Start safe repatriation of Rohingyas immediately

The UN Human Rights Council yesterday adopted a resolution, calling for Myanmar to immediately commence voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation and reintegration of all Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Expressing grave concern at the reports of serious human rights violations and abuses in Myanmar, particularly against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, the council reiterated the importance of conducting international, independent, fair and transparent investigations into gross human rights violations and abuses in Myanmar, according to a statement of the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva.

The resolution was presented on behalf of all countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Western countries had opposed the resolution with the provision for calling for immediate repatriation, saying that the conducive environment was not yet there and that restoration of democracy in Myanmar was the first priority. Those countries, however, did not oppose the resolution later.

The resolution adopted at the 50th session of the council also urged Myanmar to cooperate fully with and grant full, unrestricted and unmonitored access to all UN mandate holders and human rights mechanisms.

About 750,000 Rohingyas fled a military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State in 2017 and not a single Rohingya returned home despite repeated efforts that also involved China. The US, meanwhile, determined the atrocities as genocide against the Rohingya.

The International Court of Justice, following the genocide case filed by The Gambia, ordered Myanmar to prevent any genocidal acts in Rakhine State.

The Human Rights Council in Geneva requested the UN high commissioner for human rights to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Independent International Fact-finding Mission, including those on accountability.

It also requested the high commissioner to present a verbal update to the Human Rights Council at its 55th session and a written report at its 56th session -- each to be followed by an interactive dialogue -- and a written report to the UN General Assembly at its 78th session.

The council also decided to hold at its 53rd session a panel discussion on measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.