EU threatens to slap sanctions
Skip to main content
E-paper বাংলা
T
TODAY’S NEWS
Trading a lake for houses How was last week’s stock market? Bangladesh, India share visions of connecting South, Southeast Asia Liverpool v Real Madrid Champions League final starting line-ups Deadline next month, work of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway yet to begin Imran Khan says PTI will move courts over recent violence against party workers Bangladeshis among 51 migrants detained in Malaysia Air travel, tourism, hospitality sectors expected to bounce back this year File complaints if harassed at airport, Shahriar Alam to Bangladeshi expats in Portugal Bangladesh mission in Malaysia takes special initiative to issue passports BCB to hold sports psychology sessions for Tigers At least 31 dead during stampede at Nigerian church Ireland confirms its first monkeypox case JCD protests nationwide Snake bite kills man in illegal snake farm
The Daily Star
Journalism Without Fear or Favour
Sunday, May 29, 2022
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
TODAY’S NEWS
Trading a lake for houses How was last week’s stock market? Bangladesh, India share visions of connecting South, Southeast Asia Liverpool v Real Madrid Champions League final starting line-ups Deadline next month, work of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway yet to begin Imran Khan says PTI will move courts over recent violence against party workers Bangladeshis among 51 migrants detained in Malaysia Air travel, tourism, hospitality sectors expected to bounce back this year File complaints if harassed at airport, Shahriar Alam to Bangladeshi expats in Portugal Bangladesh mission in Malaysia takes special initiative to issue passports BCB to hold sports psychology sessions for Tigers At least 31 dead during stampede at Nigerian church Ireland confirms its first monkeypox case JCD protests nationwide Snake bite kills man in illegal snake farm
The Daily Star
Sunday, May 29, 2022 | Journalism Without Fear or Favour
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Asia
    • World
  • Views
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Health
    • Diseases
    • Healthcare
    • Food
  • Coronavirus
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • More Sports
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Organisation News
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Film
    • Music
    • Theatre & Arts
  • Culture
    • Art & Design
    • Books
  • Life & Living
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
  • Youth
    • Education
    • Careers
    • Young Icons
  • Tech & Startup
    • Science, Gadgets, and Tech
    • Startups
    • Automobiles
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Law & Our Rights
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Supplements
  • Environment
    • Climate crisis
    • Natural resources
    • Pollution
  • NRB
বাংলা T
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Asia
    • World
  • Views
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Health
    • Diseases
    • Healthcare
    • Food
  • Coronavirus
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • More Sports
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Organisation News
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Film
    • Music
    • Theatre & Arts
  • Culture
    • Art & Design
    • Books
  • Life & Living
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
  • Youth
    • Education
    • Careers
    • Young Icons
  • Tech & Startup
    • Science, Gadgets, and Tech
    • Startups
    • Automobiles
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Law & Our Rights
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Supplements
  • Environment
    • Climate crisis
    • Natural resources
    • Pollution
  • NRB

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • SMS Subscription
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
Southeast Asia

EU threatens to slap sanctions

Asks Myanmar to address widespread human rights violations against Rohingyas
Staff Correspondent
Sat Nov 3, 2018 12:00 AM Last update on: Sat Nov 3, 2018 05:43 AM
Rohingya Crisis
File photo.

The European Union has threatened to impose trade sanctions on Myanmar if it does not address the widespread human rights violations against the Rohingyas in Rakhine and other minorities in Kachin and Shan states.

"The EU stands ready to provide necessary support to Myanmar to address the concerns of the international community. Nevertheless, withdrawal of trade preferences is a clear possibility if other channels of cooperation have failed to reach results," it said.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

The warning comes following a visit by a monitoring mission of experts from the EU and the European External Action Service to Myanmar from October 28-31.

In a statement on Thursday, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said, "Trade, done right, is a powerful force for good. Since several years, we have worked to ensure that trade preferences and access to the EU market are an incentive to promote fundamental human and labour rights.

