May 31, 2017
The UN has appointed a three member team to investigate atrocities committed by Tatmadaw led forces in Northern Maungdaw last year, according to a statement by the UNHRC on Tuesday.
The fact-finding mission will be led by prominent Indian lawyer Indira Jaising, Sri Lankan lawyer Radhika Coomaraswamy, and Australian human rights consultant Christopher Dominic Sidoti. The team will be supported by human rights specialists based in Geneva.
The decision to send the UN investigation team was taken in late March after an EU backed resolution won approval in the top UN human rights body.
Myanmar has strongly rejected the initiative saying it was carrying out its own investigation. However earlier this week, one of the investigation commissions appointed by the Tatmadaw declared themselves innocent of any wrong doings, barring petty crimes committed by individual soldiers such as bicycle thefts.
Analysts say it will be interesting to observe how the probe will proceed in the face of strong opposition by the Tatmadaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
