The United Nations Office at Geneva
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Report By HC Michelle Bachelet-On Myanmar
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8:09
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MP4
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602.4 MB
Presentation of an oral update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on the human rights situation in Myanmar, with a particular focus on accountability regarding alleged human rights violations since 1 February 2021.
Teleprompter
Madam President, distinguished President Excellencies, in recent months the situation in Myanmar has evolved from a political crisis to a multi dimensional human rights catastrophe.
Suffering and violence throughout the country are devastating prospects for sustainable development and raise the possibility of state failure or a broader civil war we began.
What began as a coup by the Myanmar military has rapidly morphed into an attack against the civilian population that has become increasingly widespread and systematic.
Nearly 900 people have been killed.
Some 200,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of violent military raids on neighbourhoods and villages.
This crisis has compounded the already disastrous impact of COVID-19 on an economy that relied on remittances, the garment industry and other sectors shattered by global recession.
The World Food Programme estimates that over 6 million people are severely in need of food aid.
UNDP forecast that nearly half the population could be forced into poverty by early 2022.
A void has been opened for the most harmful and criminal forms of illicit economy to flourish.
A countrywide general strike, combined with the widespread dismissal of civil servants, including educators and medical personnel, have incapacitated many essential services in the country since the 1st of February.
At least 240 attacks on health care facilities, medical personnel, ambulances and patients have been seriously disabled.
COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccination.
Meanwhile, mass displacement and continued protests heighten the risk of contagion.
The coup has exacerbated a number of long running conflicts in Myanmar's Borderlands.
Fighting has resumed in Kashin, Kayin and northern Shan states, as well as other areas such as Qin and Kaya states that have been largely peaceful.
In recent years.
Military forces have repeatedly conducted indiscriminate air strikes and artillery shelling, killing civilians, displacing 10s of thousands of people and destroying protected civilian structures such as schools and places of worship.
Thousands of people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Laws have been instrumentalized to stifle freedom of expression, curve independent media as well as social media, and arbitrarily detain at least 5200 people overnightly.
Journalists have been arrested and eight major media outlets outlets have been closed.
We have also received multiple reports of enforced disappearances, brutal torture and death in custody, and the arrest of relatives or children in lieu of the person being sought.
I welcomed the release of 2200 prisoners last week as a first step, but this should be unconditional and followed quickly by the many 1000 still arbitrarily detained, including political leaders.
Despite these levels of repression, the military leadership has not been successfully secure control of Myanmar nor the international recognition it seeks.
On the contrary, its brutal tactics have triggered a national uprising that has changed the political equation.
People across the country continue peaceful protest despite the massive use of lethal force against them, including heavily heavy weaponry.
A civil disobedience movement has brought many military control government structures to a standstill.
At the same time, Myanmar people have shown incredible resilience in organising systems of mutual solidarity and support.
Transformative discussions of the future have begun which crossed Myanmar's ethnic, religious and social divides and hold promise for reconciliation.
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Some people in many parts of Myanmar have taken up arms and formed self protection groups.
These newly armed for formed armed opposition groups have launched attacks in several locations to which the security forces have responded with disproportionate force.
I am concerned that this escalation in violence could have horrific consequences for civilian.
All armed actors must respect and protect human rights and ensure that civilians and civilian structures such as health centres and schools are protected.
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To find the path out of this crisis and to foster a new future for Myanmar, free from military impunity and control, it is essential that national unity government and democratic civil society stakeholders be brought into any political process.
Myanmar youth and women should be given a leading role as well.
I also emphasise the continuing need to address the situation of Rohingya both inside and outside the country.
Despite tenuous ceasefire in Rakhine State, there has been no material change in the condition that will be needed for any safe or sustainable return of refugees.
I welcome the National Unity Government's recent policy statement on Rohingya and citizenship issues, which is an important commitment to a future in which all people will have the right to their own identity, full citizenship and equality.
Madam President, the catastrophic developments in Myanmar since the coup have had severe and wide-ranging impact on human rights, peace and security and sustainable development.
They are generating clear potential for massive insecurity, with fallout for the wider region.
As the 2019 review of the UN Action in Myanmar by Gert Rosenthal made clear, the United Nations and its principal organs must not fail the country and its people a second time.
It is incumbent of the international community to stand united in pressuring the military to hold its continuing attacks on the people of Myanmar and return the country to democracy.
Reflecting the clear will of the people, ASEAN's five point consensus is an important starting point for the way forward.
By a urge swift action to advance this process before the human rights situation, the country deteriorates further.
This should be reinforced by Security Council action.
I urge Allstate to act immediately to give effect to the General Assembly's call to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar.
I also encourage Assayant to seek a monitoring presence on the ground to track progress and build confidence in the process.
My office stands ready to play any role that may be required to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis and tackle its root causes.
There must be a national dialogue with all stakeholders, including the military regime, the national unity government, ethnic arm organisations, civil society organisations and resistance movements such as civil disobedience groups, trade unions and strike committees.
While a political process is needed, ultimate accountability must cannot be avoided.
Continued impunity will only undermine any future democracy, reconciliation, sustainable development or progress towards stability and peace.
Any future democratic government in Myanmar must have the authority to exercise effective civilian control over the military.
The international community should build upon the range of international accountability mechanism already engaged until until transitional justice measures also become genuinely possible at the national level.
I urge the Council to stand with the Myanmar people at this time and to give careful attention to the views that will be expressed by or on behalf of Myanmar civil society during a dialogue to day.
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