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OHCHR / MYANMAR
STORY: OHCHR / MYANMAR
TRT: 02:48
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 11 MAY 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
11 MAY 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“More than 100 days after the coup in Myanmar, the military authorities are showing no sign of letting up in their brutal crackdown on opponents in a bid to consolidate their hold on power. At the same time, there is no weakening of the resolve of the civil disobedience movement and other facets of opposition to the coup leaders. As of yesterday, 10th of May, credible sources indicate that the security forces, using unnecessary, disproportionate, and lethal force to suppress demonstrations and other forms of public participation, have killed at least 782 individuals since the coup on 1st of February. While much of the world’s attention has been on the number of peaceful protesters and bystanders killed by the security forces, the authorities continue to commit other gross human rights violations against the people of Myanmar.”
3. Med shot, attendee taking notes in foreground and attendees sitting
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Military tribunals and courts martial have been established in several townships in which martial law was declared. At least 25 individuals have received the death sentence to date – some 20 of whom were tried in absentia.”
5. Med shot, attendee looking at cell phone
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Over the past month, the military leadership has issued over 1,561 arrest warrants targeting civil society activists, trade unionists, journalists, academics, public personalities, and online voices, so driving the vast majority of them underground. To intensify pressure, the military authorities have resorted to taking relatives of wanted people into custody to force them to turn themselves in to the police.”
7. Wide shot, dais
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are also deeply concerned about the situation of people fleeing persecution, especially human rights defenders and journalists. As the armed conflicts between the Tatmadaw and some of the ethnic armed organizations, particularly in Kachin and Kayin states, have intensified, people seeking protection are being forced to consider seeking safety outside the country. And when they do so, they should receive such protection and support as they need from Myanmar’s neighbours. It is clear that there needs to be greater international involvement to prevent the situation in Myanmar from deteriorating further. Despite the five-point plan agreed at the ASEAN leaders’ meeting on the 24th of April, the Myanmar military leadership has shown no sign of abiding by it. We call on ASEAN to react quickly and to intensify its actions to ensure the military keeps to these commitments and to hold them accountable for failing to do so. “
9. Med shot, attendee taking notes in foreground and attendees sitting
Human Rights spokesperson Rupert Colville today (11 May) told journalists in Geneva that “more than 100 days after the coup in Myanmar, the military authorities are showing no sign of letting up in their brutal crackdown on opponents in a bid to consolidate their hold on power.”
At the same time, he said, “there is no weakening of the resolve of the civil disobedience movement and other facets of opposition to the coup leaders.”
Colville said, “as of yesterday, 10th of May, credible sources indicate that the security forces, using unnecessary, disproportionate and lethal force to suppress demonstrations and other forms of public participation, have killed at least 782 individuals since the coup on 1st February. While much of the world’s attention has been on the number of peaceful protesters and bystanders killed by the security forces, the authorities continue to commit other gross human rights violations against the people of Myanmar.”
More than 3,740 people are currently in detention and the whereabouts and fate of hundreds of these individuals are unknown.
The spokesperson said military tribunals and courts martial have been established in several townships in which martial law was declared and “at least 25 individuals have received the death sentence to date – some 20 of whom were tried in absentia.”
Colville said, “over the past month, the military leadership has issued over 1,561 arrest warrants targeting civil society activists, trade unionists, journalists, academics, public personalities and online voices, so driving the vast majority of them underground. To intensify pressure, the military authorities have resorted to taking relatives of wanted people into custody to force them to turn themselves in to the police.”
In recent weeks, the coup leadership has dismissed, removed, or suspended more than 3,000 civil servants – nearly 70 per cent of those targeted have been women. Those suspended include 990 university professors, researchers, and assistants who in the last few days have been suspended for failing to report to work. There are reports that up to 11,000 more educational workers were suspended on Monday.
Colville said, “we are also deeply concerned about the situation of people fleeing persecution, especially human rights defenders and journalists.”
He said, “as the armed conflicts between the Tatmadaw and some of the ethnic armed organizations, particularly in Kachin and Kayin states, have intensified, people seeking protection are being forced to consider seeking safety outside the country. And when they do so, they should receive such protection and support from Myanmar’s neighbours.”
The said, “there needs to be greater international involvement to prevent the human rights situation in Myanmar from deteriorating further. Despite the five-point plan agreed at the ASEAN leaders’ meeting on 24 April, the Myanmar military leadership has shown no sign of abiding by it. We call on ASEAN to react quickly and to intensify its actions to ensure the military keeps to these commitments and to hold them accountable for failing to do so. “
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