UN experts urge Myanmar to address serious violations of
human rights in northern Rakhine State
GENEVA (24 October 2016) – A group of United Nations
human rights experts today urged the Government of Myanmar to address the
growing reports of human rights violations in northern Rakhine State following
the attacks on 9 October 2016 by armed individuals against three Border Guard
Police posts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, and subsequent security
operations in search of suspected attackers.
“In the aftermath of the attacks, State Counsellor Aung
San Suu Kyi has rightly called for proper investigations to be conducted and
for no one to be accused until solid evidence is obtained,” said the UN Special
Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee. “Instead, we
receive repeated allegations of arbitrary arrests as well as extrajudicial
killings occurring within the context of the security operations conducted by
the authorities in search of the alleged attackers.”
“What troubles me most is the lack of access for a proper
assessment of the true picture of the situation there at the present moment.
The blanket security operations have restricted access for humanitarian actors
with concerning consequences for communities’ ability to secure food and
conduct livelihood activities,” the expert emphasised.
Regarding allegations of summary executions of civilians,
including of children, during the searches and raids conducted as part of the
police and military forces’ security operations, the UN Special Rapporteur on
summary executions, Agnes Callamard, reminded the Government of its
obligations.
“While the State has the legitimate authority and power
to carry out operations to pursue the alleged perpetrators of the 9 October
attacks, such crimes should be investigated and prosecuted in a court of law
and not dealt with violence,” Ms. Callamard said.
“Reports of homes and mosques being burnt down and
persons of a certain profile being rounded up and shot are alarming and
unacceptable,” she stated. “The authorities cannot justify simply shooting
suspects down on the basis of the seriousness of the crime alone. The
authorities have the duty to take concrete measures to prevent extrajudicial
killings in the country, not to perpetuate them.”
Ms. Callamard further recalled “the duty to conduct
thorough and impartial investigations of all suspected cases of extra-legal,
arbitrary and summary executions, including those reportedly carried out by
state agents.”
The UN Special Rapporteur on internally displaced
persons, Chaloka Beyani, also expressed serious concerns about the displacement
of large populations from affected areas as a result of the security
operations. “The authorities must allow access for humanitarian actors to be
able to undertake a needs assessment and continue delivering assistance and
aid, as well as ensure that the protection, needs and wellbeing of affected
populations are urgently and properly addressed,” Mr. Beyani said.
“All internally displaced persons have the right to an
adequate standard of living, including access to food and potable water, basic
shelter and housing, and essential medical services and sanitation, without
discrimination,” the expert stressed.
The UN experts concluded by urging the Government to
undertake proper and thorough investigations of alleged violations as well as
implement concerted efforts to fight and prevent acts of incitement to
discrimination, hostility and violence against minorities, while still
upholding internationally recognised human rights standards.
The experts’ call has also been endorsed by the UN
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment, Juan E. Méndez.
ENDS
The UN Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as
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UN Human Rights, country page – Myanmar:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/MMIndex.aspx
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