UN rights envoy, Maungtaw Commission discuss alleged abuse in northern Rakhine

January 18, 2017

Vice President U Myint Swe, Chairman of the Investigation Commission on Maungtaw, held talks with Ms. Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, over alleged rapes and allegations of human rights abuses in northern Rakhine by security forces.

At the meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, the Vice President clarified the formation of the investigation commission, which is comprised of experienced scholars from varied fields, adding that during the fact-finding field trips to conflict areas, members of the commission took individual as well as group responsibility.

The chairman of the commission also noted that the violent attacks of 9 October and 12 and 13 November were different from previous conflicts in the state, as the most recent attacks targeted security forces in an attempt to damage the sovereignty of the country.

The commission carried out its tasks of investigating and finding out the background situation and uncovering the details behind the violent attacks and alleged human rights abuses. The commission is making an assessment and giving recommendations to prevent such incidents again in the future. The Investigation Commission on Maungtaw released its interim report on 3 January and is in the process of finishing its final report.

Ms. Yanghee Lee expressed her thanks to the chairman of the commission and discussed information she received on alleged human rights abuses.

Also present at the meeting were commission members U Aung Kyi, U Tun Myat, Dr Daw Thet Thet Zin, U Nyunt Swe, U Thar Nyan, Daw Kyaing Ngai Man, U Saw Thalay Saw, Chief of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Zaw Win, U Aung Naing and Secretary of the Commission U Zaw Myint Pe.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar