Burma/Myanmar: Flawed Domestic Investigations Necessitate UN Commission of Inquiry on Serious Crimes
Since 2012, the governments led by former general President Thein Sein (2011-2015) and President Htin Kyaw (2016-present) have mandated four major official investigations into the situation in Arakan/Rakhine State. Three additional inquiry teams have been tasked to investigate the violence that erupted in Maungdaw since 9 October 2016. All initiatives have contradicted international human rights standards and have been flawed in terms of mandate, composition, process and outcomes:
- Lack of independence and impartiality.
- Lack of victim and witness protection.
- Rohingya exclusion from membership of the investigation commissions.
- Failure to acknowledge discriminatory laws and practices amongst the root causes of the violence.
- Fueling of discrimination: Denial of Rohingyas’ right to identify themselves; recommendations of
- segregation and discriminatory practices (e.g. controversial citizenship verification process and institutionalization of statelessness).
- Dismissal of reports of serious human rights violations as fabricated rumors and fake news to discredit the government.
Download this statement in English HERE.
