Rohingyas may be victims of ‘crimes against humanity’

Systemic discrimination and ongoing violations against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, including denial of citizenship, could amount to crimes against humanity, the United Nations said yesterday. In a report on the human rights situation for minorities in Myanmar, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said his office has found "a pattern of gross violations against the Rohingya... (which) suggest a widespread or systematic attack... in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes against humanity if established in a court of law."
He also urged the new government in Myanmar to take concrete steps to put an end to the systemic discrimination and ongoing human rights violations against minorities. Four years after the 2012 violence in the Rakhine State, some 120,000 Rohingya and Kaman Muslims are still living in camps for internally displaced people. There has also been an alarming increase in incitement to hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations. The report raises the possibility that the pattern of violations against the Rohingyas may amount to crimes against humanity.
“The new government has inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, and where impunity for serious violations against such communities has encouraged further violence against them,” Zeid said.
It also highlighted the plight of these minorities, in particular the large Rohingya Muslim community in the Rakhine State.
The report, requested by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2015 on the situation of “Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar”, documents a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, according to a press release forwarded by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Rohingyas are suffering from arbitrary deprivation of nationality, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, threats to life and security, denial of rights to health and education, forced labour, sexual violence, and limitations to their political rights, among other violations, the report says.
“I am encouraged by the constructive dialogue we have had with it in the last few weeks. I hope we can start working together towards implementation of some of the recommendations contained in my report,” he asserted.
The report states that in northern Rakhine State, “arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya remains widespread. Arrests are often carried out without grounds, formal processing or charges, until release is secured by payment of a bribe. For those formally charged, fair trial guarantees are often not respected.”
“Rohingya and Kaman populations face severe restrictions on their freedom of movement. Failure to comply with requirements can result in arrest and prosecution. Restrictions routinely lead to extortion and harassment by law enforcement and public officials,” the report adds.
These restrictions result in severe impact on access to livelihoods, healthcare – including emergency treatment – and education. In townships surrounding Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, Muslims cannot freely access township hospitals, and emergency cases must be referred through an onerous process to Sittwe General Hospital. Delays in
treatment can be life-threatening.

Rohingyas may be victims of crimes against humanity

Systemic discrimination and ongoing violations against Myanmars Muslim Rohingya minority, including denial of citizenship, could amount to crimes against humanity, the United Nations said yesterday. In a report on the human rights situation for minorities in Myanmar, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said his office has found a pattern of gross violations against the Rohingya... (which) suggest a widespread or systematic attack... in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes against humanity if established in a court of law. He also urged the new government in Myanmar to take concrete steps to put an end to the systemic discrimination and ongoing human rights violations against minorities. Four years after the 2012 violence in the Rakhine State, some 120,000 Rohingya and Kaman Muslims are still living in camps for internally displaced people. There has also been an alarming increase in incitement to hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations. The report raises the possibility that the pattern of violations against the Rohingyas may amount to crimes against humanity. The new government has inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, and where impunity for serious violations against such communities has encouraged further violence against them, Zeid said. It also highlighted the plight of these minorities, in particular the large Rohingya Muslim community in the Rakhine State. The report, requested by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2015 on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, documents a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, according to a press release forwarded by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Rohingyas are suffering from arbitrary deprivation of nationality, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, threats to life and security, denial of rights to health and education, forced labour, sexual violence, and limitations to their political rights, among other violations, the report says. I am encouraged by the constructive dialogue we have had with it in the last few weeks. I hope we can start working together towards implementation of some of the recommendations contained in my report, he asserted. The report states that in northern Rakhine State, arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya remains widespread. Arrests are often carried out without grounds, formal processing or charges, until release is secured by payment of a bribe. For those formally charged, fair trial guarantees are often not respected. Rohingya and Kaman populations face severe restrictions on their freedom of movement. Failure to comply with requirements can result in arrest and prosecution. Restrictions routinely lead to extortion and harassment by law enforcement and public officials, the report adds. These restrictions result in severe impact on access to livelihoods, healthcare including emergency treatment and education. In townships surrounding Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, Muslims cannot freely access township hospitals, and emergency cases must be referred through an onerous process to Sittwe General Hospital. Delays in treatment can be life-threatening.