GENEVA (24 January 2017) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, today
warned about possible reprisals against people she met during her
recent official visit to the country (9 to 21 January). “There is one
word that has hung heavily on my mind during this visit – reprisals,” the
expert said.
“I am deeply concerned about those with whom I met and
spoke, those critical of the Government, those defending and advocating for the
rights of others, and those who expressed their thoughts and opinions which did
not conform to the narrative of those in the position of power,” she said,
while noting the increasing use of section 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Law
against many, “merely for speaking their minds.”
“It is particularly alarming to learn that the security
forces’ counter operations in the villages of Maungdaw north in Rakhine State
has reportedly been resumed following a brief lull, with raids conducted in
several villages including nearby the villages I visited,” Ms. Lee stressed.
There are further allegations of arbitrary arrests and detention in relation to
these latest reported raids.
The expert was especially dismayed to note during this
visit the feelings of optimism and hope appearing to slowly fade among the
ordinary people of Myanmar just after one year when the whole country was
elated with the outcome of the last general elections.
The Special Rapporteur expressed regret at only being
allowed to go to Myitkyina, and not Laiza and Hpakant in Kachin State due to
security reasons and met interlocutors who travelled to Myitkyina instead.
“It is evident that the situation in Kachin and at the
northern borders is deteriorating, she stated. “Those in Kachin State tell me
that the situation is now worse than at any point in the past few years. Whilst
I was not able to travel to the areas, most severely affected, the situation is
now such that even in Myitkyina, the capital of the state and home to over
300,000 people, residents are afraid – and now stay home after dark.”
In Mon State, Ms. Lee visited for the first time a hard
labour camp where she saw the living conditions of the prisoners. Her major
concerns were the use of shackles as a form of additional punishment (including
while working in the quarry) as well as the lack of transparency regarding the
prisoners’ transfer to the hard labour camp. The lack of an individual
complaint system in prisons, including the hard labour camps, was very
concerning to the Special Rapporteur. “I was struck by the fear of those
prisoners who were afraid of what would happen to them after speaking to me.”
In Rakhine State, the Special Rapporteur visited the
Border Guard posts that were attacked on 9 October by armed individuals. She
conveyed her deepest condolences to the families of those killed brutally
during the attacks.
“I must remind again that these attacks took place within
the context of decades of systematic and institutionalised discrimination
against the Rohingya population,” she noted. The expert also went to several
affected Muslim villages.
“I saw with my own eyes the structures that were burnt
down in Wa Peik,” she said, and was told by Government officials that it was
the villagers who had burnt down their own houses. “As the authorities offered no
evidence for this, I found this argument quite incredible.”
The expert also noted the video clip that went viral of
the Myanmar Police personnel beating men – and children – who were rounded up
during the security operations, and highlighted the possibility that such
treatment of the local population may not be an isolated incident but rather a
more common practice.
She emphasised the importance for the security forces to
always act within the parameters of the rule of law and in compliance with
human rights and that it would be crucial for the Government to combat the
apparent climate of impunity. “There must be accountability and justice must be
done and seen to be done to reassure the ordinary people that no one is above
the law,” Ms. Lee reminded.
“From my meetings and conversations with the State
Counsellor and the various officials, I can see their genuine commitment and
dedication in improving the lives of all in Myanmar. Somehow this commitment
has yet to translate into real actions that are felt on the ground,” she said.
In particular she found the Government’s response of defending, dismissing and
denying human rights issues to be not only counterproductive but is draining
away the hope that had been sweeping the country.
During the 12-day visit, the expert addressed a broad
range of human rights issues with the authorities and various stakeholders,
including political and community leaders, civil society representatives, as
well as victims of human rights violations and members of the international
community.
The Special Rapporteur will present
her report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017, which will
include her observations and recommendations to the Government of Myanmar.
Ms. Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by
the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on situation
of human rights in Myanmar. She is independent from any government or
organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Lee is currently
serving as the Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of Special Procedures
of the Human Rights Council. 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:
Ms.Azwa Petra
+41 22 928 9103 / +41 79 444 3781 / apetra@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN
independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, OHCHR Media Unit
+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org
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