UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urged Myanmar’s government on Wednesday to fulfill its commitment to hold perpetrators of violence against Rohingya Muslims accountable and to address the root causes that led about 700,000 members of the ethnic minority to flee to Bangladesh. The council press statement made no mention of the appeal by four human rights groups on Tuesday for the Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, including targeting the Rohingya. The four rights groups — Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, and Fortify Rights — said Myanmar’s government is incapable of bringing those responsible for such crimes to justice. ADVERTISEMENTThe UNSC statement on Wednesday reaffirmed its most significant pronouncement on the Rohingya, a presidential statement it adopted in November. Myanmar’s military responded with counterinsurgency sweeps and was accused of widespread human rights violations, including rape, murder, torture and the burning of Rohingya homes.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 10, 2018 00:33 UTC