Myanmar:
UN expert ‘fears for civilians’ after Internet shutdown
GENEVA
(24 June 2019) - The Myanmar Government’s shutdown of mobile data networks in
nine townships could have serious implications for human rights and
humanitarian monitoring in the conflict areas of Rakhine and Chin States, a UN
expert warned on Monday.
“As
there is no media access and serious restrictions on humanitarian organisations
in the conflict-affected area, the entire region is in a blackout,” said
Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar. “I fear for all civilians there, cut off and without the necessary
means to communicate with people inside and outside the area.”
Recent
reports allege violations of human rights and international humanitarian law to
have been committed against the civilian population by both parties to the
conflict in the last six months.
On 20
June, the Ministry of Transport and Communications issued an order to all
mobile network providers under the Telecommunications Law 2013 to temporarily
stop mobile internet services. The Ministry cited disturbances to the peace and
internet services being used to coordinate illegal activities for the shutdown.
There
are credible reports that on 19 June, the Tatmadaw conducted helicopter attacks
in Minbya Township in central Rakhine. The following day, the Arakan Army fired
on a navy ship in Sittwe, killing and injuring several soldiers.
“I am
told that the Tatmadaw is now conducting a ‘clearance operation’, which we all
know by now can be a cover for committing gross human rights violations against
the civilian population,” the UN expert said. “We must not forget that these
are the same security forces that have so far avoided accountability for the
atrocities committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine State less than two years
ago.”
The conflict
between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw has been ongoing since late 2018, with
civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Over 35,000 civilians have been
displaced and dozens of civilians, including children, have been killed and
injured by both indiscriminate and targeted attacks. Others, mainly ethnic
Rakhine men, have died while in the military’s custody.
“I call
on the Government to reverse its decision to impose the mobile internet ban,”
Lee said. “Both parties to the conflict must ensure that civilians and civilian
objects are protected at all times and uphold international humanitarian law.
The restrictions on the media and humanitarian organisations must be lifted
immediately.”
ENDS
Mr.
Yanghee Lee (Republic
of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. She is independent from any
government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Lee
served as member and chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
(2003-2011). She is currently a professor at Sungkyunwan University, Seoul, and
serves on the Advisory Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of
Korea. Ms. Lee is the founding President of International Child Rights Center.
The
Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special
Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body
of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of
the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special
Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by
the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or
thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are
independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual
capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
UN
Human Rights, country page: Myanmar
For
more information and media requests please contact: Georgia
Drake (+41-22928 9780 or +41-79444 3993 / gdrake@ohchr.org).
For
media inquiries related to other UN independent experts: Jeremy Laurence, UN Human
Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)
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