- Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, and Fortify Rights said Myanmar鈥檚 government is incapable of bringing those responsible for such crimes to justice.
- Thousands are believed to have died and the UN and US officials have called the government鈥檚 military campaign ethnic cleansing.
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council urged Myanmar鈥檚 government on Wednesday to fulfill its commitment to hold perpetrators of violence against Rohingya Muslims accountable and to address the root causes that led about 700,000 members of the ethnic minority to flee to Bangladesh.
The council press statement made no mention of the appeal by four human rights groups on Tuesday for the Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, including targeting the Rohingya.
The four rights groups 鈥� Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, and Fortify Rights 鈥� said Myanmar鈥檚 government is incapable of bringing those responsible for such crimes to justice.
The council statement on Wednesday reaffirmed its most significant pronouncement on the Rohingya, a presidential statement it adopted in November.
That statement stressed 鈥渢he importance of undertaking transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and violations ... and of holding to account all those responsible for such acts to provide justice for victims.鈥�
The latest crisis began with attacks by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar security personnel last August.
Myanmar鈥檚 military responded with counterinsurgency sweeps and was accused of widespread human rights violations, including rape, murder, torture and the burning of Rohingya homes. Thousands are believed to have died and the UN and US officials have called the government鈥檚 military campaign ethnic cleansing.
The Rohingya face official and social discrimination in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, which denies most of them citizenship and basic rights because they are looked on as immigrants from Bangladesh, even though the families of many settled in Myanmar generations ago.
The Security Council statement said that during its trip members observed 鈥渨idespread destruction of villages鈥� in northern Rakhine State, and 鈥渨ere struck by the scale of the humanitarian crisis and remain gravely concerned by the current situation.鈥� It urged all countries to increase support to Bangladesh to care for the refugees.
The council said members noted Myanmar鈥檚 efforts to prepare for the repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh and urged the government to create conditions conducive for their 鈥渟afe, voluntary and dignified return鈥� to their homes in Rakhine.
It welcomed Myanmar鈥檚 commitment to work with the UN and urged the government to grant UN agencies and their partners, who have been barred from Rakhine, 鈥渋mmediate, safe and unhindered access.鈥�
The Security Council has scheduled an open briefing on the trip for May 14 and the statement said members intend to discuss in the coming days how it can work with both countries and the new UN special envoy 鈥渢o resolve the crisis and create the conditions鈥� for the Rohingya to return home.