UN committee urges Myanmar to give citizenship to Rohingyas
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| A Rohingya Muslim, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh recently, sleeps on his belongings as he waits for permission to proceed towards a refugee camp near Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since late August, when the military launched what they called "clearance operations" in response to insurgent attacks. The refugees say soldiers and Buddhist mobs attacked them and burned their villages to force them to flee. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad) |
November 16, 2017
United Nations -- A key U.N. committee has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Myanmar's authorities to end military operations against Rohingya Muslims, ensure their voluntary return from Bangladesh and grant them "full citizenship rights."
The General Assembly's human rights committee approved the resolution sponsored by the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation by a vote of 135-10 with 26 abstentions on Thursday.
Those voting "no" included Myanmar's close neighbor, China, as well as Russia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos.
The resolution now goes to the 193-member General Assembly for a final vote in December where its approval is virtually certain.
Saudi Arabia's U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi spoke on behalf of the OIC and said "another inhumane scene" of religious hatred is unfolding in Myanmar, forcing nearly 620,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.
