UN calls for investigation into alleged human rights abuses in restive Rakhine state

By Giulia Zino

On 28 July 2012, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, called for an independent investigation into reported human rights violations perpetrated by state security forces in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, during the latest wave of sectarian violence which began in May. UN observers claim security forces purposely targeted members of the Muslim minority instead of quelling unrest – allegations the government in Naypyidaw strongly denies. Several human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented systematic abuses committed by security forces in Rakhine in May and June 2012, while earlier in June, the EU had praised the handling of the crisis by state security forces as ‘measured’ and ‘appropriate’. The UN’s Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana, arrived in Rakhine’s capital Sittwe on 31 July for a fact-finding mission but has yet to make any public comment on his trip. It is likely that Quintana also held talks with authorities regarding the status of five UN workers still under detention for ‘questioning’ in the country. Another five international workers from Doctors Without Borders are also still held in connection with the unrest. They are broadly accused of inciting violence although charges against them have yet to be formalised (the government has turned down requests by the UN to explain why they were arrested).
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