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PM-SPEECH-UNGA
PM places four proposals before UNGA, dubs Rohingya crisis a regional
threat
NEW YORK, Sept 28, 2019 (BSS) -With a pleading that Myanmar must manifest
a clear political will for sustainable return and reintegration of Rohingyas
to their homeland, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has placed a four-point
proposal before the august 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to
resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis.
“The Rohingya crisis is now becoming a regional threat”, said Sheikh
Hasina, seeking expeditious interventions from the international community
for a permanent solution to the crisis.
“Myanmar must manifest clear political will supported by concrete actions
for sustainable return and reintegration of Rohingyas to Myanmar,” she said
in her first proposal while delivering the country statement in the General
Debate of the 74th UNGA Session.
Sheikh Hasina delivered the statement in Bangla like every year in the
past at the General Assembly Hall in the UN Headquarters here on Friday
afternoon local time.
This year’s theme of the general debate is “Galvanizing multilateral
efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and
inclusion”.
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria was elected the President of the 74th
UNGA Session.
In her second proposal, the premier said that Myanmar must build trust
among the Rohingyas by discarding discriminatory laws and practices and
allowing ”go and see” visit to the Northern Rakhine by the Rohingya
representatives.
“Myanmar must guarantee security and safety of the Rohingyas by deploying
civilian monitors from international community in the Rakhine State,” she
said in her third proposal.
The premier in her last proposal said the international community must
ensure that the root causes of Rohingya problem area addressed and the
violation of human rights and other atrocity crimes committed against the
Rohingyas are accounted for.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that in the past, she had offered a five-point
proposal to the United Nations during the 72nd UN General Assembly to put an
end to the Rohingya crisis.
“The proposals included full implementation of recommendations of the Kofi
Annan Commission, and establishment of civilian monitored safe zone in the
Rakhine State,” she said.
Requesting the international community to understand the un-tenability of
the situation, the premier said the crisis is now going beyond the camps.
“Despite our all efforts to contain it, the crisis is now becoming a
regional threat. Moreover, increasing congestion and environmental
degradation is challenging health and security in the area,” she said.
Expressing her disappointment over the Rohingya crisis, the prime minister
said, “It is indeed unfortunate that I have to again raise this issue in this
august body as the Rohingya crisis remains unresolved. We continue to host
1.1 million Rohingya who were forced to leave Myanmar due to atrocities
committed against them.”
Sheikh Hasina said the crisis is now lingering into the third year; yet
not a single Rohingya could return to Myanmar due to absence of safety and
security, freedom of movement and overall conducive environment in Rakhine
State of Myanmar.
Terming the Rohingya issue as a matter of Myanmar and its own people, the
prime minister said, “We are bearing the burden of a crisis which is
Myanmar’s own making … it’s an issue solely between Myanmar and its own
people, the Rohingyas. They themselves have to resolve it,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the voluntary return of the Rohingyas to their homes in
the Rakhine state in safety, security and dignity is the only solution to the
crisis.
“We’ll continue our engagement with Myanmar to make repatriation of the
Rohingyas to happen,” she added.
MORE/SH/AHJ/GMR/KU/05:55 hrs