• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Who We Are
  • Contact Us
  • Regional News
OHCHR
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Where We Work
    • OHCHR’s Global Priorities
    • Vacancies & Internships
    • Contact Us
  • Human Rights
    • What Are Human Rights?
    • Universal Declaration
    • International Law
    • UN Mechanisms
  • Areas of Work
      • Business & Human Rights
      • Civic Space
      • Death Penalty
      • Climate Change & Environment
      • Non-Discrimination & Equality
      • Indigenous Peoples
      • Migration
      • Early Warning & Prevention
      • Rule of Law & Accountability
      • 2030 Agenda
      • ASEAN/AICHR
      • UN Rights Mechanisms
      • Treaty Body Capacity
  • Countries
      • Brunei Darussalam
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Lao PDR
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Timor-Leste
      • Viet Nam
  • Publications
    • Reports
    • Manuals
    • COVID-19
    • Global Publications
  • News
    • Regional News
    • Global News
    • Events
    • Stories
    • Video Features
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

NEWS RELEASE: As election looms, Myanmar has opportunity to take new path, says UN Human Rights Office official

August 25, 2020/in All Posts, Regional News /by todd pitman

BANGKOK (25 August 2020) – The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia urged the Myanmar Government to embrace the opportunity of a looming national election to take a new and fully inclusive democratic path, and to address the root causes of violations and abuses suffered by ethnic minorities.

On 25 August 2017, Myanmar’s military launched a wave of brutal “clearance operations” against ethnic Rohingya in Rakhine state that resulted in mass killings, rape, burned homes and mass displacement. Meanwhile, a new conflict has flared between security forces and the Arakan Army (AA), which has negatively impacted civilians throughout central and northern Rakhine State, including the Rohingya.

“Three years after the outbreak of violence that forced more than 720,000 ethnic Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh, conditions inside the country have deteriorated and little has been done to create viable conditions for their safe return,” said James Rodehaver, a senior official with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangkok.

National elections scheduled for November provide Myanmar the opportunity to restore political rights to the Rohingya, who were able to participate in all votes until 2010. However, they were excluded from the 2015 ballot, and at least four Rohingya politicians who sought to stand in the upcoming vote have had their applications rejected. This continuing process of disenfranchisement effectively prevents Rohingya from enjoying their fundamental rights.

“It is crucial if the vote in November is to be inclusive, free and fair that Myanmar respect the right of all its people to participate fully and equally in the electoral processes and in all aspects of public life. The Government should take immediate steps to ensure that the Rohingya can meaningfully participate in the forthcoming election, both as candidates and as voters,” said Rodehaver.

While the Government has focused its attention more on fighting the global COVID-19 pandemic than prosecuting local conflicts in recent months, it has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire in Rakhine State and it failed to invite the AA to peace negotiations this past weekend.

In January, the International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar’s Government to take “all necessary measures” to prevent the killing of Rohingya. Yet, the conflict has since resulted in 144 civilian deaths and 399 injuries, including 25 Rohingya dead and 46 wounded.

Furthermore, the Government has bulldozed or burned several remaining Rohingya villages, it has failed to implement transparent and fully independent accountability measures for serious human rights violations and possible international crimes, and it has further marginalized the Rohingya community.

Witnesses from Rakhine have also reported that the ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of thousands of local residents, serious constraints on humanitarian access and freedom of movement, and severe limitations on internet services and freedom of expression.

“Myanmar must demonstrate its real commitment to the process of returns for displaced Rohingya and take necessary measures to address the root causes that led to the crisis, including amending the 1982 Citizenship Law to restore their nationality and ensuring accountability for crimes committed against them,” Rodehaver said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:  in Bangkok, Todd Pitman (+66 63 216 9080 / todd.pitman@un.org) or Wannaporn Samutassadong (+66 65 986 0810 / wannaporn.samutassadong@un.org).

Tag and share – Twitter: @OHCHRAsia and Facebook OHCHRAsia

Tags: Myanmar, Rohingya
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Mail
https://bangkok.ohchr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Roh.jpg 447 800 todd pitman https://bangkok.ohchr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Logo-OHCHR.svg todd pitman2020-08-25 08:08:032021-10-04 08:40:31NEWS RELEASE: As election looms, Myanmar has opportunity to take new path, says UN Human Rights Office official
Related Articles
OHCHR NEWS RELEASE: UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar Calls for Justice for Victims of Sexual and Gender-based Violence
OHCHR NEWS RELEASE - Myanmar: UN Human Rights Office deeply concerned by new NGO law
EPA NEWS RELEASE: UN Human Rights Office urges Myanmar to restore internet access in Rakhine, Chin States amid…
EPA NEWS RELEASE: UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar exposes military business ties, calls for sanctions, arms embargoes
investigation NEWS RELEASE: UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar urges financial isolation of Myanmar military
EPA-EFE NEWS RELEASE: UN Human Rights Office urges suspension of returns to Myanmar
Tweets by OHCHRAsia

Facebook

ohchr logo

icon facebook icon instagram icon linkedin icon twitter icon youtube

About Us | Vacancies | Contact Us

© Copyright 2020 OHCHR

Countries

Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Phillippines
Singapore
Timor-Leste
Thailand
Viet Nam

Global Priorities

Mechanisms
Development
Peace and Security
Non-Discrimination
Accountability
Participation

Scroll to top