u kyaw tin un response by pr myanmar toreport of mr. tomas ojea quintana,

7/27/2019 U Kyaw Tin UN Response by PR Myanmar toReport of Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana,

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Checkagainstdelivery

Response

by

His ExcellencyUKyawTin

PermanentRepresentativeoftheRepublic oftheUnionofMyanmar

totheUnitedNations

totheOralPresentationontheReport

of

Mr. TomasOjeaQuintana, SpecialRapporteur

ontheSituationofHumanRightsinMyanmar

(AgendaItem 69 (c):Humanrightssituationsand

reportsofspecialrapporteursandrepresentatives)

attheThirdCommitteeofthe

68th

Sessionofthe

UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly

NewYork

24 October 2013


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Mr. Chairman,

Since this is the farewell session in this Committee for the Special

RapporteurMr. TomasOjeaQuintana, mydelegationwishestothankhim forhis

oralpresentationaswellas forall constructivesuggestionshemadeduringhis

six-yeartenurewithhisgenuineintentiontoseeaperfecthumanrightssituationinMyanmar.

I am encouraged by his openness and candor in highlighting the

conclusioninhisreportthatduring his mandatefornearly six years, he has witnessed

thedramaticchangesthat haveoccurredfollowingthe2010 General Election andthatthe

transition has alreadybrought substantial humanrights improvements for thepeopleof

Myanmar and holdthepotentialtobring much more.

Ingeneral, hisreportdoes reflect anumberof positivedevelopmentsin

improvementofhumanrights. Weunderstandthatasahumanrightsexpert, he

hastopresentina fault findingapproachwithhisambitiousintentiontoimpose

highhumanr

ightss

tanda

r

ds. Hehas cited

tha

tthe challenge fo

r

theGove

r

nment

istotransition fromthemilitarymind-settoademocratic mind-set. Inourview,

therecentdramatic democratic changes inMyanmarwerea cleardemonstration

ofthe changeofmind-setintheGovernment.

Whilewelcoming any constructive recommendations, we findit hardto

concurwitheverythingmentionedinhisreport, astherearemanythatareone-

sided or do not reflect the true situation. Even highly-commended positive

developmentsinthe countryweredwarfedbyheapsofnegativeremarks. There

is awisequotation. Theoptimist sees the donut, the pessimist sees thehole.

Weregretthatthewayhepresentedislikeblamingadonut foritshole.

Some recommendations are found intrusive andprescriptive. However,

wewill considerwhicheversuitourrealitiesordonotinfringeoursovereignty,

nationalunityanddisrupttheongoingreformprocess.

Mr. Chairman,

Although the SpecialRapporteurdidacknowledge someimprovements,

hedidnotprovideenoughspace inhisreport fornumerousmeasurestakenby

theGovernment in addressing human rights. May I thereforebrieflymention

someofthem.

We believe that promotion and protectionof human rights should be

basedontheprinciplesof cooperationandgenuinedialogue. Withthespirit, we

have all along cooperatedwith theUnitedNations. Thiswas reflectedby our

felicitationofeightmissions fortheSpecialRapporteur. Hislastmissionwasthe

longestvisittoMyanmarwhichstretchedacrossthenation. Apart fromRakhine,

ShanandKachin States, hewasgiven theopportunity tovisit amountainous

regionofChinState forthe firsttime. Hewasalsoallowedtomakeprisonsvisits

toInsein, Sittwe, Buthidaungand Lashiotointerviewseveralinmates. However,

hisreporthardlyreflectstheviewsofgovernmentofficials.


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MayIthereforesharetheprogressmadeina fewselectedareas.

The release of prisonersof conscience is aglaring progress innational

reconciliation. Presidenthasgrantedadozenofamnestiessinceassumingoffice

in 2011, resultinginreleaseofoverathousandofprisonersof conscience. Earlier

thismonth, 56 morewere releasedunderanew amnesty. Theprisoner reviewcommitteemetagainon 12 Octobertodeliverthe commitment thatnoprisoners

of conscienceshallremaininprisonsbytheendoftheyear. Here, itisimportant

todrawa clearline betweenpoliticalprisonersand criminals.

