By PMT Desk

HAMILTON, Canada – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed deep concern for the increasing conflict in Myanmar, citing the urgent need to protect all communities amidst human rights violations and aerial bombings.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the increasing violence across Myanmar and strongly condemns the recent attacks by the Myanmar military that have reportedly killed scores of civilians, including in Rakhine State and Sagaing Region,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The statement noted that “those responsible must be held to account.”

“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law,” it said, urging all to “prevent further incitement of communal tension and violence.”

Guterres highlighted the regional implications of Myanmar’s deteriorating situation and called for a unified international response.

He urged support for his Special Envoy Julie Bishop to help build an inclusive Myanmar-led process toward sustainable peace, in cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and neighboring countries.

Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar

The Rohingya people is the most affected in the violence due to a crackdown perpetrated by Myanmar Buddhist government.

The majority of Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine State in 2017. Most are housed in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, but since late 2020, about 35,000 have been relocated to the island of Bhasan Char.

The Rohingya people is a large Muslim group in Myanmar who is among the most persecuted group under Myanmar’s military regime.

In fact, the UN states that the Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted groups in the world.

Myanmar security forces have driven them off their land, burned down their mosques and committed widespread looting, arson and rape of Rohingya Muslims.

Outside of these military raids, Rohingyas are subjected to frequent theft and extortion from the authorities, and many are subjected to forced labor.

In some cases, land occupied by Rohingya Muslims has been confiscated and reallocated to local Buddhists. (With stories from Agencies)