Mizzima

The National Unity Government expressed appreciation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for his report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to the 53rd Regular Session of UN Human Rights Council on 6 July.

53rd session

Volker Turk’s report included the Myanmar junta’s sexual violence, mass killings, extra-judicial executions, beheadings and other crimes against humanity. 

It also highlighted the ‘four-cut’ strategy of Myanmar’s military and blockage of international humanitarian aid. 

The report included the two-fold increase in the rate of poverty, skyrocketing currency inflation, food insecurity, the lack of public security and the military’s targets to health workers and facilities, leading to the decline of development in Myanmar for nearly a decade. 

It also said that Myanmar’ military continued its deadly freefall into even deeper violence and heartbreak, while more than one million Rohingya remained in neighbouring Bangladesh, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in deplorable conditions. 

The UN High Commissioner quoted credible sources that as of 6 July, 3,747 individuals had died at the hands of the military since they took power, and 23,747 had been arrested, with the true number of casualties likely to be far higher. 

Since the coup began, the military has burnt down at least 70,000 homes across the country. Over 1.5 million people had been forcibly displaced with minimal access to humanitarian aid. 

Turk also said in the report that he stood in solidarity with Myanmar’s people and emphasised that the Rohingya were an integral part of Myanmar and the country’s future, and urged all states undertake non-discriminatory, inclusive and fair policies to ensure a durable solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis, including through third country resettlement and complementary pathways. 

Speaking in the discussion on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar were the European Union, Pakistan on behalf of Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Spain, Indonesia, France, United States, Malaysia, Maldives, United Kingdom, South Africa, Venezuela, India, Bangladesh, China, Gambia, Switzerland, Libya, Romania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Malta, Austria, Russian Federation, Thailand, Georgia and Turkey.