UN Rapporteur Urges Probing Serious Human Rights Violations in Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi shakes hands with Yanghee Lee, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar–MNA photo
Geveva, 15 Jumadil Akhir 1438/14 March 2017 (MINA) – UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee on Monday reiterated the call for “prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations” into the arbitrary killings and other serious human rights violations in Myanmar.
“No stones must be left unturned. The alleged victims, as well as all the people of Myanmar deserve to know the truth,” KUNA quoted Yanghee Lee as saying while presenting her third report to the UN Human Rights Council.
“Of particular concern are multiple cases of killings of civil society actors for their involvement in human rights work and activism, including several in recent months, as well as cases which remain unresolved even after years of relatives of victims demanding justice.
“Many of these cases relate to vested commercial interests or the military,” she stressed. Lee was particularly disturbed by the brutal killing of one of Myanmar’s best known Constitutional lawyers, U Ko Ni, as he was holding his grandchild.
The UN expert called for a Commission of Inquiry into events in Rakhine State where serious human rights violations, allegedly committed by the armed forces, have been surfacing “increasingly and persistently.”
“I heard allegation after allegation of horrific events like these – slitting of throats, indiscriminate shootings, setting alight houses with people tied up inside and the throwing of very young children into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence,” said the Special Rapporteur.
She was referring to her visit to Bangladesh last month to meet individuals who had fled Rakhine state. Lee also called for investigations and a “dedicated and urgent discussion” at the Human Rights Council into human rights violations occurring in other parts of the country.
She continues to receive reports of serious violations committed by all parties to the conflict, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, sexual- and gender-based violence, arbitrary killings, and abductions; adding that, “many of these violations have also gone uninvestigated, with the situation in these areas worsening and still receiving little attention.”
“I am extremely concerned by the escalation of conflict in Kachin and Shan States which is having a dramatic impact on civilians in these areas,” she said, highlighting reports that over 10,000 people were displaced last week from Kokang Self-Administered Zone.
Lee also expressed concern that the United Nations and other international organizations have been systematically denied authorization to deliver vital and, in some cases, lifesaving assistance to over 40,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) since May 2016.
The expert welcomed the increasing representation of women in discussions making up the peace process, calling for the minimum level of 30% across all groups to be reached at the next conference.
Peace process appears to be at a stalemate
She noted nonetheless that, “the peace process at the moment appears to be at a stalemate” and called on, “all parties to increase efforts to advance the process.” The Special Rapporteur also welcomed the increased efforts of the government to engage with her.
She reiterated her approach to the mandate as being a friend of Myanmar, with her only bias being towards the human rights of all the people in the country.
“As I have always done, I present myself, and my mandate, as a source for support and assistance towards Myanmar’s aim of becoming a fully functioning democracy aspiring to be respected in the international fora.”
Lee, of the Republic of Korea, was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Myanmar. (T//RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
