Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK calls on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to take a strong stand against human rights abuses in Myanmar and condemn the military coup in the strongest possible language.
Today, the HRC is meeting to discuss human rights abuses committed by the Myanmar military against the people of Myanmar, including the use of disproportionate force against protesters and the detention of opposition political figures.
Today, BROUK calls on HRC member states to support the draft resolution on Myanmar with the strongest possible language, and to overcome any resistance from China and Russia to oppose or water down such a resolution. “We must not continue to allow China and Russia to weaken efforts to address right violations stemming from the military coup,” said Tun Khin, president of BROUK. “The stakes are too high. As long as the military is in power, the entire nation of Myanmar will continue to be impacted by further abuses.”
The Myanmar military has a long track record of abuses against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities. The ongoing military-led genocide resulted in the exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh in 2017. However, the Rohingya have also experienced exclusion from the democratic system and extreme rights abuses under the democratically elected government. A government that has failed to implement provisional measures mandated by the International Court of Justice where Myanmar faces the charge of genocide against the Rohingya.
A return to the status quo, in which Rohingya and other ethnic minorities are excluded from democracy and continue to face extreme rights violations, is not acceptable. At this critical juncture, the HRC must use its leverage to clearly call for inclusive democracy in Myanmar, a democracy that does not leave the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities out in the cold.
In addition to the HRC resolution, BROUK is calling on HRC member states to individually act to freeze military assets, block international travel, and sanction military leaders responsible for the coup and other rights violations in Myanmar.
The HRC is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations. We are at an important crossroads,” said Tun Khin. “It’s more important than ever for the HRC to fulfil its mandate to the people of Myanmar.”
For more information, please contact Tun Khin +44 (0)788871486.