi position was rather strong and they voiced concerns about the current situation and sought justified explanation from the UN envoy on steps taken to deal with Rohingya refugees and a proper timeframe for achieving these steps.
Turkey also raised their voice to create further pressure on Myanmar for early repatriation of Rohingyas. Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia hoped for the solution of the crisis and emphasized on the dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in this regard. They have also expressed their support to ASEAN initiatives.
Earlier, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang said that Myanmar has a “political will” over Rohingya repatriation as he held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen in Beijing.
“The Chinese foreign minister has assured that Myanmar has a ‘political will’ to take back its Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh,” Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said while briefing reporters after the meeting.
He said Dr Momen highlighted the Rohingya crisis saying that Bangladesh has no conflict with Myanmar. “We’re good neighbours and we want Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh,” he said.
Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi assured Bangladesh foreign minister that China will put pressure on Myanmar to speed up the repatriation of Rohingya refugees Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, former UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon on Wednesday expressed his fears that the Rohingya issue would eventually be an unbearable crisis for Bangladesh while he criticized Myanmar for its visible reluctance to take back the forcibly displaced people.
BSS adds: “It is not possible for Bangladesh to host such a large number of Rohingyas for a long,” he told newsmen while visiting a makeshift camp of theirs along with Marshal Island President Dr Hilda Heine and World Bank CEO Dr Kristaline Georgieva.
The former South Korean diplomat, Ban, who subsequently served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations for two consecutive terms from January 2007 to December 2016, said Rohingyas appeared as a huge “burden” for a country like Bangladesh
