Ministry rebuts UN envoy's claim govt may be backtracking

It was responding to comments by the United Nation’s new rights envoy to Myanmar, using state-run newspapers to convey its message.

Yanghee Lee, the new Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, expressed concern that Myanmar was backtracking on its democratic reforms, on the last day of her 10-day visit to the country. She made the comments at a press conference at Yangon International Airport on July 26. Two days later she echoed them in a press statement from the UN.

“There are worrying signs of possible backtracking, which if unchecked could undermine Myanmar’s efforts to become a responsible member of the international community that respects and protects human rights,” she said in the July 28 statement. The statement also noted that over the past three years “Myanmar has come a long way since the establishment of the new government. This must be recognized and applauded”.

The ministry statement noted that the government had invited Lee to Myanmar and “fully facilitated” her visits throughout the country, as well as her meetings with the wide range of people she had requested to meet. It denied that the courts had been used to punish anyone for simply exercising “his or her rights to freedom in accordance with the existing law”. No restrictions had been on media freedom, it added.

It took issue, however, with her assessment that the judicial system was being used “to criminalise and impede the activities of civil society and media”, according to its statement. She also stressed “the necessity for the enjoyment of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly … in the run-up to the 2015 elections and the need to review and amend outdated laws and to withdraw bills related to race and religion”, the ministry statement said. 

It denied that the courts had been used to stifle dissent or restrict media freedom. “No action is taken against anyone who simply exercises his or her rights to freedom in accordance with the existing law. There is also no exception for media freedom,” the ministry said. “But who ever violates existing laws, will be penalised according the laws of the land,” it added.

The UN said on July 28 that “the Special Rapporteur highlighted the intimidation, harassment, attacks, arrests and prosecution of journalists for reporting on issues deemed too sensitive or critical of those in power, as well as of civil society for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association”. 

“She also pointed to the use of the judicial system and the application of legislation to criminalise and impede the activities of civil society and the media,” the UN statement said.

In regard to the dispute over citizenship for Rakhine State’s Bengali minority, who are considered illegal migrants in Myanmar, the foreign ministry said the “question of citizenship will be settled in accord with the 1982 Citizenship law". 

“Myanmar does not accept and recognise the term ‘Rohingya’ which has never existed in the country’s history,” the ministry said, using the term used to describe the group internationally. The group, which comprises about one-third of the population of Rakhine State, is not recognised as an official ethnic group under the 1982 Act. 

Lee said she hopes to continue in her role. “It is my wish to be able to contribute to the efforts Myanmar has undertaken in its path towards democratization, national reconciliation and development,” she said in the UN statement. “As Special Rapporteur, I look forward to working closely with the government and the people of Myanmar, in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue, towards the promotion and protection of human rights in the country,” she said.