{"id":4308,"date":"2018-02-05T16:36:11","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T07:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/?p=4308"},"modified":"2018-02-05T16:41:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T07:41:10","slug":"hrc37rohingya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/news\/2018\/02\/05\/hrc37rohingya\/","title":{"rendered":"Written Statement submitted to 37th Human Rights Council session<\/i> \u201cMyanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Rohingya Situation and Should Ensure the Rohingya Refugees\u2019 Safe Return to a Stable Situation\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
Human Rights Now has submitted a written statement \u201cMyanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Rohingya Situation and Should Ensure the Rohingya Refugees\u2019 Safe Return to a Stable Situation\u201d to the 37th session of Human Rights Council, which is going to be held in Geneva from 26 February, 2018.<\/div>\n
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HRN written statement on Myanmar for 37th HRC<\/a> [PDF]<\/div>\n
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\n

Myanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Rohingya Situation and Should Ensure the Rohingya Refugees\u2019 Safe Return to a Stable Situation<\/h3>\n

1. Introduction\u2014Facing up to the Rohingya Crisis<\/h4>\n

Human Rights Now (HRN), a Tokyo-based international human rights NGO, expresses grave concern over the human rights situation of the Rohingya people in Rakhine State, Myanmar, as well as in Bangladesh where many refugees have fled following violent crackdowns by Myanmar security forces.<\/p>\n

HRN urges the Myanmar government to promote accountability for the violence against the Rohingya, as well as to reform its repatriation policy so that the Rohingya can return to their homes in Myanmar.<\/p>\n

2. Ongoing violence against the Rohingya and Developments in Government Policies<\/h4>\n

Following the attack on a military outpost by a group of Rohingya rebels on 25 August 2017, Myanmar security forces launched a large-scale \u201cclearance\u201d operation targeting the Rohingya. There are consistent reports of disproportionate use of force by military personnel and non-state actors, including reports of extra-judicial killings, rape and arson.[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The turmoil in the Rakhine State is part of a continuous cycle of violence. For example, similar reports of widespread violence by security forces surfaced in 2016 after armed militants attacked the Myanmar security forces.[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n

Because of these attacks, an estimate of over 650,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August 2017.[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0These refugees live in overcrowded camps, with poor hygiene, and lack access to healthcare.<\/p>\n

For instance, according to UNICEF, \u00a0\u201cas few as 3 percent of the children arriving from Myanmar are properly immunized.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Additionally, in a camp near Cox\u2019s Bazar, Bangladesh, refugees are contracting diphtheria, and 28-related deaths have been reported thus far.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0The conditions in the refugee camps are clearly placing the refugees at a higher risk of contracting diseases. In addition to illness and malnutrition, the upcoming monsoon season threatens the lives of tens of thousands of refugees.[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

In November 2017, the Myanmar government signed an agreement with Bangladesh on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees,[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0However, as of the date of this statement, the process of repatriating Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh has been put on hold by Bangladesh authorities.[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Furthermore, under current Myanmar policies, the Rohingya will still be required to present official documents upon repatriation.[9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0This may disqualify most Rohingya, who are considered illegal immigrants and denied citizenship.<\/p>\n

Finally, despite an overwhelming number of testimonies from refugees and condemnations from the international community, Myanmar authorities have consistently denied the accusations with the exception of a case where the army admitted to extra judicial killings of victims they called \u201cBengali terrorists\u201d\u00a0[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The government\u2019s denial encompasses actions like the arbitrary arrest of journalists in retaliation for their reports on the refugee situation in Rakhine State, the release of a statement of \u201cnon-cooperation\u201d with the U.N. Special Rapporteur along with a denial of access into the country, and the denial of access to the UN fact-finding mission enacted by the Human Rights Council in March 2017.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Myanmar Must Accept Accountability for its Treatment of the Rohingya<\/h4>\n

Investigation by a neutral third party and transparency is necessary to provide accountability for the responsible parties and fight the core issue of the recurring violence against Rohingya in Myanmar. The UN General Assembly has emphasized the need for transparency through \u201cfull, unrestricted and unmonitored access\u201d for investigations in its situation report on Myanmar from 31 October 2017.[12]<\/a>\u00a0Similarly, the UN Security Council has called upon the Myanmar government to allow transparent investigations and uphold accountability.[13]<\/a>\u00a0The Myanmar government\u2019s denial of the Rohingya situation, including the arrest of the journalists and refusal to allow entry to the UN Special Rapporteur and UN fact-finding mission undermine the call for transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n

