JAKARTA, 18 February 2017 —
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) today welcomed reports that the
Myanmar military had halted its brutal counterinsurgency campaign in northern
Rakhine State, but stressed that an independent inquiry is still needed to
investigate alleged atrocities in the context of its operations.
“Declaring an end to the
crackdown does not absolve the Myanmar government of its responsibility to
protect its people and ensure that they are not subjected to abuse. We’re
talking about possible crimes against humanity here. This is not business as
usual in ASEAN,” said APHR Chairperson Charles Santiago, a member of the
Malaysian Parliament.
On 15 February, Myanmar’s
newly-appointed National Security Advisor, Thaung Tun, announced that the
Myanmar military had ended its to so-called “clearance operations” in northern
Rakhine State, which were launched over four months ago in response to a 9
October attack on police outposts there.
“The regional and
international pressure that led to this outcome must be sustained,” Santiago
said. “Our job is not done. We must ensure that there is no impunity for rights
violations. This task demands a credible, independent investigation—one which
Myanmar authorities have thus far demonstrated they are unwilling or unable to
carry out.”
A 3 February report by the
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) asserted a high
likelihood that crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing were
taking place in Rakhine State. Based on interviews with around 200 of the
nearly 70,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, who fled their homes in Rakhine
State since the start of the crackdown, the report documented devastating
accounts of killing, torture, and sexual violence.
“The UN’s exhaustive
first-hand reporting further corroborates the claims human rights organizations
and independent media have been making for months: possible ethnic cleansing
and crimes against humanity. These are serious, credible allegations, and the
stakes are enormous. They further confirm the need for a thorough, independent
investigation. And international assistance in this process is vital, as the
Myanmar government has consistently demonstrated its inability to act alone,”
Santiago said.
“The Myanmar government’s
repeated denials of rights violations demonstrate that Naypyitaw has no interest
in resolving the situation or addressing underlying issues. The fact that
security forces have been tasked with investigating themselves and rooting out
abusers in their own ranks speaks for itself. There isn’t even a half-hearted
attempt at impartiality or independence.”
On 14 February, members of
the Myanmar government’s Rakhine Investigation Commission, headed by Vice
President and former army general Myint Swe, flatly rejected allegations by the
United Nations of grave rights violations. These comments echoed previous statements
and reports from the Commission, as well as from other government bodies. In
recent days, the military and police have also set up separate teams to
investigate allegations of human rights abuses by their own members.
APHR urged regional governments
to assume a larger role in pressing Myanmar to address rights concerns. MPs
also supported calls for further UN action, including the formation of a
commission of inquiry, following the release of the 3 February report.
Parliamentarians called on
ASEAN governments to support such an investigation and push for improvements in
conditions for Rohingya, arguing that the Myanmar government’s actions in
Rakhine State have a direct impact on other member states and the region as a
whole.
“ASEAN governments need to
work together to resolve this situation before it’s too late. That doesn’t mean
playing the usual ASEAN game. It means stepping up and pushing for change,”
Santiago said.
“It is disappointing to hear
some ASEAN leaders lament the ‘internationalization’ of this issue. This is
undeniably a regional issue—not an internal affair—and it demands a regional
response.”