New report by Conservative Party Human Rights Commission calls for international action to stop Myanmar’s “dire humanitarian crisis” and its “extremely grave human rights violations”

A new report on the human rights crisis in Myanmar (Burma), to be launched in the Houses of Parliament this evening, outlines the gravity of the human rights violations, including atrocity crimes under international humanitarian law, and calls for international action to enforce a global arms embargo, cut financial support to Myanmar’s ruling military dictatorship, and provide a lifeline to the people of Myanmar.

The 39-page report, titled Unspeakable Tragedy, draws on first-hand testimony provided to the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission in a series of oral evidence hearings and written submissions, documenting the human rights situation in Myanmar since the military overthrew the country’s democratically-elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February, 2021.

Among those who testified to the Commission were Kim Aris, son of Myanmar’s jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her former economic policy advisor Professor Sean Turnell, who spent 650 days in jail in Myanmar, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews, the Minister for International Co-operation in the legitimate National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar Dr Sasa, and representatives of the country’s ethnic nationalities, pro-democracy and civil society groups.

The report details the plight of Myanmar’s more than 22,000 political prisoners, as well as the military’s campaign of airstrikes and ground attacks against civilian populations throughout the country. Atrocity crimes, including massacres, beheadings, executions, rape and torture are also reported.

The Commission outlines 12 recommendations for action by the British government and the international community, including a call on the United Kingdom to urgently convene a UN Security Council session on Myanmar, efforts to increase the pace and scope of targeted sanctions against the military regime’s enterprises and providers of arms, equipment and aviation fuel, and increased humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar. It urges both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, as well as the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Foreign Secretary, to meet Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris, representatives of the NUG, and representatives of ethnic and religious groups from Myanmar as a matter of urgency.

Tim Loughton, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and former Member of Parliament for East Worthing and Shoreham, said:

“This powerful report has been painstakingly researched and drafted, drawing on harrowing testimony provided by witnesses who provided evidence both orally and in written submissions to the Commission. It is an urgent wake-up call for action to address the egregious human rights crisis in Myanmar, which has been compounded over the past two months by the devastating earthquake which hit the country on 28 March this year.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the situation as ‘an unspeakable tragedy’, hence the title of the report. He has also called it ‘a never-ending nightmare’ which has seen ‘inhumanity in its vilest form’ leading to ‘unbearable levels of suffering and cruelty’. It is high time the international community, led by the United Kingdom, steps up its efforts to bring this nightmare to an end and hold the perpetrators of such inhumanity, cruelty, barbarity and criminality to account.”

At the report launch tonight, Dr Sasa will speak, alongside Zoya Phan, Programme Director of Burma Campaign UK.

For further information please contact Benedict Rogers, Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, on email: [email protected]

Download the report.

View the original post.