UN expert on Myanmar calls on Government to clarify reports

UN expert on Myanmar calls on Government to clarify reports
of clashes in northern Rakhine State

GENEVA (17
January 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on
the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana,
today urged the country's authorities to investigate and
clarify reports about violent clashes between security
forces and Rohingya Muslim residents in Du Chee Yar Tan
village in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.

"I urge the
Government to clarify what has happened. Quick and
transparent action can help to prevent further violence,"
Mr. Ojea Quintana said. "If deaths and injuries have
occurred, the Myanmar Government must, under international
law, conduct a prompt, effective and impartial investigation
and hold the perpetrators of any human rights violations to
account."

The human rights expert has received reports
of Rohingya Muslims being killed and injured as well as a
security official being killed following a security
operation in the village in Maungdaw, and of Rohingya men,
women and children being arrested following the clashes.

"Myanmar authorities must respect the due process
rights of anyone arrested and detained, which includes
access to legal counsel, and address the specific risks
faced by women and children in detention," he said.

"Given the previous concerns I have raised about
torture and ill-treatment of persons in detention in
Maungdaw, I urge the authorities to provide access to
independent monitoring groups to assess the treatment of
those being detained," the Special Rapporteur stressed.

In his last report* to the UN General Assembly, Mr. Ojea
Quintana highlighted the seriousness of the human rights
situation in Rakhine State, which was posing one of the most
serious threats to the reform process.

(*) Read the
Special Rapporteur final report to the UN General Assembly
(October 2013):
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/MM/A-68-397_en.pdf

ENDS

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