News / Interviews

UN must apply sanctions against Myanmar: Activist

Saturday, 21 January 2017 3:38 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 21 January 2017 3:38 PM ]

This handout photo from Myanmar's Ministry of Information released on January 20, 2017 and taken on January 15, 2017 shows UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee (center R), being escorted during a visit to the Rakhine ethnic Sein Pan Myaing village, near the Bangladesh border. (Photo by AFP)

The United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee tasked with evaluating Myanmar's handling of the plight of Rohingya Muslims has criticized the country for its poor performance. She censured the government's harsh crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in the west and aggressive fighting with the Kachin minority in the country's north. Lee also criticized Myanmar’s army actions in Rakhine state, where a crackdown has driven an estimated 65,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh in the past three months.

An activist and political commentator believes the righteous thing for the United Nations to do at this stage is to sanction Myanmar, given the fact that its special investigator has admitted that there are atrocities being committed against the Rohingya Muslims in the country.

“This is a valid, modified case for applying sanctions and applying pressure on the regime in Myanmar to change their ways, to no longer oppress this minority,” Shabbir Hassanally told Press TV in an interview on Saturday.

However, he said, unfortunately the United Nations will not take any concrete action because it is an international organization which serves the powers rather than the people.

The activist further noted the fact that the military commander has refused to see the UN human rights envoy indicates that Myanmar is still being run by the military.

Lee has complained that Myanmar’s military commander, Senior General Minister Aung Hlaing, had declined to see her.

He went on to say the reason why the military junta wants to keep control over Rakhine state is that it is rich in natural resources.

Hassanally further argued the Muslim countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) should stand up to the regime in Myanmar.

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Military Junta Military Junta Myanmar Myanmar Rohingya Muslims Rohingya Muslims Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific Rakhine Rakhine Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi sanctions sanctions special envoy special envoy organization of islamic cooperation organization of islamic cooperation Muslim countries Muslim countries UN UN Yanghee Lee Yanghee Lee