STATEMENT BY Y.B. DATO’ SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH, FOREIGN MINISTER OF MALAYSIA ON THE REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL FACT-FINDING MISSION ON MYANMAR

Source KLN,  29 Aug

1.            The report of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar released on 24 August 2018 confirms Malaysia's worst fear that the crimes perpetrated against the Rohingya people in Myanmar since 25 August 2017 bear a resemblance to the acts of genocides committed in the past that have marred the history of humanity.

 

2.            The UN report, drawing on meticulous and objective research, provides incontrovertible proof of what the Myanmar military and its government has been denying all this time; intentional, concerted, systematic, consistent, and planned acts and policies to destroy and remove, in particular ethnic Rohingyas, from Myanmar.

 

3.            It should be noted that the Myanmar military and government were given ample opportunity to provide their side of the story – opportunities that they repeatedly did not avail themselves of. Therefore, they cannot now say that the report is biased, unfair and driven by a political agenda.

 

4.            I wish to emphasise the fact that Malaysia's assessment of Myanmar remains the same. A strong and prosperous South East Asia requires a united, prosperous and stable Myanmar, one which is fully integrated into the global community and able to play its rightful role therein. For these reasons, more than 20 years ago Malaysia, under Tun Dr. Mahathir's leadership, strived towards bringing Myanmar into the ASEAN fold. The inclusion of Myanmar, as well as Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam, as members of ASEAN has brought innumerable benefits not only for them, but the region and the world as a whole.

 

5.            However, aspirations for Myanmar will not be fulfilled if it continues, or refuses to account for policies which reflect Mankind's darkest past, and which has no role in a civilised world.

 

6.            As a member of ASEAN, Myanmar must ascribe to the ideals of the ASEAN Charter. These include for ASEAN members to respect the fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice.

 

7.            Of course the ASEAN Charter also spoke very strongly about the principle of non-interference. Of course Malaysia continues to subscribe to this principle. However, beyond the humanitarian dimension, there are also the security and strategic dimensions – the widespread movement of the Rohingyas creates instability in the region, and could easily become a rallying-call for violent extremism in the region.

 

8.            All these potentially have deep implications for Malaysia and the region. For this reason, Malaysia cannot be silent, or ignore the Rohingya crisis that is happening at its doorstep.

 

9.            Malaysia will continue to speak about the plight of the Rohingyas. We will also continue to call for international support for the Government of Bangladesh, in which close to a million Rohingyas have found refuge. As we work towards a sustainable solution to the situation, one which will preserve the dignity and lives of the Rohingyas, the international community must do all it can to support Bangladesh. Malaysia has done so, and will continue to do so.

 

10.         Perhaps lost in the discussions is the fact that Myanmar has been a Party to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide since 1956. Under the terms of the Convention, States Parties including Myanmar have the obligation to, among others:

 

10.1.     Undertake to punish persons committing genocide that happens in the country, whether committed in peace or in time of war;

 

10.2.     Establish a competent national tribunal in the territory in which the act is committed to try the alleged crimes committed; and

 

10.3.      Accept the jurisdiction of international penal tribunal should the national mechanism is unavailable or is ineffective.

 

11.         In addition, the 1948 Convention also calls upon the competent body of the UN to take such actions in the UN Charter they consider appropriate to prevent and suppress the acts of genocide.

12.         Clearly, the crimes described in the report are consistent with those outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention, which I must repeat, Myanmar is Party to. For this reason, The Myanmar Government has the primary responsibility to take actions against the perpetrators of the crimes under international law committed against the Rohingyas and other minorities in Myanmar, especially in Rakhine State.

 

13.         If Myanmar proves to be unwilling or incapable of ensuring justice in this regard, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has the responsibility to establish an international judicial mechanism to try those individuals most responsible for these crimes. This too was clearly the view of the majority of the Members of the UNSC expressed during the open briefing held on 28 August 2018 in New York. 

 

14.         In 1946, General Aung San famously stated that, "Nowadays, all the world over, we cannot confine the definition of a nationality to the narrow bounds of race and religion. Nations are extending the rights of their respective communities even to others who may not belong to them except by their mere residence amongst them and their determination to live and be with them."

