Southeast Asian lawmakers from Singapore, Malaysia. Timor-Leste, Philipines and Indonesia have signed a statement calling for the international community to take urgent measures to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against the Rohingya people. They also call upon members of the United Nations Security Council to immediately refer the human rights situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.
Below is the statement in full
We, the undersigned parliamentarians, are writing to express our grave concerns over the ongoing impunity for perpetrators involved in the atrocities committed against hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in Myanmar since 25 August 2017. We call on the international community to take urgent measures to bring those responsible for the crisis to account.
One year ago, the Myanmar security forces and their proxies launched a violent crackdown in response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on police outposts in northern Rakhine State. The security forces’ so-called “clearance operations” resulted in gross human rights violations, including widespread killings, arbitrary arrests, burnings of entire villages, and sexual violence, all of which have been extensively documented by international human rights organizations.
More than 720,000 mainly Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh. There are reasonable grounds to believe that the crimes perpetrated in Rakhine State against the Rohingya constitute genocide and crimes against humanity.
The response by the Myanmar government has thus far been woefully inadequate. The government has failed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the atrocities in a credible and impartial manner, and they continue to block almost all access to affected areas in Rakhine State for international human rights observers. In fact, some of those who try to shed light on these human rights violations now face arbitrary criminal charges.
Recent reports also show that the Rohingya population that remains in Rakhine State still face the risk of violence as well as widespread discrimination, which has resulted in appalling living conditions that are unsafe as well as a serious lack of access to basic services and livelihood opportunities. The dignified and voluntary repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh will not be possible as long as these conditions endure.
In light of the above concerns, we, the undersigned parliamentarians, urge the international community to take urgent measures to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against the Rohingya people. We call upon members of the United Nations Security Council to immediately refer the human rights situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.
We also support the call by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, to establish an international accountability mechanism that aims to impartially investigate and provide necessary assistance to future criminal proceedings that are in line with international standards.
Further, we call on our own governments, fellow ASEAN member states with Myanmar, and ASEAN itself, to accelerate efforts and use its influence on Naypyidaw to press the government and military to end all forms of human rights violations against Rohingya. This must include abolishing all discriminatory policies and practices in order to address the root causes of the crisis. It is imperative that they also urge the Myanmar government to grant immediate and unconditional access into Rakhine State, particularly for humanitarian aid groups, independent observers, and local and international media.
We also commit to utilizing our positions as parliamentarians to continue to push for accountability for the crimes perpetrated against the Rohingya, and call on fellow legislators internationally to do the same.
These steps are crucial to not only bring an end to the perpetual cycle of violence and longstanding discrimination faced by Rohingya, but also to end the impunity that has been widely enjoyed by the Myanmar security forces for decades.
[toggle title=”Signatories“]
Abdul Kadir Karding
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Abdul Rahman bin Mohamad
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Ach. Baidowi
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Adian Yunus Yusak Napitupulu
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Ahmad Bin Hassan
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Ahmad Tarmizi Bin Sulaiman
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Akbar Faizal
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Akmal Nasrullah Bin Mohd Nasir
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Al Muzzammil Yusuf
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Alice Lau Kiong Yieng
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Anas Thahir
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Anarulita Muchtar
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Andi Yuliani Paris
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Andreas Hugo Pareira
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Antonio L. Tinio
Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
Bahrum Daido
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Bertu Merlas
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Eva Kusuma Sundari
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Evita Nursanty
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Fahri Hamzah
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
G. Michael Jeno
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Gabriel Soares
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Haerul Saleh
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Hamdhani
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Harry Poernomo
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Hasbullah Bin Osman
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Hassan Bin Abdul Karim
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Hendrawan Supratikno
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Henky Kurniadi
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Henry Yosodiningrat
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Indah Kurnia
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Intan Azura Mokhtar
Member of Parliament, Singapore
Irine Yusiana Roba Putri
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Irma Suryani
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Isabel Maria B. Freitas Ximenes
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Itet Tridjajati Sumarijanto
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Johnny G. Plate
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Junico BP Siahaan
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Kaka J. Bag-ao
Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
Kasthuriranni A/P Patto
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Khoo Poay Tiong
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Leila De Lima
Senator, Philippines
Ligia Filomena Coelho da Silva
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Lim Lip Eng
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Lucia Taeki
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Luthfi A. Mutty
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
M. Amir Uskara
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
M. Sarmuji
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mahfuz Sidik
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mansor Bin Othman
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Marcos Xavier
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Maria Gorumali Barreto
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Maria Terezinha Viegas
Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
Martin Hutabarat
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Martri Agoeng
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Maruarar Sirait
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Masinton Pasaribu
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mastura Binti Mohd Yazid
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Melchias Marcus Mekeng
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mercy Chriesty Barends
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mohammad Suryo Alam
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Mohd Shahar Bin Abdullah
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Mordi Anak Bimol
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Muhammad Romahurmuziy
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Muslimin Bin Yahaya
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Nancy Shukri
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Nasyirul Falah Amru
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Neng Eem Marhamah
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Nihayatul Wafiroh
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Noor Azmi Bin Ghazali
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Nurhayati Ali Assegaf
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Ono Surono
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Oscar Ling Chai Yew
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Raul A. Daza
Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
Reni Marlinawati
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Ribka Tjiptaning
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Rieke Diah Pitaloka
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Risa Hontiveros
Senator, Philippines
Risa Mariska
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Rohani Binti Abdul Karim
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Rosol Bin Wahid
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Rubiah Binti Wang
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Rufinus Hotmaulana Hutauruk
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Rusnah Binti Aluai
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Sabri Bin Azit
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Sadarestuwati
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Saiful Bahri Ruray
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Shabudin Yahaya
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Sirmadji
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Siti Zailah Binti Mohd Yusoff
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Sofyan Tan
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Steven Choong Shiau Yoon
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Su Keong Siong
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Supriyanto
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Syaiful Bahri Anshori
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Syarif Abdullah Alkadrie
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Syed Ibrahim Bin Syed Noh
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Tan Yee Kew
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Taufiq R. Abdullah
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Teddy Jr. Brawner Baguilat
Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
Tom S. Villarin
Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
Tony Wardoyo
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Totok Daryanto
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Trimedya Panjaitan
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Tuti N. Roosdiono
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Tutik Kusuma Wardhani
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Vanda Sarundajang
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Wenny Haryanto
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Willie Anak Mongin
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Wiryanti Sukamdani
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Wong Chen
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Wong Ling Biu
Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
Yulian Gunhar
Member of the House of Representatives, Indonesia
