WorldMozaic - UN Secretary General Urges Myanmar to Stop Military Action.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres confirmed that Rohingya Muslims are facing ethnic cleansing in Myanmar when calling for a cessation of military operations at Rakhine State.
Speaking before the Security Council meeting on Wednesday (13/09/2017) on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Guterres described reports of security forces attacking civilians in Rakhine as "disruptive" and "totally unacceptable".
"I call on the Myanmar authorities to stop military action, end violence, uphold the rule of law and recognize the right to return for those forced civilian leaving the country," Guterres said at a press conference.
Asked if he agreed that the Rohingyans were being ethnically cleansed, he replied: "When a third of the Rohingyas must flee the country, can you find a better word to describe it?"
Myanmar's military action following the Rohingya militant attack late last month has forced some 380,000 people to flee across the border into neighboring Bangladesh.
Guterres called on the authority "to guarantee the delivery of essential humanitarian aid" at Rakhine State, with thousands of Rohingyas still crossing the border every day.
A total of 1.1 million Rohingyas suffered many years of discrimination in Myanmar, where their citizenship was denied even though they have generations of residence in the country.
Guterres said the Myanmar government should give Rohingya citizenship or legal status that allows them to live a normal life.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres confirmed that Rohingya Muslims are facing ethnic cleansing in Myanmar when calling for a cessation of military operations at Rakhine State.
Speaking before the Security Council meeting on Wednesday (13/09/2017) on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Guterres described reports of security forces attacking civilians in Rakhine as "disruptive" and "totally unacceptable".
"I call on the Myanmar authorities to stop military action, end violence, uphold the rule of law and recognize the right to return for those forced civilian leaving the country," Guterres said at a press conference.
Asked if he agreed that the Rohingyans were being ethnically cleansed, he replied: "When a third of the Rohingyas must flee the country, can you find a better word to describe it?"
Myanmar's military action following the Rohingya militant attack late last month has forced some 380,000 people to flee across the border into neighboring Bangladesh.
Guterres called on the authority "to guarantee the delivery of essential humanitarian aid" at Rakhine State, with thousands of Rohingyas still crossing the border every day.
A total of 1.1 million Rohingyas suffered many years of discrimination in Myanmar, where their citizenship was denied even though they have generations of residence in the country.
Guterres said the Myanmar government should give Rohingya citizenship or legal status that allows them to live a normal life.