 

15.         So let me say to my friends in Myanmar – Live up to the ideals of General Aung San. Bring the condemned perpetrators to justice. Let the Rohingyas return to peace and a life of dignity.

 

 

 

DATO' SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MALAYSIA

 

PUTRAJAYA

29 August 2018

'Myanmar is like Nazi Germany'

Source AA, 

Buddhist activist Maung Zarni denounces atrocities targeting Rohingya in his country

   

Maung Zarni, a coordinator at the Free Rohingya Coalition ( Ahmet Gürhan Kartal - Anadolu Ajansı )

The atrocities targeting Myanmar's Rohingya minority are similar to those committed by Nazi Germany, according to a prominent Buddhist human rights activist.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Kent, the UK, Maung Zarni, a coordinator at the Free Rohingya Coalition, said the international community should act against his country of origin.

Zarni's remarks come after the UN released a report earlier this week documenting mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In its report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.

"We have a situation wherein a UN member state run by a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her partners in power, Burmese military generals…is found by the [most] credible and highest body of human rights authorities in the world to be like Nazi Germany," Zarni said.

"Genocide is what the Nazis did. Genocide is what happened in Rwanda, in Cambodia, or to the Bosnian Muslims."

Zarni underlined that when a case is determined to be "genocidal", the responsibility for dealing with it lies with all UN member states.

"The highest political and moral obligation rests with the [UN] Security Council," he added.

He said setting up an international criminal court as was done for Rwanda or Bosnia would not be enough; the Rohingya minority needs "a protected region where they can live safely and as normal, decent human beings".

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar has called on Myanmar's top military officials, including army commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to be tried at the International Criminal Court for genocide committed against Rohingya Muslims.

"My expectation, in an ideal world…[is that] the UN Security Council will authorize some form of intervention so that the atrocities can be stopped and the Rohingya can be given their land back and allowed to live in dignity and in safety," Zarni said.

- Sanctions

Zarni said there are now more Rohingya living outside Myanmar than those who are left in the country following decades of violence but especially after a full-scale attack was launched against them in August last year.

Underlining that the international community should impose sanctions on Myanmar's government and army, Zarni pointed out that the exclusion policy against the Rohingya must end.

Rohingya Muslims "are being purged," and the ultimate goal in introducing sanctions against Myanmar should be "to fundamentally change the Burmese state's policies and change the structures [which] have been mobilized by the Burmese military and public opinion makers to repress and persecute and essentially annihilate this population," Zarni added.

The ultimate goal of multiple sanctions should be providing Rohingya "international protection" and creating "an autonomous region where the Burmese military would not be allowed to continue the atrocities," he said.

- Solution

Zarni said Myanmar has four major pillars: the military, the Buddhist order, political parties, and the public.

"All four of these major institutions…have categorically rejected the Rohingya. We are telling them they don't belong to Burma, we don't want them in Burma."

Zarni said the solution to the problem does not lie in the country but has to be formulated internationally and within the UN institutions.

- Call for Turkey's assistance

Zarni added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government "have been extremely vocal and supportive of the Rohingya people".

"This is the time for Turkey to show serious moral and political leadership," he said.

Pointing out that the UN Security Council is in a "coma" and "paralyzed" as it cannot resolve the problems, Zarni emphasized that Turkey can really help in Myanmar's case by "leading to form a coalition of Muslim and non-Muslim governments that accept that this is genocide and [say] we must not be bystanders to genocide".

He said there are more than 500,000 Rohingya trapped in Myanmar and they can be driven out any time, adding it is the time to act and to form a coalition.

"My appeal is not to the Burmese people. My appeal is to the Islamic world as well as non-Islamic communities to help the Rohingya.

"Because this is not just about Muslim people. They are human beings. But we, Burmese, in my country treat them like [they are] less than animals."

On Aug. 25, 2017, Myanmar launched a major military crackdown on the Muslim ethnic minority, killing almost 24,000 civilians and forcing 750,000 others, including women and children, to flee to Bangladesh, according to the Ontario International Development Agency.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

ARNA press release: GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

Our Ref: ARNA/2018/055                

Date: 28 Aug 2018

GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

Marking the day (25 Aug) as one year anniversary of Genocide Remembrance Day for the genocidal attacks took place across Mayu regions and also for ongoing genocidal attacks taking place across other townships from 8 June 2012.

