MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Persecutrion of Rohingya Muslims in Burma-Myanmar
11.9.2012 - (2012/2784(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Helmut Scholz, Marie-Christine Vergiat, Alda Sousa, Marisa Matias, Patrick Le Hyaric on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0426/2012
B7‑0452/2012
European Parliament resolution on the Persecutrion of Rohingya Muslims in Burma-Myanmar
The European Parliament,
-having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma/Myanmar, in particular that of 20 April 2012;
-having regard to the Council Decision of 16 August 2011 (2011/504/CFSP) amending Council Decision 2010/232/CFSP regarding restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar;
- having regard to the EU Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on Burma/Myanmar of 23 January 2012;
- having regard to the Council Conclusions on Burma/Myanmar of 23 April 2012;
- having regard to the Statement by the spokesperson of the High Representative Catherine Ashtron of 13 June 2012 on the crisis in Northern Rakhine State in Myanmar (Burma);
- having regard to the Statement by EU Commissioner Georgieva on humanitarian access to Rohingya and other affected communities of 9 August 2012;
- having regard to the decision that Myanmar will host the South East Asia Games in 2013 and will take over the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014
- having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
a. Whereas since the new government of President Thein Sein took office in March 2011, it has taken steps to expand civil liberties in the country, the majority of political prisoners have been released and a number have been elected to Parliament in the by-elections, preliminary ceasefires have come into force with most armed ethnic groups and many political dissidents in exile have returned to Myanmar in promise of re-conciliation,
b. Whereas in stark contrast to these achievements, the longstanding policies of discrimination against the Rohinga minority have intensified
c. Whereas on 28 May 2012 sectarian violence broke out in Rakhine state between the majority Rakhine Buddhist population and the minority Muslim Rohingya after reports spred that a Buddhist women had been raped and murdered by Mulim men
d. Whereas on June 3 in retaliation a Buddhist crowd attacked a bus and lynched 10 Muslim men reportedly in front of security forces who did not intervene
e. Whereas in the following weeks anti-Rohingya violence, reportedly committed by Buddhist mobs and Buddhist dominated security forces, carrying the characteristics of a progrom, left dozens of people dead, thousands of homes destroyed and over 70000 people internally displaced
f. Whereas in response to the violence, a state of emergency was declared in Rakhine state, and President Thein Sein called on the Rohingya to be internated in camps and urged the UNHCR to resettle the estimated 800 000 Rohingyas still living in Myanmar outside of the country
g. Whereas the Rohingya, who have settled in Rhakhine state for centuries have been denied an identity as one of Burma's 135 national groups and thus citizenship under the 1982 citizenship law, are by many Burmese believed to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and have been subject to systematic, severe discrimination such as forced labour, police harassment, land confiscation, restriction on freedom of movement, marriage, education, healthcare and jobs
h. Whereas in the face of the persistent persecution, an estimated 300000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh over the years; whereas however, the Bangladeshi authorities are now massively pushing Rohingya asylum seekers back across the border and whereas the international NGOs assisting the refugees as well as the local population in Bangladesh have recently been requested to cease their activities;
i. Whereas the EU humanitarian and civil protection department ECHO has allocated 10 million EURO in support of Rohingya refugees and the local host population in Bangladesh for 2012
j. Whereas on 17 August the Burmese government has appointed an independent Investigation Commission, composed of 27 representatives from civil society and political and religious organisations in order to inquire into the causes of the outbreak of sectarian violence and to make suggestions
1. Expresses it's grave concern over the violent ethnic clashes in Rakhine state and the continuing persecution and discrimination of the Muslim Rohingya minority,
2. Notes that neither the government nor the political opposition have taken a clear public stance in defense of the victims and expresses it's appreciation for those Burmese citizens who have raised their voice in support of the Muslim minority and a pluralist society;
3. Welcomes the creation of the independent Investigation Commission and expresses it's hope that despite the absence of a Rohingya representative the Commission will deliver an objective analysis that can contribute to a de-escalation of the situation;
4. Calls on the government of Myanmar to bring the perpetrators of the violent clashes in Rakhine state to justice and to reign in the extremist Buddhist groups who are instigating communal hatred and propagating a permanent segregation between the communities
5. Calls on the EU to support the Burmese government at best possible in it's efforts to to design a broarder socio-economic development plan for Rakhine state and to continue Myanmar's path towards democrac;
6. Insists that the Rohingya minority cannot be left out of the newly developing openness for a multicultural Burma and calls on the authorities to grant Rohingyas citizens rights and equal treatment to other Burmese citizens;
7. Is concerned about the arrest of a dozen international aid workers during the unrest and calls for the immediate release of the six who are still in prison;
8. Expresses its deep concern about the practice by Bangladesh and other neighboring countries of Myanmar of pushing boats with Rohingya asylum seekers back into the sea;
9. Urges Bangladesh to continue accepting donor support for population in need in the Chittagong Area and not to return Rohingya fleeing violence in Burma
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the HR, the Commission, the Parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Myanmar and the other ASEAN member states, the the ASEAN Human Rights Commission, as well as the UN Secretary General.