3. Myanmar Must Do More to Facilitate the Repatriation of the Rohingya Refugees<\/h4>\n

Concerns have been raised that the repatriation agreement between the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments may not fully ensure the voluntary and safe return of the refugees to a stable situation consistent with the principle of non-refoulement, recognized as customary international law.[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0For example, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has\u00a0 highlighted the risk of a flawed return plan that would result in the relocation of Rohingya from refugee camps in Bangladesh to displacement camps in Myanmar.[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Additionally, the repatriation solution proposed by Myanmar does not offer long term solutions, such as citizenship and housing, to the Rohingya.\u00a0 Moreover, authorities have rejected opportunities to collaborate with the UNHCR and IOM to craft a repatriation process that could comply with the obligation to uphold non-refoulement.<\/p>\n

Myanmar\u2019s policies also undermine its obligation under Article 12 of the ICCPR to protect the freedom of movement of the Rohingya.[16]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Specifically, the policy requiring the Rohingya to produce official documentation upon repatriation will likely hamper the Rohingya\u2019s ability return to their homes in Myanmar, due to their lack of citizenship status, noted above.<\/p>\n

4. Recommendations\u2014The Government of Myanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Violence Against the Rohingya, and Should Reform its Repatriation Policy<\/h4>\n

HRN is gravely concerned by the refugee crisis and persecution of Rohingya in Myanmar and urges the Myanmar government to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Ensure\u00a0\u00a0 all military operations and human rights abuses in Rakhine State\u00a0 have stopped<\/li>\n
  2. Release journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo from arbitrary arrest.[17]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Allow the fact-finding mission set in place by the Human Rights Council in March 2017 to enter Myanmar and investigate the alleged abuses.[18]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Conduct independent investigations of alleged crimes and hold accountable any official or non-state actor responsible for criminal acts.<\/li>\n
  5. Allow unfettered access to all relevant international officers and organizations and work alongside international actors to ensure the safe and voluntary return of refugees to Myanmar.<\/li>\n
  6. Ensure the timely and safe return of Rohingya as opposed to long-term settlement in displacement camps. This includes guarantees of non-recurrence of the violence against Rohingya, reexamining the 1982 Nationality Law to give proper citizenship to the Rohingya population, and respecting their civil liberties.<\/li>\n
  7. Implement the Governmental Advisory Commission\u2019s recommendations released in August 2017 in order to solve the structural issues in Myanmar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n

    [1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0\u201cRohingya Crisis: Bangladesh to Restrict Movement of Migrants\u201d, BBC, 16 Sept. 2017,\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-41291650<\/a>. \u201cHRW: Satellite Data Show Fires Burning in Rakhine State,\u201d Al Jazeera, 30 Aug. 2017,\u00a0http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2017\/08\/hrw-satellite-data-show-fires-burning-rakhine-state-170829065457014.html<\/a>.<\/u>\u00a0\u201cIndependent International Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar concludes visit to Malaysia,\u201d United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, 11 December 2017,\u00a0http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22522&LangID=E<\/a>.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

    [2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0OHCHR, \u201cMyanmar: UN expert warns of worsening rights situation after \u201clockdown\u201d in Rakhine State,\u201d 18 Nov. 2016,\u00a0http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20895&LangID=E<\/a>.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

    [3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0\u201cRohingya Emergency\u201d, UNHCR,\u00a0http:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/rohingya-emergency.html<\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSince 25 August 2017, as of 7 January 2018, according to UNHCR\u2019s family-counting exercise.\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

    [4]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0UNICEF, \u201cRohingya Refugee Children: UNICEF Emergency Response in Bangladesh\u201d, 15 Jan. 2018,\u00a0https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/infobycountry\/bangladesh_100945.html<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Ferrie, “Vaccination Ramps Up in Diphtheria-Hit Rohingya Refugee Camps.” Reuters, 15 Jan. \u00a02018,https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-bangladesh-rohingya\/vaccination-ramps-up-in-diphtheria-hit-rohingya-refugee-camps-idUSKBN1F41JU<\/a>. Bennett, “Rohingya Face Hunger and Disease in Bangladesh Refugee Camp after Escaping Myanmar Violence\u201d, ABC News, 24 Sept. 2017,<\/span><\/p>\n

