UN expert accuses Myanmar of acting like military govt

United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee has accused the government of Myanmar of policies reminiscent of the previous military government, and of presiding over a worsening security and human rights situation.

Lee, ending a 12-day visit to the country, listed a catalogue of concerns including reports of killings, torture, the use of human shields by security forces, deaths in custody and an ongoing humanitarian crisis for the Rohingya people and other minorities forced from their homes, reads a UN press release issued in Geneva today. 

Her own movements had been severely restricted, she added, and access to crisis-hit areas remained off-limits even to international organisations.  People who met her faced harassment, and the Government had sought to place unprecedented pre-conditions on her visit. 

“I am disappointed to see the tactics applied by the previous Government still being used,” said Lee, launching her statement as her visit drew to a close.  “I understand the new Government wishes to normalise its relations with the United Nations, but Myanmar must first become a country that deserves less attention and scrutiny.

“We are told not to expect Myanmar to transition into a democracy overnight - that it needs time and space,” she noted. “But in the same way, Myanmar should not expect to have its close scrutiny removed or its special monitoring mechanisms dismantled overnight. This cannot happen until there is real and discernible progress on human rights.”

Lee said the situation of the Rohingya people from Rakhine State, many of whom have been forced from their homes amid reports of grave human rights violations, had hardly improved since her last visit in January.

“I continue to receive reports of violations allegedly committed by security forces during operations. There also appear to be incidents of Rohingya being targeted for applying to be verified as citizens, as well as village administrators and other Muslims targeted for being ‘collaborators’ for working with the authorities – leaving many Rohingya civilians terrified, and often caught between violence on both sides,” she said, adding that she was severely concerned about the treatment of prisoners.

The Special Rapporteur noted that the authorities have already recognised that State protection and security must extend not only to the Rakhine but also the Muslim communities. However, she said, “the Government must take concrete steps in this regard, including investigating all alleged violations, ending discriminatory practices and restoring freedom of movement.”

She said around 120,000 people from the area were still living in camps after fleeing their homes, and there was little prospect of a long-term solution. “Some people were told they would be in the camps for three days, but this has turned into five long years,” she added.

Concern was growing over a worsening situation in Kachin and Shan states, the special rapporteur noted, with lack of access for international organisations, a worsening feature in both.

During the visit, which took place from 10-21 July at the invitation of the government, she met a broad range of officials including political and community leaders and civil society representatives, as well as victims of human rights violations. It was her sixth fact-finding mission to the country, and the third since the new Government came to power.

Lee will present a full report on her visit to the UN General Assembly in October 2017.