Civilians under attack

Organizations appeal for measures to end repression against civilians in Myanmar

ariel view of an idp camp, irrewaddy delta, andaman sea

In Myanmar, more than 400,000 people have already been forced to leave the country to escape severe repression against the Rohingya community (part of the Muslim minority). During the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council, organizations called for a resolution of the conflict and the guarantee of access to humanitarian aid.

The conflict in the Asian country began after an attack on the government by a group of Rohingya militants. The response by the government was a military offensive that forced thousands to flee to other countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, and it has also committed a series of abuses against the local population.

Earlier this month, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres drew attention to the risk of an ethnic cleansing. Just days later, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made a similar statement at the Human Rights Council and urged the Myanmar government to put a stop to the military operation in Rakhine, the region affected by the violence.

The Human Rights Council had already established a Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in Myanmar at its 34th session, in March this year, after reports of human rights violations in the state of Rakhine first started to emerge in October last year. The Myanmar government, however, has refused to cooperate with the FFM and denied allegations of violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law.

In an open letter sent to the Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council, the organizations said that “it is imperative for the UN Human Rights Council to urgently address the escalating situation in Myanmar through a resolution at the upcoming session”.

They said the resolution should extend the time available for the FFM beyond March – which was the initial deadline; make provision for the FFM to submit a preliminary report to the UN General Assembly in September 2017 and a final report to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in 2018; request that Myanmar urgently grant full access to the FFM; and emphasise the responsibility of Myanmar to prevent and seek accountability for any retaliation or reprisal against individuals for engaging with the FFM.

The organizations also requested that the resolution express grave concern over recent allegations of violations, call for an immediate end to attacks on the civilian population and grant full access for humanitarian aid and independent observers.

The document was signed by Conectas and another 43 organizations from around the world.

• Click here to read the letter in full.