PUTRAJAYA: The Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA) urged Asean to appoint a special envoy to the Rakhine state to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
Its chief executive Azril Mohd Amin said the appointment of a special envoy would be the best immediate plan for Asean in easing the sufferings of the displaced Muslim ethnic minority.
"The special envoy appointed collectively by all Asean countries will be able to take immediate action and give us direct access to the conflict zone," Azril told reporters this evening.
He reiterated the need for Asean to stand united on ending the genocide in Myanmar and persuading its military government to start a peace talk with the Rohingyas.
Asean, he said, must use all possible diplomatic channels in stopping the systematic persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in the name of friendship and solidarity among the member countries.
"Even though Asean believes in staying neutral politically as a block, we can't stay neutral when it comes to more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees being subjected to genocide, extreme famine and human trafficking. This issue has affected our good neighbourhood," he opined.
Citing the effectiveness of a special envoy during the Timor-Leste conflict between 1999 to 2006, where Malaysia played a key role in its peace-keeping efforts, he added that the ambassador designated must be a nationalist respected by all Asean nations, including Myanmar.
"The special envoy doesn't have to be from Malaysia. He can be from Indonesia because the Myanmar government seems to be more comfortable with the Indonesian government."
Among the best candidates for the post, according to CENTHRA, is former Malaysian foreign minister, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar who has credibility and vast experience in crisis management.
Syed Hamid is currently the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC's) special envoy to Myanmar.
Since military attacks took place in Rakhine on Aug 25, it was estimated that some 270,000 Rohingyas have fled to overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, while tens of thousands more are believed to be stranded in the remote hills of Rakhine without food, water, shelter and medical care.