UNB, Dhaka :
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee on Monday said the magnitude of violence that Rohingya families have witnessed and experienced is far more extensive than she had originally speculated.
Speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar Lee called for “urgent action” by the Myanmar government to end the sufferings of the Rohingya population there.
The Special Rapporteur urged the government of Myanmar to immediately “cease the discrimination” that the community continues to face, to act now to prevent any further serious rights violations and to conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into those already alleged to have occurred.
“We all owe it to those I’ve met and their fellow community members to do everything in our power to ensure this is done and to give the Rohingya people reason to hope again,” she concluded.
During her visit, she met members of the Rohingya population who had fled to Bangladesh after October 9, 2016 when the Myanmar Border Guard Police facilities were attacked and reprisals followed,
according to a message UNB received from Geneva.
The expert reported several allegations of horrific attacks, including the slitting of some people’s throats, indiscriminate shootings, houses being set alight with people tied up inside and very young children being thrown into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence.
In addition to the alleged human rights violations occurring within the context of the security operations that followed the October 9 attacks, Lee also highlighted how the government of Myanmar appears to have taken, and continues to take, actions which discriminate against the Rohingya and make their lives even more difficult.
The Special Rapporteur will present her full report to the UN Human Rights Council on March 13. The report will be posted online.
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee on Monday said the magnitude of violence that Rohingya families have witnessed and experienced is far more extensive than she had originally speculated.
Speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar Lee called for “urgent action” by the Myanmar government to end the sufferings of the Rohingya population there.
The Special Rapporteur urged the government of Myanmar to immediately “cease the discrimination” that the community continues to face, to act now to prevent any further serious rights violations and to conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into those already alleged to have occurred.
“We all owe it to those I’ve met and their fellow community members to do everything in our power to ensure this is done and to give the Rohingya people reason to hope again,” she concluded.
During her visit, she met members of the Rohingya population who had fled to Bangladesh after October 9, 2016 when the Myanmar Border Guard Police facilities were attacked and reprisals followed,
according to a message UNB received from Geneva.
The expert reported several allegations of horrific attacks, including the slitting of some people’s throats, indiscriminate shootings, houses being set alight with people tied up inside and very young children being thrown into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence.
In addition to the alleged human rights violations occurring within the context of the security operations that followed the October 9 attacks, Lee also highlighted how the government of Myanmar appears to have taken, and continues to take, actions which discriminate against the Rohingya and make their lives even more difficult.
The Special Rapporteur will present her full report to the UN Human Rights Council on March 13. The report will be posted online.