    http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2017-09-24\/rohingya-face-hunger-and-disease-in-bangaldesh-refugee-camp\/8978882<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Schlein, “Upcoming Monsoons in Bangladesh Put Rohingya Children at Risk”, VOA, 17 Jan. 2018,https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/monsoons-bangladesh-rohingya-children\/4211488.html<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Holmes, \u201cMyanmar Signs Pact with Bangladesh over Rohingya Repatriation\u201d, The Guardian, 23 Nov 2017,<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2017\/nov\/23\/myanmar-signs-pact-with-bangladesh-over-rohingya-repatriation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Cochrane, “Rohingya Repatriation Delayed by Bangladeshi Officials Just Hours Before It was Due to Begin.” ABC News, 23 Jan. 2018,\u00a0http:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2018-01-23\/bangladesh-delays-rohingya-repatriation-over-logistics\/9350772<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Holmes, “Myanmar Signs Pact with Bangladesh Over Rohingya Repatriation,\u201d The Guardian, 23 Nov.\u00a0 2017,<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2017\/nov\/23\/myanmar-signs-pact-with-bangladesh-over-rohingya-repatriation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0\u201cMyanmar army rejects UN Rohingya abuse claims\u201d BBC 23 May 2017<\/span>
    \n    http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-42639418<\/a>. Rohingya crisis: Myanmar army admits killings 10 January 2018,\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-42639418<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    [11]<\/a>\u00a0“Two Reuters Journalists Arrested In Myanmar, Face Official Secrets Charges”, Reuters, 13 Dec. 2017,\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-myanmar-journalists\/two-reuters-journalists-arrested-in-myanmar-face-official-secrets-charges-idUSKBN1E71CO<\/a>. \u201cMyanmar refuses access to UN Special Rapporteur,\u201d<\/span>
    \n    http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22553&LangID=E<\/a>. \u201cMyanmar bars U.N. rights investigator before visit. \u201c Reuters. December 20, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/uk.reuters.com\/article\/uk-myanmar-rohingya-investigator\/myanmar-bars-u-n-rights-investigator-before-visit-idUKKBN1EE0UP?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=69<\/a>. Fact Finding Mission Statement to the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the \u201cSituation of human rights of the minority Rohingya Muslim population and other minorities in Rakhine State of Myanmar” December 5, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n

    http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22495&LangID=E<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    [12]<\/a>\u00a0UN General Assembly, \u201cSituation of human rights in Myanmar,\u201d 31 October 2017, A\/C.3\/72\/L.48, https:\/\/undocs.org\/A\/C.3\/72\/L.48.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [13]<\/a>\u00a0UN Security Council, \u201cSecurity Council Presidential Statement Calls on Myanmar to End Excessive Military Force, Intercommunal Violence in Rakhine State,\u201d 6 November 2017, SC\/13055, https:\/\/www.un.org\/press\/en\/2017\/sc13055.doc.htm.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0UNHCR, \u201cUNHCR Note on the Principle of Non-Refoulement,” Refworld, Nov. 1997,\u00a0http:\/\/www.refworld.org\/docid\/438c6d972.html<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Paul and Lee, \u201cBangladesh Agrees with Myanmar to Complete Rohingya Return in Two Years\u201d,<\/span><\/p>\n

    Reuters, 16 Jan. 2018,\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-myanmar-rohingya-bangladesh\/bangladesh-agrees-with-myanmar-to-complete-rohingya-return-in-two-years-idUSKBN1F50I2<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [16]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Beech, \u201c\u2019No Such Thing as Rohingya\u2019: Myanmar Erases a History.”\u00a0New York Times<\/em>, 2 Dec. 2017,<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/12\/02\/world\/asia\/myanmar-rohingya-denial-history.html<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [17]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 “Two Reuters Journalists Arrested In Myanmar, Face Official Secrets Charges”, Reuters, 13 Dec. 2017,\u00a0https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-myanmar-journalists\/two-reuters-journalists-arrested-in-myanmar-face-official-secrets-charges-idUSKBN1E71CO<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [18]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 OHCHR, \u201cIndependent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar,\u201d 24 Mar. 2017,\u00a0http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/HRBodies\/HRC\/MyanmarFFM\/Pages\/Index.aspx<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Human Rights Now has submitted a written statement \u201cMyanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Rohingya Situation and Should Ensure the Rohingya Refugees\u2019 Safe Return to a Stable Situation\u201d to the 37th session of Human Rights Council, which is going to be held in Geneva from 26 February, 2018. HRN written statement on Myanmar for 37th HRC [PDF] Myanmar Must Not Obstruct Accountability for the Rohingya Situation and Should Ensure the Rohingya Refugees\u2019 Safe Return to a Stable Situation 1. Introduction\u2014Facing up to the Rohingya Crisis Human Rights Now (HRN), a Tokyo-based international human rights NGO, expresses grave concern over the human rights situation of the Rohingya people in Rakhine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"countries":[],"class_list":["post-4308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-statement"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4308"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4314,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions\/4314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4308"},{"taxonomy":"countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrn.or.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/countries?post=4308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}