Local Rohingya interest group leader Mohammad Islam @ Abu Umar Al Sutani, who fled the Rakhine state some 20 years ago to Malaysia, said the current situation there requires the military presence of other countries, not just food relief.
He said with all four million Muslims from Rakhine fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh, food aid was of no use.
Instead, he said, peacekeepers could play an important role in preventing the “slaughter” of more Muslims.
Militaries could also help rebuild the 14 districts in Rakhine, providing homes and proper sewers to help the displaced minority resume their lives, restoring civility to the state, he said.
“They are slaughtering and burning Muslims in the open. What is the UN doing?
“NGOs and Muslim countries should not just collect donations but put pressure on the UN to send peacekeepers before food rations. Muslim countries should also send in their armies.
“On behalf of the four million displaced Muslims in Rakhine, I also demand militaries from Muslim majority countries to help stabilise the region,” Mohammad Islam said in a protest against the atrocities committed towards the Rohingya people today.
The protest, organised by a group of Muslim NGOs after Friday prayers today, saw over 1,000 people attending.
Mohammad Islam, who is chairman of the United Islamic Rohingya Organisation NGO, said the UN should sponsor an act of self-determination for the Rakhine state the same way it did with East Timor in 1999.
He said since the escalation of violence had not abated, it was best for the UN to begin talks with the Myanmar government to negotiate the possibility of self-rule.
Mohammad Islam also said it was disappointing that Asean member countries had not reprimanded Myanmar for what is happening in Rakhine.
“Asean should be held responsible for its silence. Where are the sanctions on Myanmar?” he asked.
According to Reuters, Rohingya insurgents attacked several police posts and an army base in Myanmar on Aug 25.
The ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive have killed at least 400 people and triggered the exodus of more than 160,000 people to neighbouring Bangladesh.