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GENEVA / MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
STORY: GENEVA / MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 02:45
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 MARCH 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Pan left, Human Rights Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations :
“Constitutional reform seems a distant goal at this time. And made even more onerous with the brutal killing of one of Myanmar’s known Constitutional lawyers, U Ko Ni, as he was holding his grandchild. Despite this unexpected and seemingly insurmountable hurdle, I urge for progress towards Constitutional reform through potentially the establishment of a preparatory committee to study possible revision processes. Until the Constitution is reformed to provide for a truly civilian government, Myanmar cannot truly attain a full democracy.”
4. Wide shot, Human Rights Council meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations :
“I also continue to receive reports of serious human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, sexual- and gender-based violence, arbitrary killings, and abductions, all of which frequently go uninvestigated.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations :
“Never have I felt more anxiety over potential acts of retaliation and reprisals than in Rakhine State during my visit.”
8. Wide shot, meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations :
“I heard allegation after allegation of horrific events like these – slitting of throats, indiscriminate shootings, setting alight houses with people tied up inside and throwing very young children into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence. Even men, young and old, broke down and cried in front of me telling me about what they went through and their losses.”
10. Wide shot, meeting
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, United Nations :
“The international community must come together in expressing a strong and single voice in this regard, regardless of varying interests of individual members States. This is why I called for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the systematic, structural, and institutional discrimination in policy, law and practice, as well long-standing persecution, against the Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine State. “
12 Various shots, meeting and delegates
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar said that systematic discrimination and persecution of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities warrants the establishment of a commission to investigate such alleged abuses.
Speaking a the Human Rights Council today (13 Mar) in Geneva, Yanghee Lee said that during recent visits to the country, she had “heard allegation after allegation of horrific events like these – slitting of throats, indiscriminate shootings, setting alight houses with people tied up inside and throwing very young children into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence. Even men, young and old, broke down and cried in front of me telling me about what they went through and their losses.”
She added the international community needed to stand together to establish the truth. This is why she has "called for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the systematic, structural, and institutional discrimination in policy, law and practice, as well long-standing persecution, against the Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine State.”
In addition to violence in Rakhine state, the human rights expert expressed her extreme concern at the escalation of conflict in Kachin and Shan states, which, she said, is having a dramatic impact on civilians.
More than 10,000 people were forced to flee and cross the Chinese border (date), and she continues "to receive reports of serious human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, sexual- and gender-based violence, arbitrary killings, and abductions, all of which frequently go un-investigated."
The Special Rapporteur also recalled the need for a constitutional reform in the Southeast Asian country, whilst admitting that is may be " a distant goal at this time." She said that the "brutal killing" of constitutional lawyer U Ko Ni in January 2017 had made the task "even more onerous."
She also said, "Despite this unexpected and seemingly insurmountable hurdle, I urge for progress towards Constitutional reform, " Ms. Lee said. "Until the Constitution is reformed to provide for a truly civilian government, Myanmar cannot truly attain a full democracy.”
The expert recommended that the Human Rights Council hold a dedicated and urgent discussion to address the human rights violations occurring all parts of the country, including in Kachin and northern Shan. She concluded, “The international community must come together in expressing a strong and single voice in this regard, regardless of varying interests of individual member states.”
South Korean Professor Yanghee Lee was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Myanmar. The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council and they are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization.
In reply to the Special Rapporteur's statement, the Ambassador of Myanmar to the United Nations in Geneva said that his country "does not accept the idea of a Commission of Inquiry" as the allegations are being addressed, he said, at the national level.
“We dismiss the term “crime against humanity” as it is envisaged based on unverified, intentional and one-sided allegations, Ambassador Htin Lynn said. He added that the situation in Rakhine State was very complicated, and required the international community’s understanding.
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