Jeddah, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1438, Aug 30, 2017, SPA -- Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned renewed outbreak of violence against the Muslim Rohingya community, in Myanmar's Rakhine state, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes to neighboring Bangladesh. This was clearly demonstrated by the systematic and orderly destruction of many villages and homes by the guard groups, under the cover of the army and police forces, particularly in district No. 5 in Mongdo. OIC condemned the indiscriminate use of military force, including heavy artillery, against civilian population, displacing more than 20,000 Rohingya throughout the region and called on the government of Myanmar to immediately repatriate the displaced and allow humanitarian agencies to assist the affected. These incidents constitute a violation of the fundamental rights of the Rohingya and a serious violation of Myanmar's intergovernmental obligations to protect civilians, the OIC statement added, saying that these incidents of violence only aggravate tensions and cause destabilization in the region. On Myanmar government accusation that some gunmen practiced violence against the Rohingya who on their turn dared to set fire to the aggressors homes and denied responsibility for the ensuing chaos, the statement asserted that OIC cannot turn a blind eye to recent attacks by armed groups, demanding that the government of Myanmar must ensure the rule of law and respect basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. The OIC noted that the recommendations of the UN Advisory Committee on the Rakhine, headed by Kofi Annan, has clearly indicated that the government should make greater efforts to prevent violence, maintain peace, achieve reconciliation and give the Rohingya, a sense of hope. The current crisis in Rakhine state would destabilize the entire region unless the fundamental issues of inequality, justice and citizenship were resolved, the statement stated. In this regard, the Secretary-General of the OIC called upon the Security Council to, promptly, address this issue. OIC also called on member states to abide by the decisions taken at the emergency session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Kuala Lumpur on 19 January 2017 and the decisions of the 44th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on 11 July 2017, in this regard. The OIC expressed support for the recent statements made by the member states, in which it expressed concern over the violence and deterioration of the humanitarian situation facing the Rohingya, and stressed that it is the duty of the Charter to protect the rights, dignity, religious and cultural identity of Muslim communities and minorities in Non-OIC member states. -- SPA 20:33 LOCAL TIME 17:33 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w477962