No veto against UNSC resolution on Myanmar indicates goodwill: Experts

Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
No veto from Russia and China against the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Myanmar clearly indicates the goodwill of resolving Rohingya crisis, which has been lying unresolved for over five years, experts said.
They said that following the adoption of the UNSC resolution on Myanmar, the government of Bangladesh, Media and Civil Society should now play its due role to pave the path for the repatriation of Rohingya to their homeland in Rakhine State.
“It is a major breakthrough that such a resolution has been adopted by the UNSC for the first time in the last five years. Most important thing is that Russia and China have not vetoed the resolution for the first time as well,” Professor of International Relations and Director of Centre for Genocide Studies at the University of Dhaka Dr Imtiaz Ahmed told the New Nation on Friday.
The resolution was adopted with 12 of the 15 members of the UNSC in favor, while India, China, and Russia abstained, but no members of the Council voted against or used veto power to block its adoption. The United Kingdom tabled the resolution.
About China’s role abstaining from veto, Professor Imtiaz said, “China’s abstention from veto gives a signal of their goodwill to resolve the Rohingya crisis when they are working as a mediator between Myanmar and Bangladesh to end the crisis.”
During the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Dhaka in August, he firmly committed that they would certainly assist Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis through the repatriation.
Even in November 2017, China had used its influence on Myanmar to negotiate an agreement to repatriate about 7,00,000 Rohingyas fled after being persecuted by
Myanmar military in August that year.
Since then Bangladesh has been hosting more than 1.2 million Rohingyas out of humanitarian consideration in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Against such a backdrop, the adoption of UNSC resolution will further renew the attention of the global community towards the Rohingya crisis.
Regarding the implication of the resolution, Professor Imtiaz said, “It will now create huge pressure on Myanmar from various aspects. Myanmar will now realise that they are going to face troubles in the days to come.”
He, however, said that the government, the civil society and the media should now intensify pressure on Myanmar through different means.
“Rohingya crisis is a national issue. Different stakeholders including government, media and civil society should play due role so that Myanmar can get the message from here that they have to take back their people,” he added.
Apart from this the UNSC resolution will assist International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) where a case and an investigation have been going on alleging Myanmar committing genocide against the ethnic Rohingya population in Rakhine State, with a focus on military operations launched in October 2016 and August 2017.
“The UNSC resolution will also assist ICJ and ICC in carrying out cases and investigation. The resolution will help all to move to the right direction,” he added.
He said reminded that US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in March this year announced that the military of Myanmar committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the country’s minority Rohingya population in 2016 and 2017.
“Now it is time for America to come forward about Myanmar issue following their commitment to human rights,” Professor Imtiaz said.
Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York on Thursday said that the adoption of the resolution will serve as a first step to the regular discussion of the Security Council on Myanmar.
It will also strengthen Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts towards sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.