The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Myanmar, in particular the situation of Rohingyas
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups.
Members strongly urged the military and security forces to immediately cease the killings, harassment and rape of the Rohingya people, and the burning of their homes, and called on the Government of Myanmar to immediately remove all landmines on the border with Bangladesh. They recalled that according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 300 000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing violence in Rakhine State have sought refuge in Bangladesh over the past two weeks, and landmines laid by Myanmar are designed to prevent their return to Myanmar.
Noting that UN agencies are unable to deliver humanitarian aid, including food, water and medicine to the Rohingya, and are prohibited from entering areas affected by the conflict, parliament urged that humanitarian aid organisations be granted access to all conflict areas and displaced people, without discrimination.
The Government of Myanmar, and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in particular, must condemn unequivocally all incitement to racial or religious hatred and combat social discrimination and hostilities against the Rohingya minority. Parliament reminded 1990 Sakharov Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi that the prize is awarded to those who defend human rights, safeguard the rights of minorities and respect international law. It drew attention to the need to consider whether the Sakharov Prize could be revoked in cases where laureates violate those criteria after the prize has been awarded.
Parliament called on the VP/HR and the EU Member States to significantly increase their pressure on the Myanmar Government and security forces to halt the rights abuses, and take an active role in supporting immediate action at UN level, making clear that the EU stands ready to consider targeted punitive sanctions against individuals and entities, and to consider consequences in the context of the trade preferences Myanmar enjoys. The VP/HR is requested to report back to Parliament on EU initiatives.
Furthermore, Parliament called for:
- ASEAN and regional governments to take immediate action to increase pressure on the Myanmar Government to halt rights abuses;
- a resolution of the UN General Assembly and Security Council condemning the rights abuses, insisting on access to Rakhine State and demanding accountability for the serious violations of international law by all parties;
- China and other international actors to use all channels to demand an end to the atrocities;
- the EU and its Member States to welcome reports from Rohingya representatives on the situation on the ground;
- the establishment of an office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Myanmar with a full mandate.
Lastly, Parliament acknowledged the effort by Bangladesh, in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, to facilitate protection for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.