Bangladesh: UN
experts concerned by crackdown at Rohingya refugee camps
GENEVA (16
September 2019) - UN human rights experts* have expressed serious concerns
about tight new restrictions and an increased military presence at Rohingya
refugee camps following a massive “Genocide Day” protest last month.
An estimated
200,000 refugees gathered for the so-called “Genocide Day” rally in Cox’s Bazar
to mark the second anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar. They called for
Myanmar citizenship rights and other guarantees before they agree to return.
Since the
demonstration at Cox’s Bazar on 25 August, a number of the protest organisers
have been questioned and subjected to intimidation, the experts said. A curfew
is now being strictly enforced on those in the camps, and mobile phones have
been banned and confiscated.
A number of
NGOs have also been banned or suspended, allegedly for helping to organise the
protest and attempting to persuade refugees not to return to Myanmar.
“We are
alarmed by the sudden crackdown of the rights to freedom of expression,
peaceful assembly and association, and are seriously concerned, not only that
these restrictions have been applied in a discriminatory manner against members
of the Rohingya minority, who are refugees in Bangladesh, but also that curfews
and communications shutdowns could facilitate further serious human rights
abuses against them,” the experts said.
Tensions
flared between local communities and refugees following a failed refugee
repatriation attempt and the murder of a young Bangladeshi man on 22 August.
Bangladeshi police subsequently killed four Rohingya men and arrested at least
one other in response to the killing.
“The search
for justice for the young Bangladeshi man killed on 22 August is of the utmost
importance, but it is equally necessary to ensure that the presumption of
innocence is upheld and that reactionary, summary and ad hoc justice is not
doled out solely to placate the legitimate concerns of the host community,” the
experts said.
“We urge the
Bangladeshi Government to carry out an independent, impartial and effective
investigation into all deaths that have occurred with regards to this case.”
The experts
have expressed their concerns to the Bangladeshi Government over the incidents.
ENDS
(*) The UN
experts: Mr. Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights topeaceful assembly and of association; Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur onthe situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Felipe González Morales, SpecialRapporteur on the human rights of migrants; Ms Agnes Callamard, SpecialRapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mr. Fernand de
Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Mr. David Kaye, SpecialRapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinionand expression
The Special
Rapporteurs and Independent Experts 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 that address
either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the
world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN
staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any
government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human
Rights, Country Page – Bangladesh
For more
information and media requests please contact: Mr. Jack Pope (+41 22 917 9278,
spdconsultant@ohchr.org )
For media
inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact: Mr. Jeremy
Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org )
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related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.
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