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GENEVA / MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
STORY: GENEVA / MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2:48
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki DARUSMAN, Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar:
”Allegations of the same types of violations have arisen in the context of recent attacks on security posts in the Rakhine state and the ensuing security operation of the Myanmar authorities – mass killings, excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, and the burning and destruction of entire villages. There are reports of landmines being planted on the border with Bangladesh that are maiming and killing those trying to escape the violence, including children. There are also reports of dehumanizing propaganda that akin the Rohingya to pests.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki DARUSMAN, Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar:
”It is clear to us that there is a grave humanitarian crisis underway that requires urgent attention. Over 400,000 people have sought refuge in Bangladesh in less than one month. There are reports that nearly 200 Rohingya villages in the affected area have been emptied.”
6. Med shot, Bangladesh delegate
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Marzuki DARUSMAN, Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar:
”I take this occasion to reiterate our request to the Government of Myanmar for cooperation, most importantly by granting us access to the country.”
8. Wide shot, delegations in Human Rights Room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Htin LYNN, UN Permanent Representative of the Republic of Myanmar:
“We continue to believe that instituting such a mission is not a helpful course of action in solving the already-intricated Rakhine issue with daunting challenges.”
10. Med shot, podium
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Htin LYNN, UN Permanent Representative of the Republic of Myanmar: “She said that the Myanmar government is committed to sustainable solution that will lead to peace, security and development of all communities in the Rakhine State and that we condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence. And also that we are committed to the restoration of peace stability and rule of law throughout the state. The Security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operations, to exercise all due restraints and to take full measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians.”
13. Pan left, delegations
14. Med shot, Bangladesh delegation
UN Human Rights investigators said today that they need “full and unfettered access” to Myanmar in order to investigate a grave and ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the head of the fact-finding mission Marzuki Darusman said”it is clear to us that there is a grave humanitarian crisis underway that requires urgent attention. Over 400,000 people have sought refuge in Bangladesh in less than one month. There are reports that nearly 200 Rohingya villages in the affected area have been emptied”. ”I take this occasion to reiterate our request to the Government of Myanmar for cooperation, most importantly by granting us access to the country, " he added.
The Council set up the fact-finding mission on Myanmar in March to investigate human rights violations across Myanmar, with a particular focus on alleged crimes committed against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, where attacks by insurgents on August 25 have sparked a military crackdown that has forced more than 410,000 Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh. The fact-finding mission has not been allowed into Myanmar to carry out its mandate.
”Allegations of the same types of violations have arisen in the context of recent attacks on security posts in the Rakhine state and the ensuing security operation of the Myanmar authorities – mass killings, excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, and the burning and destruction of entire villages,” Darusman said. He said that “there are reports of landmines being planted on the border with Bangladesh that are maiming and killing those trying to escape the violence, including children. There are also reports of dehumanizing propaganda that akin the Rohingya to pests.”
Darusman today appealed to the Human Rights Council to consider an extension of the current mandate by six months to September 2018.
”Facing an escalating situation in northern Rakhine that is increasing our workload exponentially, we are deeply concerned about our ability to verify the facts necessary to produce a report of the depth and quality that is expected of us by March. We therefore respectfully appeal to the Human Rights Council to consider extending our mandate by six months to September 2018, with the resources that would allow us to carry on our work at full speed. If the Council so decides, we could submit an interim report in March and a final report in September,” Darusman said.
The UN investigator warned that Myanmar had the “danger signs” of a crisis that could worsen.
Confronted with the investigations, Myanmar’s Ambassador Htin Lynn said that “we continue to believe that instituting such a mission is not a helpful course of action in solving the already-intricate Rakhine issue with daunting challenges”.
Htin Lynn referred to today’s address by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has broken her silence on the Rohingya issue.
“She said that the Myanmar government is committed to sustainable solution that will lead to peace, security and development of all communities in the Rakhine State and that we condemn all human rights violations and unlawful violence,” the diplomat from Myanmar said, quoting Aung San Suu Kyi. According to Htin Lynn, Myanmar is "committed to the restoration of peace stability and rule of law throughout the state. The Security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operations, to exercise all due restraints and to take full measures to avoid collateral damage and the harming of innocent civilians.”
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