Bangladesh seeks urgent UNSC action on Myanmar

Narinjara News, 24 September 2020

Bangladesh has sought an urgent action by the UN Security Council on Myanmar asking it to refrain from targeting Rohingya people under the pretext of security operations as it might lead to further refugee-influx into the neighboring country,  reported Dhaka based newspaper the Daily Star..

Expressing concerns over mobilisation of troops along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, the Bangladesh permanent mission to the New York based UN has written an aide memoire to the UNSC president on 15
September.  

In a separate letter to Naypyidaw on 14 September, Dhaka wanted Myanmar to immediately withdraw troops from the international border and pay respect to its commitment regarding the exchange of
information about any civilian or military activities near to the border, added the report.

Earlier on 13 September, the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Myanmar Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe to express concern over the suspicious movement of Myanmar soldiers along the border.

Meanwhile, the ongoing conflicts between the Myanmar security forces and Arakan Army (AA) members have escalated in Rakhine and Chin States, which various rights groups term as war crimes and crimes
against the humanity.

In the letter to UNSC, the Bangladesh mission informed that  four Myanmar Navy logistic-ships anchored at the coast of Inn Din village on 10 September and disembarked the troops. They were later carried
overnight by 20 civilian fishing-boats along the Naaf river up to Nga Khu Ya village, 20 km north of Maungdaw township, which is close to Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

Next  morning, around 1,000 Myanmar security personnel took positions in different locations. Some of the positions like Ka Nyin Chaung, Min Ga Lar Gyi and Nga Khu Ya are very close to the international border.

The route used during the movement was as close as 200 meters to the international border in some points.

Myanmar forces are also understood to conduct clearance operations on the nights of 13 & 14 September in Gwa Son/Yae Khat Chawng Gua Son under Maungdaw township and detain five Muslim men and three women.

Meanwhile, Myanmar also summoned Bangladeshi Ambassador in Rangoon Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury to the office of foreign ministry on 17 September.  Director general of Myanmar foreign affairs department of strategic studies and training U Aung Myint informed the Ambassador about the  border issues and also handed over a  warning letter.

“The recent movement of security forces on the Burmese side, as stated in the warning letter, is a regular exchange of police duties along with the evacuation of family members with them. Their migration is
related to the ongoing mission to protect the rule of law and social security for all communities in Rakhine State. The shifting of police personnel was done within the Burmese territory and was no way intended to pose a threat to Bangladesh,” said Aung Myint.