Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brussels (Agenzia Fides) - A United Nations official commission of inquiry for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Myanmar against ethnic minorities is urgently needed: this is what a group of non-governmental organizations say in a statement sent to Fides. These organizations include the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, "the Burma Lawyers' Council", "Christian Solidarity Worldwide," and others that welcome exiled Burmese citizens or emigrants. The NGOs stress their request in view of the "Human Rights Working Group" of the European Council, which will be held on Monday, September 12 in Brussels. The NGOs leaders also met, on the eve of the meeting, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Observer of the human rights situation in Myanmar.
NGOs argue that the situation in Myanmar is serious: we have reliable evidence of murder, systematic rapes, torture, recruitment of child soldiers, arbitrary detentions, forced labor and forced displacement of entire populations. For this, the NGOs have called for "a UN commission of inquiry that is transparent, impartial and independent".
A priest from Myanmar, who requested anonymity, told Fides: "We are totally in favor of a UN investigation. An investigation should have been carried out many years ago, since the violence against ethnic minorities continues merciless".
In recent days the government of Myanmar established a new National Commission for Human Rights and a special Commission for ethnic minorities, raising hopes that the actual will to reach an agreement and end the civil war is done. The source of Fides comments: "I fear they are only formal measures: the government intends to address the issue only with words but in fact the military repression continues with force. And this certainly does not build peace". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/09/2011)