Types of vigilante attacks, indiscriminate killings, brutal rapes, persistent persecution, systematic oppression, tyrant abuses, arbitrary arrests, corporal and collective punishments, violence and rapes, massive destruction of historical buildings and houses,  destroying identities,  practicing discriminatory laws and orders, rigid confinement and restriction, segregation and creation of muslim free-zones, permanent barrier in every social, cultural, welfare, health-care, education, livelihood sectors and cutting off of electricity and waters, are very clear evidences of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

A research consortium consisting of academics, practitioners and organisations launched a report entitled “Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience”. The key findings of the research is based on recent arrival of 650,000 refugees, are as follows:                                                                                        -An estimated 116,000 Rohingya were beaten when family members are included.
-An estimated 43,000 Rohingya received gunshot wounds when family members are included.
-An estimated 36,000 Rohingya were thrown into fire.
-An estimated 25,000 Rohingya were murdered.
-An estimated 19,000 Rohingya women and adolescents were raped.
-The 82% of participants reported witnessing their neighbours’ death or saw dead bodies.                                      -The 59% of participants reported witnessing neighbours been raped by authorities.
-The 85% of participants reported witnessing the burning of their own or neighbours’ homes.

Yet, the Suu Kyi government’s defiance authoritarian judiciary, brutalities, blockages and restrictions against Rohingya remain very largely active due to lack of effective action from international communities and United Nations. The Suu Kyi government continues denial of their heinous crimes by setting another Inquiry Commission very similar to the past commissions that are not international standard and not capable of leading to the criminal prosecution of all of those responsible and address the root causes to end the cycle of violence and attacks.

The remaining Rohingyas and Kamans in Arakan (Rakhine) state are still systematically trapped and facing frequent attacks, deadly starvation and Rohingya lands are clearing and replacing with mega projects and military base camps from June 2012.   Extended threats of nationalists, extremists monks, gangs and thugs and creation of muslim free-zones  across Arakan (Rakhine) state and central Burma are still exist.

The Rohingya survivors numbering about a million including existing numbers of the past arrivals in Bangladesh remain hopeless, unwanted, enduring with natural disaster and under the treats of repatriation as repatriation deal signed between governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Again, the UNDP and UNHCR have achieved signing of MoU with Myanmar government. However, such deal and MoU have no guarantee for improvement of human rights situation on the ground and protected return of Rohingya refugees with dignity and rights.

For decades, the majority of the entire people and the government authorities are jointly denying our existence, horribly terrorizing and actively attacking of our people from all corners. For Rohingya, we are counting the deaths, destruction, attacks, rapes, arson and massive displacement day by day. It is therefore a matter for Rohingya people- are technically in need of creation of a Safe zone (or) Statehood (or) Protectorate (or) Autonomy state.  

On the remark of ‘’Genocide Remembrance Day’’, we ARNA would like to thank and strongly support the United Nations Fact-finding Mission call for prosecution of Myanmar generals. We also would like to call the international communities, United Nations and world leaders to show genuine solidarity and support the neglected victims of Rohingya, Kachin, Shan and Karen by:

1) Taking effective and immediate actions onto the terror government of Myanmar and referral of those perpetrator authorities to ICC.

2) Achieving the Protected Return of Rohingya refugees into Protected Lands to guarantee the lost rights and dignity of Rohingya people.

3) Achieving the release of all muslim political prisoners from central Burma and thousands of Rohingya prisoners involving children mostly detained in Sittwe Central Jail, Buthidaung Jail and many others detained in police lock-up and military camps.

4) Supporting Rohingya themselves to eventually establish a Safe zone (or) a Statehood (or) Protectorate state (or) Autonomy state thru Security Council’s R2P Resolution.

5) Cutting business ties, suspend military aid and ban entry visa of Ms. Suu Kyi, military generals and their family members visiting, studying and investment.

Thankfully,

….…………………………….

M.ILYAS (chairman), UK

M. h/p: +(44) 7780 359718,  

contact in other countries

Habib, h/p: +(61) 406 310077, Australia

HF. Hashim Mahmood, h/p: +(88) 1729 872581, Bangladesh

Ayub Khan, h/p: +(60) 11 33315246, Malaysia