ThenewarrestsmentionedbytheSpecialRapporteurweremadedue to

their unlawful acts. Thosewere not casesof arbitrary detention as alleged. I

welcomehisobservation about the improvement in conditionsof detention in

someprisons comparedtohis firstprisonvisitin 2008. Ialso thankhim forhis

remarksthat thepracticeofsystematic tortureandill-treatmentofdetaineesin

Buthidaung Prison has now ceased. The new prisons law drafted with the

cooperation ofOHCHR andUNODC, once enacted, will contribute to furtherimprovementsofthe conditions.

We welcome Special Rapporteurs remark that opening of space for

people toexpress theirviewsremainsoneof themostpositivedevelopmentsin

the reformprocess. Myanmar hasmade dramatic progresswith regard to the

rightsto freedomofpeacefulassemblyandassociation. Apress councilwasalso

formedrecentlytoensurelibertyandaccountability. Butheraised concernabout

thearrestsofsomepeopleexercisingtheirrightstopeacefulassembly. Thetruth

is that thoseindividualswere arrestednotbecause of involvement inpeaceful

assembly, butbecauseofincitingassaultsand committingunlawfulacts.

The Special Rapporteur also raised concerns in the context of human

rights, especially land utilization. To deal with issues of farmlands, a central

committee for land utilization management headed by a Vice-President was

established last month. Investigation commission was also formed by the

Parliamenttolookintothe casesofland confiscation.

We now have a National Human Rights Commission in place which

servesamechanismtotacklehumanrights complaints. Itwillbestrengthenedby

the approvalof the National Human Rights Commission Law by the upper

House. WearealsoengagingwithUSand EUthroughahumanrightsdialogue

mechanism.

Last year, the government announced that it would invite OHCHR to

begin negotiations on establishing an office in Myanmar. Accordingly,

discussions areongoing to reachamutually acceptable agreement forpossible

opening of OHCHR office in Myanmar, with an aim to receive technical

assistanceinpromotingandprotectingofhumanrights.

Mr. Chairman,


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Wearealsomakinglegislativereformtoreview theexistinglawstobein

linewith theConstitutions and internationalinstruments. TheParliament has

passedatotalof 58 lawsduring the firsthalfofitsterm. ThedraftPrintingand

Publishing Enterprise Law, citedbytheSpecialRapporteur, hadbeenamended

andalreadydiscussedatthe LowerHouseandUpperHouse.

Mr. Chairman,

Anotherprogressisthesuccessfulstrikingof ceasefireagreementswithall

major ethnic armed groups ending six-decade long conflicts. Recently,

agreementwasreachedalsowith the remainingKachin armedgroup, paving

theway fornation-wide ceasefire agreement andpoliticaldialogue. It augurs

well forapermanentpeace.

Our efforts to address the issueof underage soldiers have also made

significantprogress throughimplementation of the JointPlanofAction. There

are no more cases of new underage recruitments, thanks to its systematic

scr

eenings. Aspart

oft

hispr

ogr

amme, 176 childr

enhadalr

eadybeendischa

r

gedandreintegrated. TheGovernmenthasinvitedtheWorkingGrouponChildren

and Armed Conflict to visit Myanmar next month, demonstrating its firm

commitmentto fullyimplementthePlanofAction.

ILOhasalsoliftedallremainingrestrictionsplacedonMyanmarduetoits

satisfactionon the progress in elimination of forced labour and restoration of

labourrights.

Mr. Chairman,

Atthe critical timeofdemocratic transition, no countryisimmune from

challenges. Myanmarwent throughunfortunate communalviolenceinRakhine

State, sparkedbyabrutal crime. Weregretthat ithad causedlossof livesand

propertiestoboth communities. Sectoralor communalviolenceusuallyraisesits

uglyhead, wheneverasocietyopensupand firmgripunleashed. Whatmatter

mostistheseriousactiontakenbytheGovernment.

