UN Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide Dieng urges
urgent action to stop Myanmar's crimes against Rohingya
By Fatih Erel
GENEVA
The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of
Genocide, Adama Dieng, has strongly criticized the international community for
ignoring atrocities committed by Myanmar authorities, accusing them of burying
their “head in the sand”.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dieng recalled his visit
between March 7 and March 13 to Bangladesh to assess the situation of Rohingya
refugees from Myanmar.
"Despite the numerous warnings I have made of the
risk of atrocity crimes, the international community has buried its head in the
sand.
“This has cost the Rohingya population of Myanmar their
lives, their dignity and their homes," he said.
Noting that Rohingya Muslims have been killed, tortured,
raped, burnt alive and humiliated, Dieng said: "Let us be clear: international
crimes were committed in Myanmar.
"All the information I have received indicates that
the intent of the perpetrators was to cleanse northern Rakhine state of their
existence, possibly even to destroy the Rohingya as such, which, if proven,
would constitute the crime of genocide.
"Whether or not we consider that the crimes
committed amount to crimes against humanity or genocide, this should not delay
our resolve to act and to act immediately. We owe this to the Rohingya
population."
Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 750,000 refugees, mostly
children, and women, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after
Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according
to rights groups.
The refugees are fleeing a military operation in which
security forces and Buddhist mobs have killed men, women and children, looted
homes and torched Rohingya villages. At least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in
Rakhine state from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24 last year, according to Doctors Without
Borders.
In a report published on Dec. 12, 2017, the humanitarian
group said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by
violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.
Turkey has been at the forefront of providing aid to
Rohingya refugees, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has raised the issue at
the UN.
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most
persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were
killed in communal violence in 2012.
The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including
of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed
by security personnel. The UN also voiced "strong suspicions" that
Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya might be the victims of "genocide" and
continued “ethnic cleansing".
In a report, UN investigators said such violations may
have constituted crimes against humanity.