Interactive dialogue on Myanmar on July 5, she informed
The chief of the United Nations Human Rights Commission,
Michelle Bachelet, has alleged that the persecution of the remaining Rohingyas
in Rakhine state of Myanmar is continuing.
In the opening statement, at the 41st session of the UN
Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva on Monday, High Commissioner for
Human Rights Michelle Bachelet also revealed that there would be an interactive
dialogue on Myanmar on July 5.
There is no or little endeavour from the Myanmar
government to create favourable conditions for a dignified and sustainable
return of hundreds of thousands of persecuted people sheltered in Bangladesh.
More than a million Rohingyas, most of whom have arrived
since August 25, 2017, are now in Cox’s Bazar, owing to the brutality of the
Myanmar security forces, local Buddhist vigilantes, and people from other
ethnic groups in Rakhine.
“In Myanmar, evidence indicates continued persecution of
the remaining Rohingya people in northern Rakhine State, with little or no
effort by the authorities to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, and
sustainable return of refugees,” said the UN rights chief.
“Although restrictions on humanitarian and media access
in both Rakhine, and in Chin State limit our access to information, the ongoing
conflict there has included use of heavy weaponry, airstrikes, and helicopter
gunships by the military, with significant loss of life on all sides, and
severe impact on civilians,” she added.
Based on allegations received, she furthered: “We fear
that the conflict is being used as a pretext to carry out attacks against
Rohingya civilians, and to cause further displacement. Some 35,000 ethnic
Rakhine, Rohingya, Mro, Daignet, and Khamee civilians have been internally
displaced by the fighting.
“The suspension of humanitarian aid by the government
means at least 95,000 people have been cut off from life-saving assistance.”
The eyes of the world are on the Council as this June
session opens, said Bachelet, adding that over 100 reports are still to be
examined.
Panel discussions will delve deeply into the many human
rights situations and themes, including topics crucial to women’s enjoyment of
human rights in the context of work, old age, and climate change, targeted
surveillance, and the private surveillance industry, mental health, and other
essential areas of political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights, she
said.
Detailing human rights violations in many parts of the
world, the high commissioner said: “I encourage all states to stand for
countries that are strong, not because they attack the vulnerable, but because
they protect the vulnerable."
“I urge them to stand for governments that are powerful
because they serve the people, not themselves, for justice systems that have
the people's support because they support the people's rights.”
She concluded: “To stand for a world, which is based on
hope, and dignity; a world that has a future, which is stronger, and safer,
because it upholds the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights
of all.”