In this regard, I was dismayed at the unbalanced and one-sided

assessment on this situation. The Special Rapporteur conveniently failed to

mentiontheseriousresponsestakenbytheGovernmenttoaddresstheissue.

The government was able to restore stability in Rakhine State and

elsewhereimmediatelyaftertheoutbreakofviolence, despiteitslimited capacity

of the local police forces. The President had publicly stated to take a zero

toleranceapproachagainstanyone fuelinghatredandhadtakenactionsagainstthe perpetratorswithout discriminationofreligionor race. Those arrested also

include a large number of Buddhists. Wrongful portrayal of the communal

clashesasreligiousviolencehas causedthespreadofviolence toelsewhere. The

Government is takingmeasure toprevent suchviolence, through swift action

wheneverprovocative crimebreaks out. CapacityofPolice forcesis also being

strengthenedwithexternalassistance, includingICRC.


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Mydelegation rejects the allegation relating to two childpolicy. Itwas

publiclystatedbyboththeUnionMinister forPopulationandtheChiefMinister

of theRakhine State that ithadnever been their policy and there isno such

officialorderorinstructionsissuedatboththeUnionandStatelevel.

Thegovernmentplans to conductregistrationofallresidentsinRakhine

State and expedite the review and processing of citizenship application in

accordance with existing Law. A procedure to process the applications of

undocumentedpersonshasalsobeeninstituted.

Mr. Chairman,

Notwithstanding what has recently occurred, Myanmar is a multi-

religious countrywhichhasalonghistoryofpeaceful communalexistence. The

StateConstitutiongivesprotectiontoallmajorreligions. Themajor causesofthe

communalviolenceinRakhineStatearedeeplyrootedinitslonghistory. Itwas

notdeliberatetargetingofareligionasperceived. Everyincidentwassparkedby

a sensit

ive cr

ime whichwas exploit

edby somemisc

r

eant

s, who in no wayrepresentallMyanmarBuddhist community.

Mr. Chairman,

TheGovernmenthasbeenmakingseriousefforts toresolve theproblem

throughshort-termandlong-termplans, bysettingupaCentralCommitteeand

sevenworking groups toimplement the recommendations of the Independent

InquiryCommission. Itincludesextensiveefforts, in cooperationwithUN, NGO

and donors to improve the living conditions and livelihoods of all effected

peoples without discrimination. The Government is building schools and

medical clinics forthedisplacedpersons.

Inparalleltotheseefforts, theGovernmentisalsoencouraginginter-faith

dialogues across the country to promote understanding and trust among

different faiths. Earlier thismonth, an InterfaithConferenceof the Leadersof

Five Faiths was held in Yangon with the participation of various religious

leaders.

Fullyunderstanding theriskof theproblem, thePresidentispreparedto

utilize all its powers to prevent recurrence of communal violence. Although

humanitarian needs can be fulfilled in short term, it will take some time to

reconcilemistrustandhealtensionamongthetwo communities.

We welcome any assistance from the international community which

couldbeprovidedwithoutdiscrimination. Inthisregard, theGovernmenthas

invitedtheOICSecretaryGeneralandMinisterialdelegationtovisitMyanmar.

Mr. Chairman,


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Asa countryundergoinganascentpoliticaltransition, Myanmaris facing

many complicatedanddelicate challenges to securepeace and stabilitywhile

striving fordevelopmentto fulfilltheaspirationsofitspeople. Wehopethatthe

international communitywillunderstandour challengesandlendits continued

supporttooureffortstoovercomethem.

Myanmar has changed and is changing in the right direction with

unparallel progress in promoting human rights and democratization. Major

concernsonhumanrightshavealreadybeenaddressed. Politicizationofhuman

rightsshouldnotbeallowedtogoon. Thisisnotthe timetoexpandmonitoring

onthesituationofthe country. Onthe contrary, itisnowabouttimetosaygood

bye to the special rapporteurs mandate on Myanmar, which has stretched

alreadyover 20years.

IthankyouMr. Chairman.

u kyaw tin un response by pr myanmar toreport of mr. tomas ojea quintana,

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