VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Human rights violations on Rohingya ethnic group in Rakhine, Myanmar are highlighted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN) at the Jakarta International Conversation on Human Rights held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Monday 5/2). In his remarks, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra`ad al Hussein said genocide and ethnic cleansing are likely to have taken place in Rakhine, Myanmar. The statement is based on the direct testimony of the refugees.

"The atrocities recounted by the refugees, who constitute well over half the Rohingya living in northern Rakhine, include brutal killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, atrocious sexual violence, and destruction of homes and livelihoods. Although any definitive finding should be made by an appropriate tribunal, my Office considers that acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing may have occurred," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra`ad al Hussein said

Zeid Ra`ad al Hussein added that in addition to violating the Rohingya ethnicity in Rakhine, the Government of Myanmar also refused to grant citizenship, legal status and birth certificates to the Rohingya in Rakhine which has implications for the loss of their rights as citizens of Myanmar. According to him, this humanitarian crisis is very serious and impact on the security of Southeast Asia region. Therefore, he hopes the Government of Myanmar can solve this crisis by focusing on the socio-economic development plan in Rakhine. ///(VOI/REZHA/AHM)