MYANMAR Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (Merhrom) calls upon the Asean member states and Bangladesh government to adopt a new approach to stop the tragedy of the Rohingya refugee boat.
We hope the new Malaysian government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will lead Asean to stop the Rohingya genocide and atrocities in Myanmar so that no more people of Myanmar will suffer and be forced to flee.
It is really heartbreaking to see our Rohingya brothers and sisters and their children die of hunger, drifting on the ocean for months without help. It is more painful and frustrating to know that human traffickers go scot-free after killing Rohingya genocide survivors.
The ongoing boat tragedy is the manifestation of the worst situation both in Myanmar and the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps. We will continue to face this situation unless the situation in Myanmar and refugee camps improves.
The lack of security, education, and recreational activities in the refugee camps negatively affect the Rohingya’s physical and mental health, and they easily fall into the hands of human traffickers in the region.
Merhrom calls upon Asean and South Asian countries to urgently rescue the Rohingya refugee boat. Saving the people’s lives must be the first priority of every state. More people will die if rescue is delayed.
We feel very sad that until now, Asean and Bangladesh have failed to prosecute human traffickers resulting in the increase of Rohingya refugee boats.
We call upon Asean and the Bangladesh government to prosecute all human traffickers and to stop the corruption and trafficking networks. The tragedy of refugee boats must be stopped.
As much as Asean and the international community want the Rohingya to return to Myanmar, the root cause of our problem must be resolved. The Rohingya genocide must end to allow us to return home in a voluntary, safe, and dignified manner.
The Rohingya cannot live indefinitely in IDP and refugee camps, or in exile. This is a gross human rights violation and unacceptable.
So, the intervention of Asean, the United Nations, civil society organisations, and the international community is very much needed to stop the Rohingya genocide and atrocities in Myanmar, subsequently combating human trafficking in the region. – The Vibes, December 19, 2022
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani is president of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia (Merhrom)
