MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Persecution of Rohingya Muslims 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

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Roberta Angelilli, Filip Kaczmarek, Mario Mauro, Tunne Kelam, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Zuzana Roithová, Monica Luisa Macovei, Sari Essayah, Giovanni La Via, Csaba Sógor, Elena Băsescu, László Tőkés, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Bogusław Sonik on behalf of the PPE Group

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

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B7‑0453/2012

European Parliament resolution on Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma

(2012/2784(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-          having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma,

 

-          having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Burma of 23 April 2012,

 

-          having regard to the Statement by the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response on humanitarian access to Rohingya and other affected communities of 9 August 2012,

 

-          having regard to the Statement of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the Recent Developments in the Rakhine State, Myanmar of 17 August 2012,

 

-          having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.       whereas the Government of Burma declared a state of emergency in Rakhine State on 10 June, following an outbreak of communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims;

 

B.        whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar noted on 13 June that discrimination against the Muslim community, particularly the Rohingya in Northern Rakhine State is the root cause of these communal conflicts and that he has consistently stressed the need for the authorities to take significant steps to address long standing issues of deprivation of citizenship, freedom of movement and other fundamental rights;

C.       whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated on 27 July that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community;

 

D.       whereas on 17 August the Government of Burma has appointed a new independent Investigation Commission to investigate the violence in Rahkine State; whereas the Commission has been tasked with "finding out the ways for peaceful coexistence between creeds and ethnic groups" and has been invited to make "suggestions for economic and social development";

 

E.        whereas tens of thousands of people, predominantly Muslim, are currently displaced in Rakhine State and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance;

 

1.        Is deeply concerned about the ethnic and sectarian violence in Rakhine State; urges all parties to exercise restraint;

 

2.        Welcomes the establishment of a new independent Investigation Commission to investigate the recent inter-communal violence in Rakhine State; stresses that the investigation needs to involve a consultative process of all the affected communities concerned, including the Rohingya;

 

3.        Calls on the Government of Burma to lift all unnecessary restrictions on freedom of movement of the Rohingya, so that they are able to travel to markets and access food and other essential items, as well as return to their homes and recover property, and provide them protection as needed; calls for changes to the 1982 law on citizenship to ensure due recognition of the right to citizenship of the Rohingya;

 

4.        Calls on the Government of Burma to lift restrictions on humanitarian access to Northern Rakhine State;

 

5.        Welcomes the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Burma of 23 April 2012, which include the suspension of restrictive measures imposed on the Government, with the exception of the arms embargo, and the EU's wish to enter into an active collaboration with Burma as a whole, with a view to assisting the reform process and contributing to economic, political and social development;

 

6.        Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Parliament and Government of Burma.