OIC to discuss restoring Rohingya’s status in Myanmar, says
Syed Hamid
PETALING JAYA: The emergency meeting of the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers this Thursday in Kuala Lumpur will
discuss restoring the status of the Rohingya in Myanmar.
OIC Special Envoy for Myanmar Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said
the main objective was to create protection for the ethnic minority, whose
rights as citizens have been denied.
“Malaysia proposed the meeting because of the urgency of the
matter, and not because we want to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
Neither do we want to confront the Myanmar government.
“This is not a communal issue as claimed by the government
but rather a religious issue because they are targeting Muslims in their
conflict with the Rohingya,” he told Bernama here today.
The ongoing troubles in the Rakhine state had caused
thousands of Rohingya to flee Myanmmar with reports of atrocities, including
rape and murder. Whole villages are said to have been burnt to the ground, in
some cases with the residents still in their houses.
The actions of the Myanmar security forces against the
Rohingya were a gross violation of human rights, Syed Hamid said, adding that
the conflict could threaten the peace, security and economy of the region and
encourage radicalism.
“We support the Myanmar government’s effort to transform the
country to become a much better nation under the new leadership. But the
transformation must be inclusive of all sectors of its society.
“They must acknowledge the existence of the Rohingya, whose
citizenship was stripped for no reason. They are the natives of the country
and, without that recognition, the problem will continue to overflow to
neighbouring states,” he said.
The former foreign minister also expressed concern over the
Myanmar government’s refusal to allow the Food Flotilla Mission to enter the
country to distribute humanitarian aid to the Rohingya.