The Burma Human Rights Network hailed the
European Council's recent decision to adopt additional sanctions against senior
military and border guard officials in Myanmar for human rights abuse.
The Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
welcomed on Wednesday the European Council's recent decision to adopt
additional sanctions against Myanmar's senior military and border guard
officials for alleged human rights violations.
According to Amnesty International, more than
750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly women, and children have fled Myanmar and
crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the
minority Muslim community.
In a written statement, the London-based
human rights agency said: "With atrocities continuing against the Rohingya
and other Burmese minorities, these sanctions are an important step, but more
clearly needs to be done-this includes the EU extending its sanctions to Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing, named by the recent Fact-Finding Mission."
On Monday, the Council announced that it
intends to adopt additional restrictive measures against senior military and
border guard police officers in Myanmar for human rights abuse.
It also expressed the need for an independent
mechanism to further investigate the issue and initiate criminal proceedings in
accordance with jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The human rights group termed the Council's
decision - which also explores sanctions against entities, particularly
companies linked to the military leadership -- as a "potential
game-changer in the punitive approach taken by the international
community."
The BHRN particularly hailed the European
Council's decision "to adopt additional sanctions against senior military
and border guard officials complicit in what the U.N. has now found likely
constituted an act of genocide against the Rohingya people."
The EU leadership has played a key role with
its efforts in the UN's Human Rights Council and in the General Assembly's
Third Committee.
"But now is the time for the EU to step
up these efforts, including through helping ensure the newly mandated
independent mechanism, which will investigate and prepare trial-ready cases, is
able to be fully funded to get to work.
"This week's Fifth Committee
negotiations in the General Assembly are crucial in this regard and the EU,
OIC, and others must stand strong in the face of any attempt to gut the
mechanism of its proposed funding," the statement added.
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 has documented mass gang rapes,
killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings and
disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces.
In a report, UN investigators said such
violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
Source: AA