'Ignored, criticised, sidelined': experts slam UN response to Myanmar crisis

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'Ignored, criticised, sidelined': experts slam UN response to Myanmar crisis

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Geneva: UN-backed investigators who examined a bloody crackdown by Myanmar security forces that caused hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh have issued a searing critique of the United Nations' own response to the human rights crisis.

In a 432-page report, the members of a fact-finding mission on Myanmar fleshed out preliminary findings and recommendations released in a shorter version three weeks ago.

"With a heavy heart and deep sadness, we have drawn conclusions, on the basis of the facts, that we never expected would be as grave as they are," team chairman Marzuki Darusman said he presented the report to the UN-supported Human Rights Council.

"What we have found are not only the most serious human rights violations, but crimes of the highest order under international law," he said.

The team reiterated that some top Myanmar military leaders should be prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against the Rohingya during a deadly crackdown that erupted in August 2017 following militant attacks on security posts in Rakhine state.

In a rare rebuttal by Myanmar's government, its new ambassador in Geneva lashed out at what he called a "one-sided" report. The team has said Myanmar's government had not responded to its report or honoured requests for access to violence-hit regions.

Rohingya children queue for vaccinations at a UNICEF nutrition centre in a refugee camp.

Rohingya children queue for vaccinations at a UNICEF nutrition centre in a refugee camp.Credit: Kate Geraghty

"The way the report portrays... the national races of Myanmar is misleading," the ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, told the 47-member body. "It also undermines the government's effort to bring peace, national reconciliation and development to the entire nation.

"Regardless of the lack of balance, impartiality and fairness, the government of Myanmar takes the allegations of human rights violations seriously. The government will not condone human rights violations."

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After Marzuki spoke of the rape of women and girls by military forces, the ambassador countered: "We share deep sympathy and concern for all displaced persons, especially women and girls."

Rohingya children overlook an expanse of makeshift bamboo and tarp shelters at Kutupalong refugee camp.

Rohingya children overlook an expanse of makeshift bamboo and tarp shelters at Kutupalong refugee camp.Credit: AP

The full report also provided new details about the investigators' concerns about how the United Nations reacted during the spasm of violence. It noted that the "only statement" from the UN resident coordinator's office "was to condemn the ARSA [militant group] attacks and losses suffered by the Myanmar security forces".

The council created the fact-finding mission 18 months ago, after years of abuses against ethnic minorities in Myanmar, focusing on the time since 2011 when the country began opening up after decades of isolation under a long-ruling military junta.

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Though the investigators looked at the treatment of minority groups across the Southeast Asian nation, their mandate came just six months before the crackdown against the Rohingya in Rakhine, injecting the mission with far greater importance to help detail those abuses, crimes and human rights violations.

The report provides details of violence in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states, much of which has been documented and made public through collection of witness accounts, satellite imagery and other sources. It cited allegations of crimes by the military and other security forces including murder, torture, pillaging, execution without due process, rape, sexual slavery and hostage taking.

It said some acts by ethnic armed groups and the Rohingya militant organisation ARSA could also constitute war crimes.

Rohingya refugee women wait in line as men run past for a meal provided by a Turkish aid agency.

Rohingya refugee women wait in line as men run past for a meal provided by a Turkish aid agency.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide can be considered by international tribunals such as the International Criminal Court, but Myanmar is not a party to it. The country's government has snubbed a ruling by the court's judges that said the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes against the Rohingya.

Australia is considering targeted sanctions in response to the atrocities.

"The full report of the fact-finding mission adds to a large body of evidence indicating the commission of the most serious crimes under international law, particularly against the Rohingya," Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Wednesday.

Considering sanctions: Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.

Considering sanctions: Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

"The Australian government is considering options in response to the fact-finding mission's report, including targeted sanctions."

The report's critique of the United Nations focused not only on the world body's response to the Rohingya crisis, but its efforts across the country.

For example, the investigators noted that the UN had rolled out a "Human Rights Up Front Action Plan" in Myanmar in 2013, but said its "human rights driven" approach was "rarely, if ever, pursued".

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"Rather, it was largely 'business as usual,' with development goals and humanitarian access prioritised only," the authors wrote.

They cited allegations that some UN personnel who tried to pursue a human rights agenda "were ignored, criticised, sidelined or blocked in these efforts."

They alluded to criticism from Fieldview Solutions, an outside group that works to advance human rights, in July that cited some in UN and humanitarian circles for not doing enough to expand their "political space" in Myanmar, adding, "The Myanmar government has learnt that it can count on UN and humanitarian self-censorship."

The UN experts said some UN entities and staffers showed "a lack of cooperation" with their work, and "appeared to view it as a threat, rather than a means to address the most deep rooted human rights challenges facing Myanmar".

"This attitude and approach must change," they added.

The investigators did acknowledge that some people in the country had faced "intimidation and reprisals" for their "engagement" with the United Nations.

The team renewed its urgent call for "a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the United Nations' involvement" in hopes of "establishing whether everything possible to prevent or mitigate the unfolding crises was done". It also sought to draw lessons and make recommendations on accountability.

AP

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