Staff Reporter :
Tom Andrew, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, has underscored concrete international measures to limit the flow of weapons to Myanmar’s military as a crucial step towards enabling the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
Speaking at an international conference in Cox’s Bazar titled
“Stakeholders’ Dialogue: Takeaways to the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Situation”, Andrew cited Singapore’s investigation into military material transfers, which helped reduce weapons imports to Myanmar’s armed forces by nearly one-third globally. He said this demonstrated that coordinated action by member states can deliver tangible results.
“While a UN Security Council arms embargo may not be immediately achievable, individual member states can act decisively when presented with verified information,” he said, stressing the importance of political will and engagement.
Andrew detailed how his report exposed hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of military materials being channelled through Singapore to Myanmar’s army. Following the investigation, Singapore significantly curtailed such exports, resulting in a 90 percent reduction. Collective actions by other nations have subsequently cut the flow of weapons by around one-third.
The rapporteur also expressed appreciation for the resilience and advocacy of the Rohingya community, commending community leaders for their tireless work to uphold human rights, dignity, and quality of life. He praised Bangladesh for providing shelter to Rohingya refugees during the 2017 crisis, noting that the country’s swift humanitarian response likely saved thousands of lives.
Andrew described the ongoing plight of the Rohingya as “an invisible crisis within an invisible crisis” and called for targeted visibility to engage international actors capable of influencing change. He stressed that conditions for safe and sustainable repatriation must include access to healthcare, nutrition, education, and vocational opportunities.
