UN: Rohingya may be victims of crimes against humanity
Photo Credit: Huffington post
By MWC News, 20 June 2016
UN says Myanmar’s Muslim minority group are being subjected to forced
labour, sexual violence and denied of citizenship.
labour, sexual violence and denied of citizenship.
Widespread
and ongoing violations against Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority, including
denial of citizenship, forced labour and sexual violence, could amount to
“crimes against humanity”, the United Nations has said.
and ongoing violations against Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority, including
denial of citizenship, forced labour and sexual violence, could amount to
“crimes against humanity”, the United Nations has said.
Some
125,000 Rohingya remain displaced and face severe travel restrictions in
squalid camps since fighting erupted between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012.
Thousands have fled persecution and poverty.
125,000 Rohingya remain displaced and face severe travel restrictions in
squalid camps since fighting erupted between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012.
Thousands have fled persecution and poverty.
In a report
issued on Monday, the UN human rights office said it had found “a pattern
of gross violations against the Rohingya … (which) suggest a widespread or
systematic attack … in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes
against humanity if established in a court of law”.
issued on Monday, the UN human rights office said it had found “a pattern
of gross violations against the Rohingya … (which) suggest a widespread or
systematic attack … in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes
against humanity if established in a court of law”.
UN human
rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was “encouraged” by
statements by Myanmar’s recenty-elected government in recent weeks, but added
that the new leadership had “inherited a situation where laws and policies
are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities”.
rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was “encouraged” by
statements by Myanmar’s recenty-elected government in recent weeks, but added
that the new leadership had “inherited a situation where laws and policies
are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities”.
Hussein
said impunity for serious violations against the Rohingya “has encouraged
further violence against them”.
said impunity for serious violations against the Rohingya “has encouraged
further violence against them”.
The report
was published amid hopes that Myanmar’s new government, steered by Foreign
Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party, will address deep
hatreds in the western Rakhine state.
was published amid hopes that Myanmar’s new government, steered by Foreign
Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party, will address deep
hatreds in the western Rakhine state.
In a
meeting on Monday with Yanghee Lee, UN’s special human rights investigator,
Aung San Suu Kyi herself avoided the use of the word “Rohingya”.
meeting on Monday with Yanghee Lee, UN’s special human rights investigator,
Aung San Suu Kyi herself avoided the use of the word “Rohingya”.
‘Summary executions’
During its
year-long probe, the UN found “an alarming increase” in incitement to
hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations
against the Rohingya.
year-long probe, the UN found “an alarming increase” in incitement to
hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations
against the Rohingya.
Buddhist
nationalists have staged protests across the country against even using the
term Rohingya.
nationalists have staged protests across the country against even using the
term Rohingya.
They label
the group “Bengalis”, casting Myanmar’s more than one million
Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, denying them citizenship
despite their families living in Myanmar for generations.
the group “Bengalis”, casting Myanmar’s more than one million
Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, denying them citizenship
despite their families living in Myanmar for generations.
Monday’s
report also found that state security forces have committed a wide range of
other violations against the Rohingya.
report also found that state security forces have committed a wide range of
other violations against the Rohingya.
These
include summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and
detention, torture and ill-treatment and forced labour, the report said.
include summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and
detention, torture and ill-treatment and forced labour, the report said.
Members of
the Rohingya community in Rakhine also need official authorisation to move
between, and often within, townships, severely restricting their freedom of
movement, it added.
the Rohingya community in Rakhine also need official authorisation to move
between, and often within, townships, severely restricting their freedom of
movement, it added.
The report
also outlined abuses against other minorities, especially in the restive Kachin
and northern Shan States, where children are allegedly forced into fighting.
also outlined abuses against other minorities, especially in the restive Kachin
and northern Shan States, where children are allegedly forced into fighting.
The report
called on Myanmar to carry out an independent probe.
called on Myanmar to carry out an independent probe.
