Human Rights Special Rapporteur Mr. Quintana’s Suggestions for Myanmar

Posted on February 18, 2013 by web-administrator

The United Nations Human Right Special Rapporteur Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana left for Sittwe on 11^th February so as to visit the refugee camps and the prisons there.
During his Rakhine trip, he focused on asking the authorities concerned about 1982 Citizenship Act rather than refugees, according to local residents who accompanied him.

When he asked State Chief Minister U Hla Maung Tin about the matters concerning 1982 Citizenship Act, amendments and Bengalis and citizenship rights, State Chief Minister briefed that checking the citizens is the duty of Ministry of Immigration.
State Advocate-General U Hla Thein explained to Mr.Quintana that Hluttaw (Congress) shall decide the matters concerning 1982 Citizenship Act.
When Mr. Quintana asked about the condition of the prisoners detained during the conflict including an UN employee for Rakhine State Dr. Tun Aung in Sittwe jail, State Advocate-General explained that those prisoners have the right of defense in accord with law and the judgment is passed before the public.
“As a human right rapporteur, I learned that the people in Rakhine State had protested against UN’s response that they were dissatisfied with. I would like you to understand UN’s fair conclusion of the conflict of Rakhine State,” said Mr. Quintana.
Mr. Ashok Nigam, Resident Representative of UN agencies, by whom MR. Quintana was accompanied said that human right officials have a plan to go to Rakhine State and provide the residents with the courses.
It has been said that he put his asking about the conflict before the matters related to rehabilitation of victims during his trip.
On meeting with the Rakhine Nationals refugees, he asked them where they lived before, why the fire broke out, who did it and why it was.
On the contrary, when he met with the Bengalis refugees, he asked them if it was convenient for them to be in camps, what their identity was, how long they had been here and how the conflict occurred, it is learnt.
“In Muslim refugee camp in Myaybon, Quintana asked a refugee what his identity was. The refugee expressed he was a Muslim who practices Islam. Quintana pointed out that Muslim stands for religion and he wanted to know the name which represents “peoples”. When the refugee was at a loss, Quintana used “leading questions”. He asked if they (Bengalis refugees) were not Rohingyas and he repeated again and again, Muslim refugees also identified themselves as Rohingyas,” said a person who accompanied Quintana’s and who asked not to be named.  Mr. Quintana and the party left Myaybon’s camps for the Muslim refugee camps in Kyeinnibyin village.
Mr. Quintana asked the cameramen to be outside the camps and not to take photographs as he met the refugees in the camp at Kyeinnibyin village.
“When Mr. Quintana and the delegation were in the camp at Kyeinnibyin village in Pauktaw Township, as we were no longer allowed to take photos there, we outside the camp were staring at them as they met with the refugees,” said a reporter who came with them to the camps.
Mr. Quintana held a press conference concerning his findings at about 5.30 pm at Yangon International Airport.
At the press conference, Mr. Quintana called for 1982 Citizenship Act’s amendment so that all citizens can enjoy human rights because there are human rights abuses here.
“There have been almost 120,000 victims in the refugee camps due to the conflict. When we met with the government officials, we’ve urged them to provide the refugees with foods, water and shelters. But we’ve found that Muslim refugees under the threat of Rakhine’s residents are able to have access to a little health care. We’d like to strongly suggest the authorities to get rid of those threats as such threats consign some people (Bengalis) to equal human right’s scrapheap, he said at the press conference.
He continued that the conflicts may go on as long as there is not equality in aid between Rakhine’s residents and the Muslims.
He also suggested the government to make efforts to get political agreements in order to establish a cease-fire between the government and the KIA, adding he hope that given the current discussion between the government and the KIA, the Kachin State’s peace will improve.
He moreover said that 1982 Citizenship Act need amending to make sure that all citizens can enjoy citizen’s rights.
“I think Mr. Quintana should not have interfered in matters related to Citizenship Act on the basis of human rights. The government also ought not to allow such interference,” said a resident of Hlaing Township.
It is learnt that Mr. Quintana had met Minister for Home Affairs, the State Government, 88 Generation Students and the religious leaders in addition to refugees in the camps both in Kachin State and in Rakhine State.