Jun 12, 2017
Sweden has been a loyal friend to Myanmar for decades
providing millions of financial aid every year to Myanmar with main focuses on
democratic reforms, human rights, peace and healthcare.
Tragically, under the newly elected democratic
government, the ethnic minorities have seen the brutal escalation of their
ongoing persecution perpetrated by the Myanmar military, Rohingya in
particular. Recently, U.N. has called for a fact-finding mission to Myanmar for
the serious allegations of mass killings, torture and rape against Rohingya.
The state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD
(National League for Democracy) government have disgracefully dissociated
themselves from the U.N. fact-finding mission into allegations of widespread
human rights abuses against the ethnic Rohingya minority in Rakhine State,
taken place since October 9, 2016.
A fact-finding mission is in the interests of the
government of Myanmar and its people. This mission would help clear up
uncertainty about allegations of killings, torture and rape that Rohingya
civilian have faced during the ‘Clearance Operations’ in the northern Maungdaw
Township, Rakhine State.
It would demonstrate the government’s willingness to
uphold the rule of law, work collaboratively with the international community
to help establish facts, identify perpetrators, and deter future crimes by all
parties in the conflict.
Swedish government must make it clear that it takes its
international assistance to Myanmar very seriously, and that it expects the de-facto leader of Myanmar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to stand strong for peace and
diversity, inclusiveness of all ethnic minorities including Rohingya and
allowing their broader participation in peace processes without fear of any
consequences.
ERC is deeply concerned that the failure of the
government of Myanmar to fully cooperate with the fact-finding mission may
explode the situation in Rakhine State to an inevitable humanitarian disaster
threatening the regional stability.
Therefore, ERC urges the Prime Minister Mr. Stefan Löfven
and Minister for Foreign Affairs Miss Margot Wallström to press for Myanmar’s
full co-operation with the independent and impartial U.N. investigation as the
long-time friend and donor of Myanmar during Daw Aung San Suu Kyi´s visit to
Rosenbad, Sweden.
Dr. Anita schug
ERC spokesperson