Violence by Myanmar security forces on Rohingyas

First the UN accused Myanmar of ethnic cleansing and now the Human Rights Watchhas accused it of inciting systematic sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls during security operations in northern Rakhine State in 2016. Statements of refugees streaming across the border into Bangladesh have said to the effect that the army and border security guards have often participated in individual and gang rapes of women in around nine villages in Muangdaw district.We have heard that Aung San Suu Kyi has assured of an impartial investigation into the matter but we will take that with a pinch of salt because all said and done, there is skepticism as to how much control she exercises over the military in Myanmar.

Myanmar's President's press detail has also said that the commission led by the Vice President will bring to book those responsible, if such statements are proved to be true. Again, we reserve comment on this because such assurances have been given before and yet the wholesale suppression of the Rohingya people, depriving them of all rights has continued but the refugee problem has not been solved. Again, by international and local estimates, nearly 70,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh and some 23,000 remain internally displaced. 

The intensity of military operations against the Rohingya with looting and burning property, and now the allegations of systematic rape are crimes against humanity which demand a strong response from the UN. It cannot sit on the sidelines issuing statementsthat the carnage stop. Doing so renders the UN ineffectual. The Rohingya issue is a test case for the international community in its commitment to upholding universal human rights.