Syed Hamid: Asean must act on plight of Rohingyas

KUALA LUMPUR: Asean countries have been urged to consider convening an extraordinary meeting to address the ethnic cleansing of Ro­­hingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

The Organisation of Islamic Co­­ope­­ration special envoy for Myan­mar Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said Asean countries should ask Myan­mar and its military to stop the violence against the Rohingya.

“From the reports we have re­­ceived in the field, it is just pure and brutal ethnic cleansing undertaken by the government and military.

“According to civil society and the human rights report, there is a crime against humanity and genocide.

“We have cross checked and verified from people who escaped and from the visuals we received. We cannot help but think it is true,” Syed Hamid said yesterday.

He said the Rohingya had the right to be protected under international law.

“We want humanity and de­cency to be embraced. They must allow humanitarian aid to come in In­ves­tigation must be carried out by an independent international body that will act in accordance with international laws and human rights covenants,” he said.