August 8, 2017
Arakan Rohingya
National Organsation (ARNO) strongly denounces and rejects the report, dated 6
August 2017, of the Maungdaw Investigation Commission headed by Myanmar
Vice-President Myint Swe, a former military general. The report is
“fundamentally flawed” and devoid of truth.
We are not surprised
that the government’s commission denies “crimes against humanity and ethnic
cleansing” against the Rohingya people, where Myanmar military and security
forces were the perpetrators.
We reiterate that
the commission lacked independence and proper mandate; its members are not
impartial or competent; it fails to provide adequate and effective protection
for witnesses; and it has not given any consideration to the independent
expert’s recommendations. The report neither provides accountability nor
reconciliation but impunity. It, in fact, is a blatant disregard of the human
rights of the victims.
Under international
conventions and customary international law, the government of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi has primary responsibility to protect the Rohingya population; to make
accountable those responsible for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and
ethnic cleansing against them, and to ensure their right to effective remedy.
But the commission and its report is a ploy by the Myanmar government to
prevent an independent international investigation to deliver justice, truth
and full reparations for the victims.
The UN Fact-Finding
mission is credible alternative to highly flawed and bias Maungdaw
Investigation Commission’s report and is crucial for accountability efforts.
The defenseless Rohingyas should not face discrimination or violence because of
their ethnic background or religious belief.
We, therefore, urge
upon the international community, including the powerful countries and
Myanmar’s neighbours, to reject the Maungdaw Investigation Commission’s report
and put concerted pressure on the stubborn Myanmar authorities to fully
cooperate with the UN mandated Fact-Finding Mission into the human rights
situation in Arakan/Rakhine State, and to provide it with free and unfettered
access to all the areas to which they are seeking access.