Amnesty Urges EU to Push Myanmar to End Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Brussels, MINA – The human rights organisation Amnesty International called on the EU Friday to take effective action to end the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

“The EU must also take effective action to push Myanmar’s authorities to end the appalling human rights violations and ethnic cleansing which is causing Rohingya to flee. Condemnation is not enough and has not changed the situation on the ground”, KUNA reported, citing Charmain Mohamed , Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International, in a statement.

The call came ahead of a visit by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to Bangladesh on Sunday, where she will visit Rohingya refugee camps in the district of Cox’s Bazar and meet with representatives of humanitarian organizations.

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She will also meet Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to discuss the refugee crisis and the EU’s support to the country about this issue.

“As Federica Mogherini visits the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee emergency, she must commit the EU to provide Bangladesh with whatever support it can to continue to host the refugees in humane, sustainable and dignified conditions,” said the Amnesty in a statement.

“Bangladesh has been generously providing sanctuary to more than 600,000 Rohingya fleeing Myanmar for almost three months now. These refugees have been subject to a horrific campaign of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the military in Rakhine State, and are in dire need of international protection.

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The EU has much to learn from the way that Bangladesh has kept open the door for refugees arriving on their doorstep,” noted the statement.

Mogherini will also pay a two-day visit to Myanmar to attend the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers in Nai Pyi Taw, on Monday and Tuesday.

“Next week’s Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Myanmar will be a key opportunity for the EU to make clear that crimes against humanity cannot be committed without consequences. Only after the systemic discrimination against Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar is addressed can any return be considered as truly voluntary” said Amnesty. (T/RS5/RS1)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)