MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on persecution of Rohingya Moslims in Burma

11.9.2012 - (2012/2784(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Sajjad Karim, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Ryszard Czarnecki on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0426/2012

B7‑0426/2012

European Parliament resolution on persecution of Rohingya Moslims in Burma

(2012/2784(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma, most recently on 18.04.2012

- having regard to Articles 18 - 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948,

- having regard to Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,

- having regard to the Progress Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar of 7 March 2012,

- having regard to the Council Conclusions on Burma – 3159^th Foreign Affairs Council meeting – Luxembourg, 23 April 2012,

- having regard the statement by US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton on violence in Rakhine State of 11 June 2012,

- having regard to the statement on Burma by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission Catherine Ashton – Brussels, 13 June 2012,

- having regard to the exchange of views held in DROI committee on the situation in Rakhine state – Brussels, 11 July 2012,

- having regard to the statement by Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response – Brussels, 09 August 2012,

- having regard to Rule 110.2 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A. Whereas the rape and murder of a young Buddhist woman in Rakhine last May set off a wave of ethnic clashes between the Rohingya Muslims and the Buddhist community in the Rakhine province of Burma leaving at least 50 people dead;

 

B. Whereas clashes began 4 June when a mob attacked a bus in Taungup in Rakhine Province, alleging some of the passengers on board were responsible for the rape and murder of the Buddhist woman;

 

C. Whereas the President Thein Sein declared last June a state of emergency, which allows the introduction of martial law, after fighting minority groups were setting houses on fire and the unrest spread to the national capital and adjacent towns and villages;

 

E. Whereas there are more than 800 thousands Rohingyas residing in Burma, most of them in the Province of Rakhine, being in fact a stateless ethnic group as Burma considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh;

 

F. Whereas over the years, thousands of Rohingyas have fled to India to escape persecution and last May again thousands of Rohingya people were displaced following fighting in the west of Burma;

 

G. Whereas over the years many sought refugee status from the UN in the Indian capital, Delhi, and in Bangladesh, which for years has been bearing the brunt of forced displacements resulting from recurrent Burmese crises and recently has increased its security presence on the border following fears of an exodus;

 

H. Whereas poor road and bridges communications infrastructure in the region make many communities difficult to reach for international humanitarian organisations;

 

I. Whereas the EU and the US recently eased sanctions on Burma following a process of transitional democratic reforms which began with the 2012 by-elections in which opposition politicians led by Aung San Suu Kyi entered Burma's parliament;

 

 

 

 

1. Calls for a full and credible investigation into the violence that recently took place; and that the rule of law be enforced in a transparent manner;

 

2. Underlines the need for mutual respect amongst all ethnic and religious groups in Burma's Rakhine state and urges the Burmese government to continue its efforts to end violence;

 

3.  Recognises the steps already taken by President Thein Sein to restore security and stability in the affected area and believes the security forces can handle this difficult situation in an appropriate manner;

 

4. Expresses its hope that the unrest will not endanger Burma's already undertaken steps towards stability and restoring democracy;  

 

5. Welcomes the set up of a 27-member commission including members of different political parties and religious organisations to investigate recent weeks-long interconfessional violence between Muslims and Buddhists;

 

6. Urges, at this occasion, the Burmese Government take all necessary measures to promote national reconciliation, in particular by addressing the status and improving the living conditions of the Rohingyas;

  

7. Reiterates that the European Union, its Member States, the US and ASEAN all have important roles to play in helping to bring about long-lasting change in Burma and in promoting economic development; welcomes, in this regard, the recently adopted Council Conclusions (23 April 2012) aiming at an active collaboration between Burma and the EU;

  

8. Instructs the President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the EU Special Envoy for Burma, the Burmese State Peace and Development Council, the Lower and Upper Houses of the Burmese Parliament, the Governments of the ASEAN and ASEM member states, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Myanmar.