UNB, Dhaka :
The Government of Myanmar has informed UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee that all access to the country has been denied and cooperation withdrawn for the duration of her tenure.
Lee had been due to visit Myanmar in January to assess the state of human rights countrywide, including the human rights abuses against Rohingya
Muslims in Rakhine State.
“It is a shame that Myanmar has decided to take this route,” said Lee.
She said the Myanmar Government has repeatedly denied violations of human rights are occurring throughout Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State.
They have said that they have nothing to hide, but their lack of cooperation with my mandate and the fact-finding mission suggests otherwise, said the expert.
“I am puzzled and disappointed by this decision by the Myanmar Government,” Lee was quoted as saying in a statement UNB obtained from Genevaon Wednesday.
“This declaration of non-cooperation with my mandate can only be viewed as a strong indication that there must be something terribly awful happening in Rakhine, as well as in the rest of the country,” she said.
The Special Rapporteur said she sincerely hoped Myanmar would revisit the decision.
The Government of Myanmar has informed UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee that all access to the country has been denied and cooperation withdrawn for the duration of her tenure.
Lee had been due to visit Myanmar in January to assess the state of human rights countrywide, including the human rights abuses against Rohingya
Muslims in Rakhine State.
“It is a shame that Myanmar has decided to take this route,” said Lee.
She said the Myanmar Government has repeatedly denied violations of human rights are occurring throughout Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State.
They have said that they have nothing to hide, but their lack of cooperation with my mandate and the fact-finding mission suggests otherwise, said the expert.
“I am puzzled and disappointed by this decision by the Myanmar Government,” Lee was quoted as saying in a statement UNB obtained from Genevaon Wednesday.
“This declaration of non-cooperation with my mandate can only be viewed as a strong indication that there must be something terribly awful happening in Rakhine, as well as in the rest of the country,” she said.
The Special Rapporteur said she sincerely hoped Myanmar would revisit the decision.
