How Cambodia as Asean Chair Can Play a Key Role in Rohingya Refugee Crisis Solution

Jubeda Chowdhury

The Rohingya challenge is at present an vital worldwide challenge. Greater than 1.1 million Rohingyas have taken refuge in Bangladesh since August 2017 on account of genocide and ethnic cleaning in Myanmar. About 50,000 new child Rohingya youngsters are added to it yearly.

Bangladesh Prime Minister raised the difficulty on the UNGA on September 25, 2021, to attract the eye of worldwide leaders in fixing the Rohingya disaster. She centered particularly on the engagement of ASEAN leaders. It’s ASEAN that may resolve the Rohingya refugee drawback simply.International Minister AK Abdul Momen mentioned on January 18 that the Cambodian Chairmanship of ASEAN offers a fantastic alternative to facilitate the secure and dignified return of the Rohingyas, now sheltered in Bangladesh, to Myanmar.

Based on media studies, The international minister mentioned this to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister PrakSokhonn, additionally the nation’s minister of international affairs and worldwide cooperation, throughout a phone dialog lately.In the course of the dialog, Momen laid emphasis on the potential safety dangers to Bangladesh, Myanmar, and to the better area if the Rohingya disaster is left festering for a for much longer time frame.

He talked about the vulnerability of the displaced individuals to radicalism, extremism, terrorism, cross-border crimes, and many others.International Minister Momen congratulated his Cambodian counterpart on Cambodia’s assumption of ASEAN Chairmanship and on the latter’s appointment because the Particular Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar.Referring to the longstanding and wonderful bilateral relations between the 2 nations, Momen talked about that Bangladesh extremely values its relations with Cambodia as an vital accomplice within the neighborhood.

Lauding the “massive coronary heart” demonstrated by Bangladesh in shelterin 1.1 million displaced Myanmar nationals, PrakSokhonn expressed his full understanding of and sympathy for the difficulties being confronted by Bangladesh.As Chair and an energetic member of ASEAN, Cambodia might help to resolve it. Cambodia may be an sincere mediator on this regard. Cambodia has very heat relations with each Myanmar and Bangladesh.

On October 28, 2021, Cambodia formally took over the chairmanship of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the third time since becoming a member of the group in 1999.Cambodia holds the ASEAN chair for the third time because it joined ASEAN on 30 April 1999. It was the final amongst the ten ASEAN nations to hitch ASEAN and has adopted its common flip in chairing the group each decade, in 2002 and 2012, respectively.

 There are solely two countries-Cambodia and Brunei-whose leaders continued their tenure over time in ASEAN, one being PM Hun Sen and the opposite one being the Sultan of Brunei.Earlier, the Rohingya had been subjected to systematic discrimination, deprivation of the proper to vote, and common concentrating on of violence in Myanmar for many years.

Rohingyas have come to Myanmar to avoid wasting their lives after being subjected to extraordinarily inhumane remedy by the army; However their place within the nation has change into a trigger for concern as they’re concerned in migration, drug trafficking, youngster trafficking, smuggling, and different misdeeds as Bangladeshis. Once more, among the Rohingyas have been accused of being concerned in militant actions and the Ramu assault.

Based on numerous sources, there are about 4 lakh Rohingyas inside Bangladesh and about one lakh outdoors the nation, particularly within the Center East. Furthermore, there are studies that underage ladies and kids in numerous camps in Cox’s Bazar are being tied to an vital social bond akin to marriage; Which is having a massively detrimental impact on the society and the state system.

Little one marriage is a risk to the well being of the mom in addition to the well being of the kid. It has far-reaching detrimental results on ladies. Adolescent being pregnant can result in a wide range of well being issues, together with problems in childbirth. In some circumstances, they’re additionally victims of home violence, sexual abuse, and marital rape. As well as, rising inhabitants density is having a devastating impact on the setting.

Within the final 4 and a half years, regardless of numerous initiatives, no actual progress has been made in resolving the Rohingya disaster. Beneath strain from the worldwide neighborhood, the Myanmar authorities signed an settlement on Rohingya repatriation, however to no avail. Based on the settlement, the Rohingyas have been to be repatriated in phases. The repatriation course of has not began for a very long time.

The Myanmar authorities has did not repatriate the displaced Rohingya and resolve the disaster. Bangladesh has repeatedly urged numerous worldwide boards to take efficient steps to resolve the Rohingya disaster. On the UN Normal Meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not solely ended her responsibility by calling on the worldwide neighborhood to repatriate Rohingya but additionally introduced six particular proposals. The Prime Minister additionally raised the difficulty throughout his latest go to to France. In such a scenario, the UN committee has unanimously handed a decision urging Myanmar to finish the Rohingya disaster. Most significantly, Russia and China didn’t oppose the proposal.

The decision, launched by the OIC and the European Union, was unanimously handed by the Social Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, often known as the Third Committee of the UN Normal Meeting. International Minister in response to the proposal. Abdul Momen considers the help of Russia and China vital. He mentioned China and Russia additionally need a resolution to the Rohingya drawback. That is optimistic information for us.
On this regard, Cambodia can play a holistic, vital, and strategic function.  Cambodia can help Bangladesh at each worldwide discussion board akin to at UNGA and regional conferences.

They will vote in favour of Bangladesh. They will increase the difficulty throughout the ASEAN platform. Cambodia can negotiate with Myanmar diplomatically and bilaterally. It has good bilateral relations with Myanmar. Cambodia can have interaction with others ASEAN states to resolve the disaster. Cambodia’s Buddhist society can play an efficient function on this regard. Cambodia could make Myanmar perceive the regional significance of Rohingya repatriation.

Earlier, Cambodia hoped that Bangladesh and Myanmar discover a resolution permitting the Rohingya repatriation,  Prime Minister Hun Sen mentioned on the joint press convention held following his bilateral assembly with visiting Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in 2017.For her half,  Sheikh Hasina affirmed Bangladesh’s dedication to supply shelters to some 700,000 Rohingya refugees and to proceed negotiating with Myanmar for his or her repatriation.

Cambodia has confirmed its clear stance over the Rohingya disaster in Myanmar. On Nov. 16, 2017, the Cambodian Premier underlined that the Rohingya disaster is an inner affair of Myanmar and Cambodia is not going to intervene on this challenge. The Cambodian premier additionally expressed his disappointment over the disaster in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, including that Cambodia is contemplating offering humanitarian help to Rakhine’s individuals, a few of them live in Myanmar whereas others fled to Bangladesh.

In the meantime, PM Hun Sen visited Myanmar (6-8 January 2022). A brand new Particular Envoy of the ASEAN chair, PrakSokhonn the Deputy Prime Minister and International Minister of Cambodia, was introduced. He will likely be assisted by Cham Prasidh, Minister of Business, a veteran of the Cambodian peace course of.
Cambodia was initially hesitant to talk out towards the junta, citing ASEAN’s precept of noninterference.

However this time, as a chair of ASEAN, Cambodia desires to have interaction itself and Asean with Myanmar.  It’s a optimistic aspect of Cambodia. Isolation isn’t an answer. Involvement, engagement, negotiations are some instruments to seek out options. Cambodia is doing so.  PM Hun Sen may be very thinking about ASEAN’s relations with Myanmar. Cambodia’s function on this regard can be warmly welcomed. As a chair, Cambodia can resolve a protracted disputed regional challenge.

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