Nepal abstains from UN vote on Myanmar’s human rights situation

KATHMANDU, Nov 17 : Nepal has abstained from the UN vote on resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar during the meeting of the third committee of the UN General Assembly held in New York.

Nepal among 26 countries abstained from the vote on UN resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar on Friday, according to a press release issued by the United Nations. During the committee meeting, the Nepalese representative had expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s assistance for hosting Rohingya refugees, the press release said. On the occasion, Nepal stressed that the displaced persons have the right to return home.

A senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Republica Online requesting anonymity “It is our stated position that we don’t stand for or against the UN resolution if that is targeted to a particular country. Rather we remain abstain in such a situation. Hence, we remained abstain in case of Myanmar too.”

A total of 142 countries voted in favor of the resolution and 10 countries stood against it, the United Nations said. Those countries to vote against the resolution were Myanmar, China and Russia among others.

The resolution was pushed by the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. On the occasion, Myanmar’s representative voiced objections to the resolution, defending the country’s handling of the Rohingya crisis including the setting up of an independent panel to investigate allegations of human rights violations against the Rohingya people, media reports said.

The motion has acknowledged “with grave concern” remarks made by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other officials who have labeled the persecution “ethnic cleansing” and “strongly condemns” all

violations and abuses of human rights in Myanmar.

The resolution has urged the Myanmar authorities to ensure that those responsible for the rights violations and abuses are held accountable and removed from positions of power.

According to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine state to neighboring Bangladesh since the latest round of violence erupted in

August last year.

The resolution will now be put to a vote in a plenary session of the General Assembly where it is expected to be adopted in December, according to reports.