Press Release: 10 December 2019
Since the late 1970’s until present, the Rohingya have been ruthlessly persecuted and left stateless within their homeland, Burma/Myanmar. In August 2017, the world witnessed the horrors of genocide the Rohingya people have faced for decades. We call upon the international community to continue to look for mechanisms which can deliver justice, in addition to helping resolve the issues the Rohingya face with regards to a voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return to our ancestral homeland in Myanmar.
Today, the Republic of Gambia has taken decisive action in leading the international community in reminding state parties that their obligations to uphold the Convention to Prevent and Punish Genocide is not based on whimsy, politics, or convenience. The Gambia’s remarkable display of global leadership comes at an important time when many of our other brothers and sisters within Myanmar remain persecuted as well as other indigenous groups around the world who are at risk of genocide.
Regardless of the outcome of these proceedings and the threats by Myanmar aimed at Rohingya activists and supporters, the Rohingya people will continue to access all channels for justice and accountability in holding all perpetrators of genocidal violence accountable. In the words of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Reverend Martin Luther King, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The Rohingya will continue to request that Myanmar uphold international law, stop and prevent further genocidal actions against the Rohingya people, and stop all horrific human rights violations towards all people within Myanmar.
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) expresses solidarity with the Republic of Gambia and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and thanks them generously for their support of our people. We also welcome the recent decision by Canada and the Netherlands in support of the ICJ action. Moreover, the Rohingya people thank the international community and members of civil society, particularly all groups within Myanmar, who continue to stand by the Rohingya during these difficult times.
For more details, please contact:
Dr Mohammed Habibullah +1-4438158609 or email at info@rohingya.org