Page 174 - Beautiful Rohingyas

172 Beautiful Rohingyas

In the wake of that report, the UN security council considered the
question of Myanmar in its session on May 29, 2015.

Two of the permanent members, China and Russia, opposed
sanctions against the country, saying that the problem was a domes-

tic matter and represented no threat to world peace and security.
Their vetoes meant that no steps were taken by the council.

The pretext for this veto was devoid of any legal foundation. The
preamble to the charter of the UN emphasizes "fundamental human

rights and the dignity and worth of the human person".

Then, in Chapter I, the charter states the purpose of the UN is "to
achieve international co-operation in promoting and encouraging res-

pect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without
distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion". The concept of "a
threat to international peace", the precondition for the security coun-

cil imposing sanctions against a country, is not therefore limited to an
armed attack on another country.

The UN regards genocide within a country's borders (1994 Rwan-

da resolution), ethnic cleansing (1991 Iraq resolution), the high loss of
property and life (1992 Somalia resolution), widespread human rights
violations (1993 Haiti resolution) and racial discrimination (1977

South Africa resolution) as threats to international peace.

All of these elements apply to Myanmar. Consequently, it is illo-
gical, a violation of good conscience and a violation of previous secu-
rity council resolutions to suggest that Myanmar constitutes no thre-

at to international peace.