A resolution expressing grave concern over reported rights violations by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya has been adopted at the 75th UN General Assembly, after nine countries changed their stance to in favour of the resolution.
The nine countries, who had abstained from voting on the resolution in 2019, are: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Palau and the Solomon Islands. The resolution was adopted by a record vote of 130 in favour and nine against, with 25 abstentions, on Thursday, according to media reports.
The countries who voted against the resolution are Belarus, Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Russia, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
The resolution specifies Kachin, Rakhine, southern Chin and Shan States as the areas where the violations primarily took place and mentions that the rights violations led to the displacement of 860,000 Rohingyas and other minorities to Bangladesh.
In an explanation of position after the vote, Myanmar’s representative claimed the country voted against the draft resolution as it amounted to using human rights initiatives for political purposes, and because its provisions intrude into Myanmar’s jurisdiction.
