UN chief calls for end to 'ethnic cleansing' of Rohingya Muslims as Security Council condemns violence

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that ethnic cleansing is taking place in Burma, leading to a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation for the Rohingya Muslim minority with nearly 380,000 people forced to flee to Bangladesh.

The UN Security Council also condemned the violence, with Britain's UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft calling the statement - the first the UN's most powerful body has made in nine years on the situation Burma - “an important first step.”

The secretary-general has been outspoken about calling for an end to the violence in Burma's Rakhine state, and sent the Security Council an official letter raising his concerns about a crisis — the first time a UN chief has done so since 1989.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International had accused the Security Council on Tuesday of ignoring large-scale “ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingyas and demanded that it hold an open meeting and urge an end to the violence.

“It's a first step, but the council needs to escalate this to the level that a crisis that bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing deserves,” Human Rights Watch's UN Director Louis Charbonneau said after the council statement. “We haven't seen that yet.”

Mr Guterres at a wide-ranging press conference called Burma one of two world issues “at the top of global concerns,” along with North Korea.

“Grievances that have been left to fester for decades have now escalated beyond Myanmar's [Burma's] borders, destabilising the region,” the secretary-general warned. “The humanitarian situation is catastrophic.”

Last week there were 125,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled to Bangladesh and “the number has now tripled to nearly 380,000,” he said.

Mr Guterres was asked whether he agreed with UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein that what's happening in Rakhine State is ethnic cleansing. He answered with a question: “When one-third of the Rohingya population had to flee the country, can you find a better word to describe it?”

Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination and persecution by the majority Buddhist population in Burma, where they are denied citizenship despite centuries-old roots in the country.

The current crisis erupted on Aug. 25, when an insurgent Rohingya group attacked police outposts in Burma's Rakhine state, killing a dozen security personnel.

That prompted Burma's military to launch “clearance operations” against the rebels, setting off a wave of violence that has left hundreds dead, thousands of homes burned, and tens of thousands fleeing to Bangladesh.

Mr Guterres reiterated his condemnations of the attacks by the insurgent Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army but said reported attacks by security forces against civilians “are completely unacceptable.”

The secretary-general called on Burma's authorities “to suspend military action, end the violence, uphold the rule of law, and recognise the right of return of all those who had to leave the country.” He also reiterated his call for the government to grant the Rohingyas nationality or at least legal status so they can get jobs, education and health care. Mr Guterres added that he had spoken several times with Burma's national leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ms Suu Kyi has cancelled a trip to the UN General Assembly in New York next week to deal with the crisis. Mr Rycroft said two high-level meetings on Burma were due to be held during the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will co-host a ministerial-level meeting on Burma, while Turkey is also hosting a meeting organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

The UN Security Council statement acknowledged the 25 August attacks on Burma's security forces but it “condemned the subsequent violence”.

Council members in the statement “expressed concern about reports of excessive violence during the security operations and called for immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians, restore normal socio-economic conditions, and resolve the refugee problem.”

The Security Council also urged the government to implement the recommendations of a commission led by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan calling for economic development and social justice to counter deadly violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state.

A Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the consultations were closed, said even though the US, UK, Sweden and others wanted a tougher statement, many council members said it was “a considerable achievement” that all 15 countries including China agreed to send a clear message to Burma's government and military.

Mr Rycroft said several council members called for a follow-up open council meeting and a presidential statement on the Burma crisis, which unlike a press statement becomes part of the Security Council's official record. He said Britain, which is in charge of drafting Burma statements, “will get to work” on that. ​