EU needs to reassess ties with Myanmar, say MEPs
The mass exodus of Rohingya following human rights violations makes it necessary for the European Union to reassess its relationship with Myanmar, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have said.
The EU must reconsider its relationship with Myanmar and develop new policies based on incentives and disincentives in each sector, as well as robust conditions, they said.
The MEPs came up with the remarks after a delegation from the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) joined by Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee MEPs as well as Members of the ASEAN Delegation visited Myanmar-Bangladesh border areas from February 12-16, according to a DROI press release received here today.
"The European Parliament has had concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar and after a five-day visit these concerns remain as the human rights situation is clearly deteriorating in various regions of the country and affecting many diverse cultural, ethnic and religious groups, human rights defenders and journalists," Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), the chair of the delegation, the press release said.
The delegation visited the refugee camps in the Cox's Bazar area, Bangladesh, which are sheltering the population in dire conditions after their mass exodus, the statement said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "We held meetings with civil society organisations and religious leaders who confirmed the great difficulties that the democratic transition is facing," the official said.
The delegation also met with ministers including the minister of defence and parliamentarians.
The delegation also said it supports the democratic transition process and considers it a fundamental pillar for a reform policy to ensure the country achieves what it deserves, which is democratic development based on respect for fundamental freedoms and rights.
"Unfortunately, the current situation does not allow us to be confident of this objective being achieved, since the on-going process has slowed down and there is a serious risk of returning to the past. In our view it would be in the interest of Myanmar to speed up democratic and constitutional reforms to deliver better lives for its people," reads the press release.
The MEPssuggested a full implementation of the November 23 arrangement between Myanmar and Bangladesh with guarantees including a strong involvement of the UNHCR and a modification of the 1982 law on citizenship with a view to solving the problem of stateless people.
They also recommended effective monitoring of the human rights situation in Myanmar as well as unhindered humanitarian access to Rakhine state, and an independent international investigation into the mass atrocities, which have been committed in Rakhine State since August 2017, "in order to ensure accountability and avoid impunity."
Nearly seven lakhs Rohingya people have entered Bangladesh since a fresh upsurge of violence in Myanmar on August 25.
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