29 Mar 2024
Saturday 21 January 2017 - 22:28
Story Code : 247878

Myanmar defies OIC call to stop atrocities against Rohingya



Press TV- Myanmar has defied a call by Muslim governments to stop atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, slamming instead Malaysia for hosting a meeting ofthe Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

At an extraordinary OIC meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, the Malaysian premier called on Myanmar to end its crackdown on Rohingya Muslims and stop the "unspeakable cruelty" against them.

Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said it was "regrettable" that Malaysia had called theemergency meeting to discuss the plight of the Rohingya.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak gestures while addressing the extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Rohingya situation in Myanmar, in Kuala Lumpur on January 19, 2017. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]

The ministry accused Malaysia of exploiting the crisis "to promote a certain political agenda" and disregarding alleged efforts of the Myanmar governmentto tackle the crisis.

Myanmars military began its crackdown in Rakhine State after an attack on the countrys border guards on October 9 left nine police officers dead, which the government blamed on the Rohingya.

There are reports that at least 400 people have been killed, more than 2,500 houses, mosques, and religious schools destroyed, and three villages completely wiped out during the military siege.

The Myanmargovernment has also blocked humanitarian and media access to Rakhine which ishome to about 1.1 million Rohingya.

Rohingya Muslims have been subjected to executions, rape, and arson attacks since October, according to refugees and rights groups.

In its meeting, the OICwhich represents 57 countriescalled on the United Nations to intervene in Rakhine State, where it saidthe escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims could lead to genocide.

The organizations special envoy to Myanmar, Syed Hamid Albar, said the world body should act to resolve the conflict, which is no longer an internal issue but an international concern.

We dont want to see another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda, he told Reuters. The international community just observed, and how many people died? We have lessons from the past for us to learn from and see what we can do.

On Friday, a UN human rights investigator slammed Myanmar's campaign and called on the military to respect the law and human rights.

Many of Myanmar's Buddhists name the minority group of Rohingya Muslims as Bengalis, shorthand for illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, even though the community has lived in Myanmar for many generations.

The United Nations has described the Rohingya as one of the most downtrodden communities around the globe.

The prime minister of Muslim-majority Malaysia has been a vocal critic of Myanmar's government since the country's army launched a harsh crackdown on the Muslim community in the state of Rakhinein October 2016.

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