26
October 2012 – Expressing concern about renewed deadly violence, a
United Nations independent expert has called for the underlying causes
of the tension and conflict between the Buddhist and Muslim communities
in Myanmar's Rakhine state to be addressed as a priority.
“It
is vital for the Government and all concerned to prevent further
violence and to defuse tensions between the two communities,” the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea
Quintana, said in presenting a report on his work to the General
Assembly on Thursday.
“Buddhist
and Muslim communities continue to suffer from the violence in Rakhine
State, so it is imperative that the Government pursues a policy of
integration and long-term reconciliation between the two communities,”
he added. “This will necessarily involve addressing the underlying
causes of the tensions, which includes the endemic discrimination
against the Rohingya community.”
In addition to highlighting
the importance of keeping human rights on the agenda for Myanmar, the
Special Rapporteur's report considers, among other things, the situation
in Rakhine state where – according to a news release from the Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – violence between
communities has left scores dead, over 850 people detained and tens of
thousands displaced.
According
to media reports, Government officials have said that at least 56
people have been killed and hundreds of homes torched since Sunday in
the north of Rakhine state, located in western Myanmar.
In
June, serious disturbances – between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and
Rohingya Muslims – led to the Government declaring a state of emergency
there. The violence reportedly left at least a dozen civilians dead and
hundreds of homes destroyed, while internally displacing tens of
thousands of people.
On
Thursday, Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon urged the authorities in Myanmar to take action to bring an
end to the lawlessness currently affecting the state, with the UN
chief's spokesperson describing the most recent outbreak of communal
violence in five townships in the state's north as “deeply troubling.”
In
his report to the Assembly, Mr. Ojea Quintana emphasizes that human
rights should lie at the heart of Myanmar's reform process, driving it
forward and keeping it focused on improving the lives of the population,
at a time when changes continue to move at a rapid pace and
considerable progress has been made.
“Human rights
considerations need to shape the process of economic growth, legislative
reform and institutional change, while also guiding responses to
ongoing serious human rights situations, including in Rakhine and Kachin
States,” he said.
The
Special Rapporteur welcomed the progress achieved in negotiating
ceasefire agreements with ethnic armed groups, but expressed concerns
over continuing allegations of human rights violations in
conflict-affected ethnic border areas.
“I
have received allegations of attacks (in the Kachin State) against
civilian populations, extrajudicial
killings, sexual violence, internal displacement, torture, forced
labour and portering, as well as the ongoing use of landmines and the
recruitment of child soldiers, by all parties to the conflict,” he
noted.
The
Special Rapporteur urged Myanmar authorities to address the situation
and provide the United Nations and its partners with regular,
independent and predictable access to all in need of humanitarian
assistance. “The Government should continue to engage ethnic groups in
serious dialogue to resolve long-standing and deep-rooted concerns to
forge durable political solutions,” he said.
Other matters
covered in his report included a renewed call for the release of all
remaining prisoners of conscience, a call for a concerted effort to
clarify exactly how many remain in
detention and steps to ensure the reintegration of released prisoners
into society, as well as the creation of a truth commission, amongst
other recommendations.
Independent
experts, or special rapporteurs like Mr. Ojea Quintana, are appointed
by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back
on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions
are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for
their work.
Source: Here
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