Around a thousand people assembled in front of the European Parliament, on the Place du Luxembourg in Brussels, on Saturday. They were there to protest against the violence suffered by the Rohingya minority in Myanmar (Burma). The protesters say the international community does not do enough to stop the violence. They claim it turns a blind eye, in particular the EU and the US.
The Rohingyas, a Muslim minority that live in mostly Buddhist Burma, have suffered oppression for decades. Over the last few weeks, the Burmese army has mobilised against this group in the North-West of the country, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas sought refuge.
“What is happening in Burma is horrible”, the protesters say. “People are attacked, killed, tortured or forced to leave their homes simply because they are Muslim, not Buddhist. More than 125,000 Rohingya refugees have gone to neighbouring Bangladesh. Buddhist extremists and the Burmese army commit the most horrible crimes, and stop any form of humanitarian aid getting through”.
The protesters lament the lack of action by Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Sulu Kyi, as well as the international community. They say “those who don’t help people in need, who don’t try and stop crimes against humanity or condemn them, are acting as accomplices”.
(Source: Belga)
