Exert pressure on Myanmar, Arakan Army to end Rohingya violence, begin repatriation: Yunus tells UN

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has called on the international community to exert "effective pressure" on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to immediately stop persecution of the Rohingya and begin their "expeditious repatriation" to Rakhine.

Speaking at the opening session of the 'High-Level Conference on the Situation of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar' at the UN Headquarters in New York today (30 September), he also called for a practical roadmap for Rohingya repatriation.

Yunus warned that the plight of the Rohingya continues "eight years since the genocide began", while international funding for their protection faces "alarming shortfalls".

"The Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar. Its solution lies there. The international community must put effective pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to immediately stop persecution of the Rohingya, and start working for their expeditious repatriation to Rakhine. It is the only solution of the crisis. It should not be held hostage to broader reforms in Myanmar," he said.

The chief adviser said Bangladesh has been "forced to bear huge financial, social and environmental costs" due to the crisis, while criminal activities, including narco-flows into Bangladesh through Rakhine, threaten our social fabric. 

Given Bangladesh's own developmental challenges, including unemployment and poverty, he reiterated that the Rohingyas cannot be employed inside Bangladesh.

"As funding declines, the only peaceful option is to begin their repatriation. This will entail far fewer resources than continuing their international protection. The Rohingya have consistently pronounced their desire to go back home," he said.

Yunus laid out a seven-point action plan for the international community that includes devising a practical roadmap for safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya with stabilization of Rakhine; exerting pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to end violence and start sustainable repatriation, beginning with recent arrivals and internally displaced persons; mobilising support to stabilise Rakhine and deploy an international civilian presence for monitoring; supporting confidence-building measures for Rohingya integration into Rakhine society and governance; fully funding the Joint Response Plan for humanitarian support; pursuing accountability and restorative justice; and dismantling the narco-economy and combat cross-border crimes.

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"The world cannot keep the Rohingya waiting any longer from returning home," Yunus said, urging global leaders to "act together to resolve the crisis once and for all." Bangladesh, he added, stands ready to extend its full cooperation in this effort.

Here's the full transcript of Yunus's speech

Madam President, Excellencies,

Eight years since the genocide began, the plight of the Rohingya continues. Initiatives to end the crisis are lacking. International funding facesalarming shortfalls.

The Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar. Its solution lies there. The international community must put effective pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to immediately stop persecution of the Rohingya, and start working for their expeditious repatriation to Rakhine. It is the only solution of the crisis. It should not be held hostage to broader reforms in Myanmar.

As funding declines, the only peaceful option is to begin their repatriation. This will entail far fewer resources than continuing theirinternational protection. The Rohingya have consistently pronounced their desire to go back home. As an immediate step, those who recently crossed into Bangladesh escaping conflict must be allowed to repatriate.

Bangladesh is a victim of the crisis. We are forced to bear huge financial, social and environmental costs. Criminal activities, including narco-flows into Bangladesh through Rakhine, threaten our social fabric.

Given our developmental challenges including unemployment and poverty, we do not afford to allow employment of Rohingyas inside Bangladesh.

Towards a sustainable resolution of the crisis, I propose the following actions by the international community:

First, devise a practical roadmap for safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya with reasonable stabilization of Rakhine;

Second, exert effective pressure on Myanmar and the Arakan Army to end violence against the Rohingya and start their sustainable repatriation, beginning with those who recently arrived in Bangladesh, and those who are internally displaced;

Third, mobilize international support to stabilize Rakhine and place international civilian presence to monitor stabilization;

Fourth, support confidence building measures for sustainable integration of the Rohingya in Rakhine society and governance;

Fifth, mobilize donors' contribution to fully fund the Joint Response Plan;

Sixth, pursue accountability and restorative justice; and

Seventh, dismantle the narco-economy, and combat transboundary crimes.

The world cannot keep the Rohingya waitingany longer from returning home.

Today, let us pledge to act together to resolve the crisis once and for all. Bangladesh stands ready to extend its full cooperation to this end.

Thank you.