Neighbouring countries must unite against crimes from Myanmar: Khalilur

National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman has stressed the need for collective action among neighbouring countries to curb trans-boundary organised crimes originating from conflict-hit Myanmar.

Briefing reporters after the concluding session of 'Stakeholders' Dialogue' in the beach town of Cox's Bazar on Monday night, Khalilur shed light on the six key recommendations made during the discussion in the thematic sessions, including ⁠addressing insecurity.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Director General (Public Diplomacy) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shah Asif Rahman were present at the media briefing.

This prolonged crisis in Rakhine now poses a direct threat to regional stability, Khalilur said.

"Hence the participants called for more proactive roles from neighboring countries to stabilise Rakhine through concrete actions under the auspices of ASEAN, UN and concerned partners," he said.

Highlighting the amplification of ⁠Rohingya voices, Khalilur Rahman said Rohingya representatives made an emphatic and clear call for their dignified return with safety and dignity, restoration of their rights, restitution of property, freedom of movement and accountability for genocidal atrocities.

On accountability and justice front, Khalilur said the discussants urged for full support of all relevant stakeholders to international fact-finding mechanisms and International Courts such as IIMM, ICJ and ICC.

"The international community must ensure that Myanmar authorities and the Arakan Army comply with the ICJ's provisional measures which are legally binding," he said.

While Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to the Rohingya cause, it stressed on its severe resource constraints.

Bangladesh insists that the international community must share the burden equitably.

On⁠ ⁠sustainable roadmap for repatriation, Khalilur said the Rohingya crisis ensued in Myanmar and hence the solution lies in Myanmar.

He said authorities in Rakhine and Nay Pyi Taw must take necessary actions to create a conducive environment for safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their ancestral homeland.

Khalilur said an urgent appeal for continued resource mobilisation was made which can be materialised through enhanced commitment from the donor communities, diversification of donors and equitable sharing of burden to avert extremely dire situations.

On ⁠confidence-building measures, khalilur said a call was made to initiate confidence building measures involving relevant stakeholders as an essential step to stop the crisis.

He said Myanmar and Rakhine authorities must dismantle internal displacement camps in Sittwe and northern Rakhine, which some of the speakers termed as concentration camps. 

"At the same time, they must allow the people of the camps to return to their homes," Khalilur said.

Despite various discriminatory laws, Rohingyas exercised their voting rights in 2011, not long ago.

He said it is an imperative for Myanmar to restore that right and allow them to exercise their voting rights.

In the process, he said, continued marginalisation has to be reversed and rights and human dignity of the Rohingyas as the most persecuted community must be restored.

Khalilur said they have heard participants' deliberations in thematic sessions, which were structured around humanitarian assistance, confidence-building measures, accountability, and a roadmap for a sustainable resolution to the crisis.

The primary purpose of the event was to garner Rohingya voices and gather stakeholders' inputs for the upcoming UN High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya and other Minorities in Myanmar.

In the morning, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus spoke as the chief who particularly shared the 7-point action plan. 

"A most impartial takeaway is the clear and unmistakable yearning and determination of the Rohingyas to return to Myanmar in dignity and safety in a sustainable manner," Khalilur said.

He said a critical concern that has been proposed is the apprehended decline in funding in the coming days, which threatens provision of very basic needs of the Rohingyas in the camps.

The dialogue identified systematic persecution, discriminatory laws particularly, the 1982 Citizenship Law, as one of the many root causes of the crisis.

Discussants confirmed that gross human rights violations continue in Rakhine State irrespective of the shifting landscape in political dynamics.

They unequivocally confirmed that both the Myanmar Armed Forces and the Arakan Army are engaged in indiscriminate attacks, arson, and mass killings, rapes, conscripting and using forced labour against the Rohingyas.

The immense pressure on Bangladesh, particularly on the host communities and the environment in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, was pronounced in a robust way by both the panelists and the participants from the floor, said Dr Khalilur.

Panelists expressed profuse thanks to Bangladesh, its people and the host community for their generosity.