‘World must take real action to save Rohingya lives: Analyst

Myanmar has long faced international criticism for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims. A United Nations spokesman has said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “was horrified” by a report concerning the sexual abuse of members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority by government forces. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has issued a stinging criticism of the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Yet, nothing has been done to stop the long-running aggression against Rohingya Muslim.

Massoud Shadjareh, head of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, and Myra Dahgaypaw, coordinator of US Campaign for Burma, discuss this issue on Press TV’s Debate program.

Shadjareh slammed the international community for failing to take any concrete action to address the plight of Rohingya Muslims despite being well aware of the “extremely high-level” ethnic cleansing in the Southeast Asian state.

He said the news coming out of Myanmar on the dire situation of the persecuted Muslim minority is “just the tip of the iceberg,” emphasizing, “Even that tip is so distressing.

The analyst highlighted reports of “systematic rape, systematic abuses, murder of even children, women, destruction of the villages, ethnic cleansing in open daylight and in front of the eyes of the whole international community,” saying, “We are getting nothing in real, positive response.”

He said Myanmar’s crimes should be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), stressing those behind the crimes should stand trial for genocide charges.

Shadjareh ironically said what is amazing is that the ongoing atrocities against Rohingya Muslims have escalated since Myanmar’s “democratization.”

He also stated that it is a “disgrace” for the international community to be “silent onlookers” in the face of the carnage of Rohingya Muslims, adding that the world is supporting the systematic killing of the innocent people with its “deafening silence.”

Shadjareh further said Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi is an “Islamophobe”, asserting that she has become part of the problem, rather than the solution.  

He also criticized the United States for not only being silent but also giving the green light for these atrocities to happen in Myanmar by removing sanctions against the country.

However, he said, the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, who is an Islamophobe and xenophobe himself, has killed all hopes.

Meanwhile, the other panelist on the program, Myra Dahgaypaw described the situation in Myanmar as “horrible,” arguing that the issue should be looked into “seriously, properly and systematically.”

She also stated that this is a “life-and- death situation,” suggesting that the United Nations should hold an emergency session to find out how to save the lives of Rohingya Muslims.

She further said the United States could have done a lot more to stop the atrocities against the Rohingya community given Myanmar’s desire to have relations with Washington.

Dahgaypaw further maintained that there needs to be strong pressure on Myanmar’s government as well as the military junta in order to move forward with genuine political reforms.

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