Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The Council of Ministers on Monday made a fervent appeal to the international community to take urgent steps to end injustice and protect human rights of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, called for ensuring free access of relief aid to these oppressed people and help them lead a decent life. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Cabinet was briefed on a report about the situation of Rohingya Muslims in the restive Rakhine (Arakan) state of Myanmar. The report sheds light on the campaigns of ethnic cleansing as well as the criminal acts to displace the Rohingya Muslim minority from their homeland. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet lauded the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to persuade the authorities in Myanmar to address the problems faced by the Muslim minority with regard to human rights, citizenship, and economic opportunities. The session also commended OIC's preparedness to contribute to the process of reconstruction and rendering humanitarian assistance to the affected people of Arakan. The Cabinet congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman on the Kingdom's election as member of the UN Human Rights Council by the General Assembly for three years for a third term. “This reflects the Kingdom's lofty international status and its efforts in strengthening justice, equality and the protection of human rights at the local and international levels as well as its firm position on human rights issues in the world,” the Cabinet noted. The Cabinet appreciated the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA)'s selection for the first time in its history on the Board of Directors of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Asia and the Pacific region for a four-year term. It stressed that this shows the confidence of the international bodies in the Kingdom as a result of contributions and great efforts exerted by SRCA for the needy people and those affected by disasters in different parts of the world. Dr. Khoja said that the Cabinet also expressed condolences of the government and the people of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines on Typhoon Haiyan calamity that resulted in deaths and injuries to thousands of people and loss of properties. The session also appreciated King Abdullah's directive to provide assistance in cash amounting to $10 million to the Philippines.
