Myanmar: Support for reforms means raising human rights
concerns, says UN rights expert
NEW YORK / GENEVA (25
October 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on
the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana,
made an urgent appeal to the international community to
remain engaged on human rights at every step of the
country's reform process.
"Being a friend of
Myanmar and a supporter of the current reform process
involves raising human rights concerns and working with the
Government to find solutions," Mr. Ojea Quintana said
during the presentation of his final report* to the UN
General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
"Myanmar has
made some important steps towards democratic reform and
national reconciliation, which includes the release of
hundreds of prisoners of conscience, greater media freedom,
an active Parliament and the prospect of a national
ceasefire accord next month," the expert noted. "These
developments need to be supported and encouraged, but it is
also important to highlight the human rights shortcomings
that exist in the reform process and work to find
solutions."
In his report, the Special Rapporteur
emphasized the significance of the 13 ceasefire agreements
that have been signed with ethnic armed groups, and the
prospect of a national ceasefire accord.
"The fighting
that continues in parts of Kachin and Northern Shan State
acts as a reminder of the suffering these conflicts have
brought to the people of Myanmar. The end of fighting in
itself brings immediate improvements to the human rights
situation, following decades of serious and widespread
violations committed by the military for which there has
been no accountability," the expert said.
While
welcoming the release of political prisoners, with over 950
released since May 2011, he expressed concern over the
arrests and convictions of human rights defenders and
peaceful protestors, including those involved in land rights
issues. "I urge the Government to listen to local
grievances and release the persons currently being detained
for peacefully protesting on these issues," he said.
The
UN expert noted Rakhine State is continuing to experience a
profound crisis. He acknowledged that the Government is
showing a greater willingness to address the situation, but
expressed concern that the underlying issue of
discrimination against Muslim and particularly Rohingya
populations remains unattended.
"The Government has yet
to fulfil its obligation under international human rights
law to investigate the allegations of widespread human
rights violations, including by the security forces,
reportedly committed during and after last year's violence
and to hold the perpetrators to account," he said.
Mr.
Ojea Quintana warned that the situation in Rakhine State was
helping to feed a wider anti-Muslim narrative in Myanmar,
which was posing one of the most serious threats to the
reform process. "There are leaders within the community,
including Buddhist monks, who are playing a positive role in
addressing the discrimination and violence against Muslim
populations," he said. "These voices need to be heard
and supported."
Reflecting on the positive changes
that had taken place over the past two years in Myanmar, the
Rapporteur called for important steps to maintain the
momentum: "Reforms of some sections of the Constitution
are imperative for the democratic transition and national
reconciliation to proceed. This includes the amendment of
provisions which allow for military appointees to occupy 25
per cent of seats in Parliament and which disqualify persons
from being President on unfair grounds, and the inclusion of
provisions to address the aspirations of ethnic minority
groups."
"This is my final report to the General
Assembly, and I want to express my gratitude to the people
of Myanmar who have always engaged enthusiastically with me
throughout the course of my mandate with the hope of seeing
improvements to the situation of human rights," he said,
as he completes the maximum six years on the mandate next
year. The Human Rights Council is scheduled to appoint a new
mandate holder in March.
ENDS
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