In the picture H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh during his speech.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Hague, 18th October 2019, an international conclave on Justice and Accountability for Rohingya has been held in The Hague.
The organizers of this momentous event were: the Centre for Peace and Justice of Brac University (Bangladesh), Asia Justice Coalition, and the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The welcome address was delivered by Professor Syed Mansoob Murshed, from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam
The keynote remarks were delivered by H.E. Abubacarr Marie Tambadou, Minister of Justice, Republic of The Gambia.
Other speakers at the conclave included: Canada’s special envoy to Myanmar, Mr Bob Rae, former Dutch Ambassador and member of the Kofi Annan Commission, Ms Laetitia van den Assum and scores of other speakers.
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador, Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, The Hague, The Netherlands delivered the closing remarks.
A Q&A session and a reception concluded the conclave.
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Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, The Hague issued the following Press release:
The Hague Conclave on Justice and Accountability for the Rohingya
The Hague Conclave on “Justice and Accountability for the Rohingya” brought together critical issues for consideration by the international community.
Having taken note of the abiding generosity and prompt humanitarian response by the Bangladesh Government in support of the Rohingyas, the Conclave underscored the importance of the United Nations, relevant member states and regional bodies to each play a role in calling out the impunity of the Myanmar authorities and finding a long term, viable and acceptable resolution to the Rohingya crisis.
Speakers slated the state sponsored hatred policy of Myanmar as root cause of the current crisis and demanded that the actions of Myanmar must be recognized as Genocide.
The Conclave recognized that Genocide does not occur in a vacuum and are often preceded by generations of distrust, the promotion of an ideology of hate and the indifference of the international body.
In his keynote remarks, His Excellency Abubacarr Marie Tambadou, Minister of Justice, Republic of The Gambia, shared his experience of visiting the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar in early 2018 and stated that he could smell the stench of genocide from miles away; as it was all too familiar for him after a decade of interacting with the victims of the Rwandan mass rape, killings and genocide.
Other speakers echoed his views that to bring justice and accountability for the Rohingya, the focus needs to be shifted from individual responsibility to state responsibility.
Canada’s special envoy to Myanmar, Mr. Bob Rae pointed out five suggestions with an emphasis on collecting evidences, listening the voices of the Rohingyas and encouraging dialogue with different international organizations and countries like China, Japan and India.
Former Dutch Ambassador and member of the Kofi Annan Commission Ms. Laetitia van den Assum briefed the presence about the progresses taken place over the past eighteen months but stressed that but a lot more needs to be done to keep moving the slow wheels of justice.
It was revealed that implementation of the recommendations of the Anna Commission, is very crucial as it offers insight not only to the Rohingya crisis but also other minority ethnic communities.
Role of different international organizations including the UN was called into questions, but their effective and immediate engagements were also sought in resolving this great humanitarian crisis. Discussion on role of ASEAN countries in resolving the Rohingya crisis ended up with the recommendations like more political engagements with Myanmar, creating a platform in the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance etc.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal explained how Bangladesh government has been extending all sorts of humanitarian assistance including shelter, food, healthcare, water and sanitation, etc. to the persecuted Rohingya people solely on humanitarian ground despite numerous challenges to the economy, ecology and security of Bangladesh. He apprised Bangladesh’s genuine efforts to remain engaged with the Myanmar for immediate return and rehabilitations of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Rakhaine to Bangladesh and put great importance on implementation of 4-points proposal made by our Honorable Prime Minister to the world during her statement at the UNGA on 27 September 2019.
The Ambassador appealed to the international community to come forward to facilitate early repatriation of the displaced Myanmar residents to their homeland in Rakhine with safety, dignity and basic rights in a time-bound manner and also to eliminate the culture of impunity for the sake of a durable solution to the protracted Rohingya problem.
Some formal and informal measures for solving the Rohingya crisis were pronounced in the program. These include naming and shaming of those big companies investing in Myanmar, producing and preserving proper documentation with the help of International CSOs, more sanctions on Myanmar especially on Military junta of Myanmar, proactive role of India, China and Japan, holding art exhibition on the atrocities of Myanmar etc.
However, the voice of consensus in the Conclave has been that the short as well as long term solution to the Rohingya crisis needs to be multifaceted – covering humanitarian, legal, political and diplomatic channels – and throughout this process, the voice and participation of the Rohingyas must be ensured.
A sizable crowd of Diplomats and dignitaries including former Deputy Mayor of The Hague H.E Rabin Baldweb Singh, Ambassador of Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Yemen, representatives from Embassy of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sweden, Egypt and representatives of various international organizations like OIC, IOM, ICC joined in the conclave.
