UNSC meets tomorrow on Rohingya  issue

Amid pressure from the member counties, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet on Thursday to discuss the Rohingya issue.
Prior to the meeting, UN Political Affairs Chief Jeffrey Feltman briefed the 15-member council behind closed doors on Tuesday. Sweden, the United States, Britain, France, Egypt, Senegal, and Kazakhstan requested the meeting.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will publicly brief the Security Council on the day (Thursday) on violence in Myanmar, which he has described as ethnic cleansing, an UN release said.
Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, UN human rights chief, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that he received numerous reports and satellite images of Myanmar security forces and local militias carrying out extra-judicial killings and burning entire Rohingya villages in Rakhine state. Zeid also cited reports of Myanmar troops planting landmines along the shared border.
Earlier on September 13, the Security Council met behind closed doors at the request of Sweden and Britain to discuss the Rohingya crisis.
Later, the council "expressed concern about reports of excessive violence during the security operations and called for immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine state, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians ... and resolve the refugee problem."
According to the reports, 176 ethnic Rohingya villages are now empty as all the residents have fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution there. There had been a total of 471 Rohingya villages in three townships.
It was the first statement from the Security Council on Myanmar in nine years. Such statements have to be agreed on by consensus and Russia and China have traditionally protected Myanmar from any action. Following the meeting, Myanmar said it was negotiating with Russia and China to ensure they block any censure by the Security Council over the violence in Rakhine state.
"The 15-member Security Council to meet behind closed doors at the request of seven countries this time. It is a breakthrough. All pictures will be clear within few days. Bangladesh is watching the situation and will continue to open all possible doors to resolve the issue," Former Ambassador Muhammad Zamir said.
The seven member of the security council said there have been credible allegations of serious human rights violations and abuses committed against the Rohingya, including extra-judicial killings, excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced displacement, as well as the burning and destruction of over 200 Rohingya villages and tens of thousands of homes.
"Despite violence allegedly perpetrated by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the whole Rohingya population should not have to pay the price." Said one of the seven members.
Diplomats say the Security Council could consider adopting a formal statement if the situation does not improve, but China and Russia are unlikely to agree to stronger action that would require the adoption of a resolution they could veto.
A Security Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France.
Myanmar said earlier this month it was negotiating with veto powers China and Russia to ensure Myanmar would be protected from any Security Council action.