Myanmar tragedy, result of wrong US policies: Iran MP

Source Presstv, 21 Jan

 

This picture taken on October 11, 2012 shows a Muslim Rohingya child standing outside his tent at the Say Thamagyi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, located on the outskirts of Sittwe, capital of Myanmar's western Rakhine State.

 

Iranian lawmaker Mansour Haqiqatpour says the humanitarian disaster in Myanmar is a result of the "wrong policies" adopted by the global arrogance, particularly the US.

"The disaster in Myanmar is the result of the wrong policy of the global arrogance, particularly the US, that has had no outcome but the hatred and displacement of a number of innocent people," the deputy chairman of Iran's Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on Monday.

Haqiqatpour went on to criticize the silence of the international community and the so-called advocates of democracy on the disastrous situation of Myanmar's Muslims.

A "humanitarian disaster" is unfolding in Myanmar due to the US meddlesome policies and many "fake advocates of freedom" are justifying the suppressive measures in this country, the Iranian lawmaker said.

Some 800,000 Rohingyas are deprived of citizenship rights due to the policy of discrimination that has denied them the right of citizenship and made them vulnerable to acts of violence and persecution, expulsion, and displacement.

Myanmar's government has so far refused to extricate the stateless Rohingyas in the western state of Rakhine from their citizenship limbo, despite international pressure to give them a legal status.

Hundreds of Rohingyas are believed to have been killed and thousands displaced in attacks by Buddhist extremists. The assaults have been mainly carried out in the western state of Rakhine.

Earlier this month, an Iranian parliamentary delegation visited Myanmar to examine the situation of the Rohingya Muslims and find ways to help them.

"During our stay in this country, we visited camps and different areas particularly Muslim and Buddhist-populated districts and realized that their situation is very dire," said Haqiqatpour, who was a member of the Iranian delegation.

A 24-ton consignment of humanitarian aid to ethnic Rohingya Muslims also arrived in Myanmar from Iran earlier this month. Tehran further plans to set up a camp that can accommodate thousands of Rohingya refugees in the Rakhine State.

MYA/HMV/HJL