Intensify diplomatic pressure to enlighten Myanmar about human rights – Foundation

BANGI: Diplomatic pressure on Myanmar should be intensified to enlighten the country about human rights in regards to the persecuted Rohingya minority, Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa said.

He said pressures through the voices of the people, in the form of rallies and consistent statements issued by regional country leaders and non- governmental organisations, were also needed to remind Myanmar to respect the principles of freedom of contract and human rights.

“Myanmar should be enlightened about these principles,” he said, adding that it was among the universal values contained in the Langkawi Declaration and the Asean Charter, in which Myanmar was also subject to,” said Nasharudin, who is the panelist at the Islam and Global Peace Forum organised by the GMMF at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here yesterday.

Another panelist, Dr Robi Nurhadi, who is the SecretaryGeneral of the Indonesian Ulama Council, said the council also hoped that regional leaders could view the protest against the persecution of Rohingya minorities in Myanmar as a humanitarian issue and not just in inter-religious problem. He said the call by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Indonesian President Joko Widodo for Indonesia to organise public gathering to show solidarity with the Rohingya community in Myanmar was very good.

“Islam is a religion that cares about humanity. The call to show solidarity with the Rohingya community and to urge Myanmar to stop the brutal treatment and ethnic cleansing is indeed very good, especially when it comes from the top leader of our neighbouring country,” he said.

To express its support for Rohingya, Robi said the council had also organised a programme to discuss the issue, which was attended by representatives of Islamic associations from Europe, Middle East and Asia. The programme, which was held in Jakarta from Nov 29 to Dec 1, ended with the Jakarta Initiative, an important resolution urging the world community to respond immediately to the persecution of the Rohinya minority. — Bernama