Rohingya union looks to OIC for pressure on Myanmar

By Mutasim Billah

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Arakan Rohingya Union Director General Union Wakar Uddin has said he hopes the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will continue its pressure on the Myanmar government over Rohingya issue.

The 45th session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers began in capital Dhaka Saturday.

Uddin told Anadolu Agency the OIC maintains a lot of leverage to accelerate the repatriation process and the Rohingya community wants the body to use it to help them.

“OIC is our hope, and it is a broader leverage,” he said.

Uddin said the OIC’s special session in Dhaka can give support to the Rohingya so that the community could express their political, humanitarian and human rights struggle.

He highlighted the potential of the OIC to influence the U.S., U.K., France, China and other countries.

Arakan Rohingya leader also said he expects the OIC to reach out to China and Russia on the Rohingya issue.

The OIC has an active diplomatic relation with UN Security Council member states and if it takes the initiative to show world's powers and super powers like Russia and China the persecution of the Rohingya community in Rakhine and their tough as refugees in Bangladesh then Russia and China would not be able to take a stance against humanity, he said.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, some 750,000 Rohignya, mostly children and women, fled Myanmar when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to the Amnesty International.

At least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine state from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, according to Doctors Without Borders.

In a report published on Dec. 12, the global humanitarian organization said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.