GENEVA (12 March 2018) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, told the Human Rights
Council on Monday she was increasingly of the opinion that the events in
Rakhine State bear the hallmarks of genocide and called in the strongest terms
for accountability.
Lee, who was informed late last year that her access to
the country was denied, also expressed serious concern that “the repressive
practices of previous military governments were returning as the norm once more”
in Myanmar, describing the situation faced by civil society across the country
as “increasingly perilous”.
Delivering her report to the Council in Geneva, Lee said that
to date accountability for the crimes committed in Rakhine State following 25
August 2017, and 9 October 2016, was elusive, adding that this must now be the
focus of the international community’s efforts to bring long-lasting peace,
stability and democratization to Myanmar. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session37/Documents/A-HRC-37-70.docx
“This must be aimed at the individuals who gave the
orders and carried out violations against individuals and entire ethnic and
religious groups,” said Lee. “The Government leadership who did nothing to
intervene, stop, or condemn these acts must also be held accountable.”
Lee called for a thorough, impartial and credible
investigation to be conducted without delay and perpetrators to be held
responsible for the alleged crimes that were committed in Rakhine State since 9
October 2016 and 25 August 2017, and for the violations that continue today.
She called for the establishment of a UN structure, based
in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, for duration of three years to investigate,
document, collect, consolidate, map, and analyze evidence of human rights
violations and abuses.
The Special Rapporteur added that the investigative body
should maintain and prepare evidence in a master database to support and
facilitate impartial, fair and independent international criminal proceedings
in national or international courts or tribunals in accordance with
international criminal law standards.
Additionally, Lee called for a comprehensive review of
actions by the United Nations system in the lead-up to and after the reported
attacks of 9 October 2016 and 25 August 2017 regarding the implementation of
its humanitarian and protection mandates and within the Human Rights Up Front
framework.
“The external review should assess whether the UN and
international community could have prevented or managed the situation
differently that occurred regarding the Rohingya and in Rakhine State, and make
recommendations for accountability if appropriate,” she said.
Lee also expressed concerns that as the world’s attention
was drawn to the recent crisis in Rakhine State, scant attention had been
afforded to continued and escalating violence in Kachin, Shan and other
conflict affected States in Myanmar.
She said against this background, the peace process
appeared to be losing its momentum. “Ethnic armed organizations have complained
that the reason for this is largely due to the failure of the Government and
the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to take steps to earn the trust of
stakeholders,” Lee said.
The Special Rapporteur said she hoped to make official
visits to India and China as part of her preparation to report to the General
Assembly later this year, and said she remained hopeful the Myanmar Government
would revisit its decision and grant her access.
ENDS
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