March 9, 2017
Myanmar looks set to escape an international investigation into atrocities against its Rohingya Muslim community, after the European Union decided not to seek one at the UN Human Rights Council, according to Reuters.
EU diplomats reportedly told a meeting on Tuesday that they preferred using an existing mechanism as it has received good cooperation from the government of Myanmar. They consider giving more time to the ongoing investigation initiatives taken by the government of Myanmar.
Many activists have however said the investigation initiatives adopted by the government is a sham. According to Charles Sanitago, Malaysian parliamentarian and a member of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, “the Myanmar government’s repeated denials of rights violations demonstrate that Naypyitaw has no interest in resolving the situation or addressing underlying issues. The fact that security forces have been tasked with investigating themselves and rooting out abusers in their own ranks speaks for itself. There isn’t even a half-hearted attempt at impartiality or independence.”
The EU has historically taken a lead on issues related to Myanmar on the rights council and this week’s developments are likely to be an immense disappointment for Rohingya activists who have been lobbying hard with Brussels.
Myanmar’s reform process that has heralded the inclusion of the pro Western Aung San Suu Kyi had dramatically altered relations with the world, despite the country’s dreadful crackdown against ethnic minorities.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein has sought at the very least “a commission of inquiry into the violence committed against the Rohingyas”.
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