Strasbourg, 14/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution on “the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma”, adopted on 13 September, the European Parliament called on the Burmese parties to show moderation, saying that it was alarmed about the continuing violence in the west of the country (Rakhine State). It calls for an inquiry into the events and for those responsible for the violence to be brought to justice. The MEPs call on the Burmese authorities to put an end to the arbitrary arrests of members of the Rohingya Muslim minority and to allow free access to Rakhine State for diplomats and humanitarian NGOs.
The MEPs call on the political forces to take a clear position in favour of the Rohingya Muslim minority and a pluralist society. They insist that the Rohingya minority not be left aside from the new perspectives which are opening towards a multicultural Burma/Myanmar. The Parliament also calls on the European External Action Service to support “by all means possible” the government of Burma/Myanmar in its efforts to stabilise the situation, to promote the reconciliation and for the socio-economic development of Rakhine State. The rape and murder of a Buddhist woman in May set off a wave of murderous attacks between the Buddhist Rakhine people, in the majority, and the Rohingy Muslim minority in Rakhine State. (CG/transl.fl)