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News desk: Though describing the Rohingya plight as \u2018one of the greatest tragedies\u2019 in the region, the United States appears to be unwilling to re-impose sanctions against Myanmar on the heels of the atrocities of its security forces in Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh. Placing great emphasis on the implementation of the recommendations of the Annan Commission, Washington believes in Rakhine state the security forces are more authoritative than the civilian authorities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has called Myanmar\u2019s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to reiterate the world body\u2019s concerns about the humanitarian situation in Rakhine state.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in Rakhine State, the plight of the Rohingya in particular is one of the greatest human tragedies anywhere in the region, W. Patrick Murphy, special representative and policy coordinator for Burma (Myanmar), told a questioner at a special teleconference briefing at the state department in Washington on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201c…the fact that over a million of them inside the country have been devoid of basic rights for generations has been a longstanding issue and a longstanding concern for us in the United States. It needs to be addressed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
To a question, the official said, \u201cIn terms of sanctions, our sanctions were in place for the better part of two decades, primarily designed to facilitate the transition to democracy and improve human rights. The decision to lift the vast majority of those sanctions was based on the successful election and the early actions of the new government to address human rights concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean they have resolved all of their work;<\/p>\n
a lot of room for improvement. But as partners now, we can encourage, we can facilitate, we can assist. And even in a very complex situation like in Rakhine State, that\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are some shortcomings, the government of Burma and the armed forces, and we are pointing them out, and focused on the very immediate needs, and that is primarily ending tensions, restoring humanitarian access, and beginning this difficult process of the underlying challenges that lead to these tensions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Murphy, also a deputy assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, termed Myanmar a country that has great importance for the US, and said, \u201cWith regards to the situation in northern Rakhine State, we continue to be very focused on a couple of key objectives \u2014 first and foremost, restoring humanitarian assistance so that those in need can be assisted by the international community and by the Burmese authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThat restoration of access would also allow accurate assessments of those needs. This is a complicated part of the country, and more specifically, a complicated part of Rakhine state itself… We\u2019re very keen to see access restored for the media as well so that journalists can help tell us a more accurate picture of developments there \u2013 again, a very complicated part of the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to condemn attacks of a variety of nature \u2013 attacks on security forces; attacks on civilians; attacks by civilians \u2013 and we\u2019re very concerned about the sustained allegations of abuses being committed that is resulting in the displacement of many people,\u201d said the US representative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re urging all parties to take steps to calm tensions. And on a parallel basis, for authorities and partners of the Burmese authorities to continue to address the underlying challenges that are behind the most recent eruption of violence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue ongoing discussions, primarily through our ambassador, ambassador Scot Marciel, and his team in Rangoon, with the government \u2013 both the civilian authorities and military authorities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue ongoing discussions with neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, which is among several countries in the region who have hosted Rohingyas over many, many years, and we\u2019re quite grateful for that hospitality and that safe haven.<\/p>\n
In reply to a question, the deputy assistant secretary said, \u201cThe reality is that elected government inherited a constitution which accords the armed forces of Burma considerable authorities. And among those authorities is a preeminent role in northern Rakhine State.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo our discussions are both with the elected civilian government, which has overall responsibility for the country, but as well with military and other security force leaders. And our messaging is quite consistent. There needs to be a responsible reaction to the attacks on security forces that began this crisis on August 25th,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if the US has much leverage with the Myanmar authorities, Murphy said, \u201cI don\u2019t think we have approached the relationship with Burma in terms of leverage. It is, in fact, a partnership. And since the transition to elected government, we have a dialogue and a conversation that is very comprehensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo our approach as a partnership is to help them build their capacity to have the tools to address the underlying problems. Now, that doesn\u2019t mean that we withhold our concerns and our criticism when warranted. And indeed, now we are calling for a cessation of the violence and tensions that tend to lead to violence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if Aung San Suu Kyi, as a civilian leader, should be speaking out more, expressing concerns about the treatment of the Muslim minority, Murphy said, \u201cI think in positive terms what the government of Burma has done is to acknowledge and accept the fact that they need to address the challenges in Rakhine State. It was a year ago that Aung San Suu Kyi and her government established the Rakhine Commission under the leadership of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan. On August 25th, the very same day of these attacks which appeared to be timed with this development, the Rakhine Commission released its final report and recommendations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAung San Suu Kyi and her government have embraced those recommendations, and now we encourage the full implementation. It won\u2019t be easy. There are over 80 recommendations, but many of them address the underlying conditions in Rakhine State that cause so much friction and challenge. We want to work with the government, ensure they are focused on this task, have the capacity to address it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as I say, it was Aung San Suu Kyi who established the commission and in turn has embraced their recommendations. That\u2019s encouraging. That\u2019s a process that we want to be behind and partner with,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
To another question, the representative said, \u201cInside Rakhine State, this is a particular case where the security forces have the majority of authorities. Now, I\u2019ve been there. I\u2019ve been to northern Rakhine State. This is a challenge for the new government. As I mentioned earlier, there has been longstanding discrimination against ethnic minorities throughout Burma, and it\u2019s very, very much present in the case inside Rakhine State for a number of different populations.\u201d Responding to a question, he said, \u201cAs I also noted, on a parallel basis it\u2019s not too early to start with implementing the recommendations of the Annan commission.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another development, St\u00e9phane Dujarric, spokesman for UN secretary-general, told a regular briefing at the UN headquarters on Friday that the UN chief spoke to Suu Kyi over phone on Wednesday and reiterates his concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s (secretary-general) had a number of contacts this past week, including with Aung San Suu Kyi.\u00a0 He\u2026 they spoke by phone on Wednesday.\u00a0 During the call, the secretary-general reiterated the concerns that he has about the situation in Rakhine State, the humanitarian situation, and reiterated, basically, the message he had given you publicly, directly to Aung San Suu Kyi,\u201d he told a questioner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have been speaking loud and clear and giving facts as we see them on the ground, both in Cox\u2019s Bazar and also concerning the situation on the ground in Rakhine State,\u201d said the spokesperson while replying to another question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
News desk: Though describing the Rohingya plight as \u2018one of the greatest tragedies\u2019 in the region, the United States appears to be unwilling to re-impose sanctions against Myanmar on the heels of the atrocities of its security forces in Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh. Placing great emphasis on the implementation of the recommendations of the Annan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":36507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12,2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n