A UN Security Council delegation is calling for the safe return of Rohingya refugees and a bringing to justice of those responsible for crimes committed against them.
At a press conference held in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw, UK Ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, told press that there needs to be accountability. This would come from having a comprehensive investigation she said, something State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi agreed with and called on all parties to provide evidence towards.
“One can tell stories and those stories are very moving but in order to have accountability you need a proper investigation with evidentiary standards.”, Pierce continued.
Along with investigating human rights violations, delegation members also stressed the importance of repatriation. Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the UN, wanted the process agreed between Bangladesh and Myanmar to get up to full speed.
“We saw that the Government of Myanmar took many steps to implement the agreement but I think much more needs to be done,” the representative said, adding, “What we really want is to speed up the process of the return of refugees in a safe and voluntary and dignified manner,”.
The 15 strong delegation had spent four days in Myanmar, meeting State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and military chief General Min Aung Hlaing as well as visiting the region of Rakhine State, the epicentre of the crisis. During the visit, the officials met members of the Rakhine Buddhists, Hindus and Muslim communities still living in the region.
Xchange is currently investigating how the Rohingya living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, perceive repatriation. The report goes live on May 23, so stay tuned for developments.
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Sources:
Myanmar: Security Council meets leaders face-to-face; UN News; https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008582
Top-level UN team meets Myanmar leader in Rohingya probe; NewsOK; http://m.newsok.com/top-level-un-team-arrives-in-myanmar-for-rohingya-probe/article/feed/2116036
Security Council urges conditions that allow safe return of Rohingya refugees; UN News; https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1008692