"We now expect Myanmar to address the severe shortcomings that have been highlighted during this monitoring mission. If they do not act, Myanmar authorities are putting their country's tariff-free access to the EU market in danger."

The Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme has proved to be vital for the economic and social development of the country. The preferential exports from Myanmar to the EU have risen sharply from €535 million in 2015 to €1.3 billion in 2017.

The EU expressed serious concerns about the disproportionate use of Myanmar military and security forces against Rohingyas.

Over 720,000 Rohingyas fled violence in Rakhine since August last year. Last week, UN investigators said genocide against the Rohingyas was "ongoing" and that as many as 400,000 Rohingyas still remaining in Myanmar live under severe restrictions and repression.

Earlier, the US had imposed targeted sanctions against Myanmar military commanders and army units, while Australia slapped sanctions on five generals responsible for human rights violations.

HALT REPATRIATION, URGES HRW, ASEAN MPS

Human Rights Watch has demanded immediate suspension of the proposed repatriation of Rohingya starting from mid-November, arguing it would put the refugees in dire conditions in Myanmar.

"Myanmar's government keeps talking about returns, but it has done nothing to allay the Rohingya's fears of being returned to the same violence and oppression they fled," said HRW Refugee Rights Director Bill Frelick in a statement yesterday.

"If Bangladesh moves forward on repatriations without the UN, it will squander the international goodwill it has accrued over the past year as a host to Rohingya refugees," he said. 

Bangladesh and Myanmar officials, after a meeting in Dhaka on October 31, announced a "very concrete plan" to begin repatriations in mid-November.

The 2,000 Rohingya identified to take part in the initial returns were selected from a list of 8,032 refugees that Bangladesh presented to Myanmar in February.

In June, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and UN Development Programme signed a memorandum of understanding with Myanmar to facilitate the returns. They have since begun limited assessments in Rakhine, HRW said. 

Yet Bangladesh and Myanmar officials did not consult with UNHCR or Rohingya refugees if they volunteer to return.

"This repatriation plan is just Myanmar's latest attempt to deflect international criticism from its brutal ethnic cleansing campaign for which no one has been brought to justice," Frelick said, urging donors not to fund this "dangerous plan".

The UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, told Voice of America: "Because we consider that conditions in Rakhine state are not yet conducive to voluntary return in the conditions of safety, dignity and sustainability, UNHCR will not, at this stage, facilitate any refugee returns to Rakhine state."

The refugee agency reported this week that it was not involved in preparation, transmission or receipt of the list (of Rohingya returnees) nor in its verification and clearing.

Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Parliamentarians for Human Rights also urged Bangladesh and Myanmar to halt the repatriation at this stage.

"This is a poorly-thought plan," said Malaysian MP Charles Santiago, head of the body, reports Reuters, adding that Myanmar is not safe enough for the Rohingyas yet.

Related topic
European Union / rohingya torture / crackdown on Rohingya Muslim minority
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

Back Page

Irregular Migrants: Bangladesh, EU finalise terms for return

European Union
Back Page

Return of Irregular Migrants: EU presses for speeding up negotiations

Southeast Asia

Stop genocide, don't just react

PLEASURE IS ALL MINE

Wind of change in Europe

USA

US imposes steel tariffs on key allies

The Daily Star  | বাংলা
৪ ঘণ্টা আগে|ফুটবল

চ্যাম্পিয়ন্স লিগ চ্যাম্পিয়ন রিয়াল মাদ্রিদ

অবিশ্বাস্য কিছু সেভ করে লস ব্লাঙ্কোসদের জয়ের মূল নায়ক গোলরক্ষক থিবো কোর্তুয়া।

৬ ঘণ্টা আগে|দক্ষিণ এশিয়া

সংকট মোকাবিলায় রাশিয়া থেকে তেল নিচ্ছে শ্রীলঙ্কা

The Daily Star
Follow Us
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • SMS Subscription
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2022 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.