The pressure is on

The latest Security Council consensus statement, the fourth in a row in the course of the last three months, is the most comprehensive, substantive, and explicit one yet, providing a framework of road map for speedy repatriation process of Rohingya to their home in Myanmar. The statement is clear with no scope for ambiguity or equivocation; and calls upon the stake-holders of the crisis to get down to business in earnest cooperation with the UN and other relevant international organisations immediately. The Security Council strongly condemned the violence that has caused more than 600,000 Rohingyas to flee Myanmar to Bangladesh. The statement called on Myanmar to ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state and expressed grave concern of human rights violation. It stressed the importance of making those responsible for human rights violations accountable for their actions. Britain initially circulated a security resolution with similar language backed by France and the US. The resolution was legally binding, but China strongly opposed it. So Britain and France turned the resolution into a presidential statement which, nonetheless, remains the strongest council statement ever made on the issue. The British and French delegations in the council received well-deserved thanks from the permanent representative of Bangladesh for their persistent and active interest for adopting the most comprehensive statement on the matter. The most important operative paragraph in the statement is where it urged upon the government of Myanmar to work with the government of Bangladesh and the UN to allow the voluntary return of all refugees in assurance of safety and dignity to their homes in Myanmar. The Security Council statement also urged upon Myanmar and Bangladesh to invite the UN high commissioner for refugees and other relevant international organisations to participate fully in the joint working group for implementation of repatriation process.

The Myanmar delegation in the council debated persistently and blatantly refused to face the reality of the Rohingya crisis

This last proposal rankled Suu Kyi, who reacted instantly and said that UN involvement would seriously harm the current bilateral negotiations. Her argument is ridiculous as she wants the joint working group to remain confined to bilateral negotiation between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The reason behind Suu Kyi’s displeasure and negative reaction to the council proposal could be “pressure” from the military. Myanmar wants to pursue a policy of foot dragging, soft peddling. and subterfuge through bilateral protracted talks. With her obnoxious reaction, she has only betrayed her hypocrisy and intention to thwart and frustrate the repatriation process with one pretext or another. She should understand that the plight of the Rohingya has now become internationally known, and its solution involves the participation of the international community. There is no getting away from it. Now, during the forthcoming visit of the four foreign ministers to Myanmar (to take place from November 20-21), we should insist on inviting participation of the UN and other relevant organisations in the joint working group in accordance with the directive in the Security Council statement, and not fall into the trap of bilateral negotiations as laid down by Myanmar. Our civil society has continued to express concern about the potential danger of bilateral negotiations without UN and international participation to resolve the problem. The Myanmar delegation in the council debated persistently and blatantly refused to face the reality of the Rohingya crisis, and shifted the blame on to the so-called terrorist attacks by Rohingya insurgency. Bangladesh representative Masud bin Momen regretted the continual denial by Myanmar, and nailed Myanmar’s lies. He said that time was of the essence to solve the massive humanitarian catastrophe caused by the exodus of persecuted and displaced Rohingya into Bangladesh. The pressure on Myanmar is mounting. The third committee of the UN General Assembly is going to pass a resolution on the Rohingya crisis soon, seeking early repatriation of Rohingya to their homes in Myanmar. The council statement also wanted the secretary general to appoint a special representative to supervise the repatriation process. The statement was serious when it urged upon the secretary general to report progress on the matter to the Security Council after 30 days. Unless Myanmar wishes to be consigned once again as an international pariah, the country should heed the counsels of good sense, honour, and dignity of international public opinion.Abdul Hannan is a columnist and former diplomat.