Speech by the ICRC President at the Shangri-La Dialogue,
Singapore, 2 June 2018
I'm pleased to address you today and to bring a
humanitarian perspective to this discussion with security experts from the
countries most concerned by the crisis in Rakhine. Thank you to the IISS for
allowing the ICRC to provide its observations on this platform – it is crucial
that the humanitarian dimensions of this crisis are part of the security
sector's discussion.
From a humanitarian perspective, the situation in Rakhine
features similar characteristics to what we have seen in other contexts:
*Mass displacements due to multiple expressions of
violence (political – military, inter-community) and violations of
international humanitarian law and international humanitarian rights law;
*An increasingly long-term crisis, in which political
solutions seem elusive and humanitarian organizations are assisting a large
number of beneficiaries over a long time; and
*Short-term, emergency issues compounding more structural
challenges (such as poverty, injustice, exclusion and lack of governance) and
pushing countries and regions towards protracted conflict.
Today, in both Cox's Bazar and in Rakhine, the ICRC and
the broader humanitarian community is very much still in relief and emergency
mode – providing life-saving assistance along well-established principles and
practices.
For instance, in Rakhine today we are doubling the
distribution of food rations, so that we can help communities before the
rainy season begins and many areas become inaccessible. Working with our
partners, the Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red
Cross, we are also running mobile health clinics, and distributing emergency
assistance kits. We are also working to reconnect thousands of people on both
sides of the border separated in the crisis.
We are focusing not only on mitigating the effects of
violence, but our mandate also requires us to protect populations affected by
war and violence through the law. In this perspective, we engage in a series of
activities, which give us unique additional access and insight into the
conflict dynamics. Such activities include:
*Visiting places of detention in Rakhine and elsewhere in
Myanmar;
*Promoting International Humanitarian Law to Non-State
Armed Groups and holding a dialogue on the Conduct of Hostilities with parties
to the conflict; and
*Educating armed forces on health issues – protecting
health care systems and personnel and on weapon wounded and war surgery.
While it may sound obvious that we are delivering such
services, nothing can be taken for granted in today's contexts: even
basic humanitarian programs need trustful relationships with all actors and
authorities. Humanitarian assistance must be delivered in a neutral and
impartial way, taking into considerations the different tensions in the
conflict environment. Failure to do so will further polarize the situation. In
that sense, I am glad that our long-term engagement in Myanmar and Bangladesh,
with our strict neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian approach plus
our method of confidentially raising sensitive issues with the parties, is
facilitating today's crisis response.
While the emergency response continues, there must also
be urgent progress – from humanitarians, development actors, and the
authorities – on building sustainable solutions. In Rakhine, before the current
crisis and continuing, we are contributing to sustainable health, economic and
water activities, which are in line with the recommendations of the Kofi Annan
led Rakhine Advisory Commission. We are keen to see these humanitarian
recommendations politically embraced and implemented on the ground. The
Annan Commission's recommendations are an especially noteworthy example of how
humanitarian and political steps can – and should – go hand-in-hand.
We acknowledge that political solutions are difficult,
yet we also see that the current conditions of people living in the camps are
untenable. We urge therefore that sustainable solutions are found to allow
safe, dignified and voluntary returns as soon possible. Our current
understanding of the situation is that the vast majority of displaced people
are not yet ready to return. Confidence to return will require not only
humanitarian and mitigating activities, but also effective political steps
towards:
*Ensuring freedom of movement;
*Access to basic services;
*Freedom to undertake economic activity and access to
markets in Rakhine; and
*Most importantly trust in security arrangements for
returnees.
We are still far away from reuniting such ramifications
today at a large scale.
And even if returns started today and followed the
process and timeline laid out by Bangladesh and Myanmar, it would most likely
take several years to complete.
In the meantime, those living in camps in
Bangladesh must be able to live in dignity and with basic services met.
Families cannot live in dignity over years under
makeshift tents tarpaulin exposed to the monsoon.
Children cannot miss years of education.
The sick, elderly cannot go without health care.
No one can live with constant uncertainty, and without
hope of a better life.
We must focus both on pragmatic, immediate measures,
especially in the face of the upcoming monsoons. And to press for sustainable
solutions that mean a better life for people waiting in Bangladesh and for the
return to their homes.
Speaking today in the heart of Asia, I cannot
but emphasize the important role that this region must play in creating conducive
atmosphere for a political solution for the Rakhine crisis which must address
the underlying and long standing causes. There are displaced people
and migrants from Myanmar spread through Asia, with many of your countries
hosting people from Myanmar over decades.
This audience and those on this panel in particular know
well the geopolitical elements that could further complicate this crisis. With
its religious, security, economic and political divides, with the alliances of
interest which have been building around the Rakhine crisis, this has become
one of the most internationalized and protracted conflict situations.
Engagement of the region is critical to manage further globalization of the
crisis.
We all know that despair and hopelessness felt by people
affected by violence, if left to fester, can have terrible long-term impact on
individuals, communities and states. And we know that respect for International
Humanitarian Law and the rule of law can contribute to better protection, and
to mitigate against further despair and radicalization of populations affected
by the crisis.
Let me conclude by suggesting three parameters to
consider in order to improve both the humanitarian and security situation:
1. Uphold the dignity of those displaced to Bangladesh,
and provide them the best chance of returning home with safety and dignity when
conditions are right and in respect of the principle of non-refoulement;
2. Support the Government of Myanmar in full and speedy
implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations. Spread
across the five thematic areas of conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance,
reconciliation, institution building and development, these recommendations
contain the necessary ingredients to address the security and humanitarian
crisis in Rakhine.
3. Ensure that security operations are conducted with
full respect of principles of IHL – do not target civilians, do not inflict
unnecessary suffering, and adhere to the principle of military necessity and
proportionality.
Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer, President of
the International Committee of the Red Cross, panel discussion on Security and
Humanitarian Crisis in Rakhine State, 2 June 2018, Shangri-La Dialogue,
Singapore.