UN Fails to Take Action on ICJ Order Against Genocide on Rohingyas, EU Urges Myanmar to Comply

United Nations: The UN Security Council on Tuesday discussed the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order that Myanmar must do all it can to prevent genocide against Rohingya Muslims, but failed to agree on a statement.

Myanmar's ally China, and Vietnam objected, said diplomats. Instead, the European Union members of the council urged Myanmar in a joint statement to reporters afterward, to comply with the measures ordered by the UN's top court, stressing that they are "compulsory under international law".

France, Germany, Belgium and Estonia along with former council member Poland urged Myanmar "to take credible action to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations."

The EU members said that Myanmar must not only address the root causes of its conflicts, in Rakhine State, but also in Kachin and Shan States. "Accountability of perpetrators of human rights and humanitarian law violations is a necessary part of this process," they said.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after Myanmar security forces launched a crackdown on the Muslim minority in August 2017 in response to an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group. Bangladesh currently houses over 1 million Rohingya refugees. Myanmar has long claimed the Rohingya are "Bengali" migrants from Bangladesh, even though their families have lived in the country for generations.

Nearly all Rohingya have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless. They are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights.

"Myanmar must also create conditions for a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar," said EU members. They reiterated the Security Council's call for Myanmar to implement the recommendations of the Annan Commission which before the August 2017 attacks had called for Myanmar to grant citizenship and ensure other rights to the Rohingya.

The members urged the government to promote investment and community-directed growth to alleviate poverty in Rakhine State, as well.