Intervention by Estonia at the UN Human Rights Council 36th Session under Item 4 in Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
19.09.2017
UN
Human Rights Council 36th Session
Intervention by ESTONIA
Item
4 – Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on the situation of
human rights in Myanmar
Geneva, 19 September 2017 Check against delivery!
Mr. President,
Estonia fully aligns
itself with the statement made by the EU. We would like to thank the Fact
Finding Mission for their first oral update on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar.
We reiterate our
worries about the ongoing conflict in parts of the country and reports of
violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
Estonia condemns the
attacks of 25 August, as we condemn the escalation of violence in the Rakhine
State, in particular the excesses during security operations by Myanmar’s
security forces. Suffering caused to the
Rohingya community, including extrajudicial killings, forced displacements, and
widespread burning of Rohingya villages has left many of the Rohingya
population fleeing, and becoming internally displaced persons or refugees in
the neighboring Bangladesh. We call upon
the Government of Myanmar to grant and facilitate a safe voluntary return of
displaced Rohingya civilians. It is of upmost importance to provide
unrestricted access for humanitarian aid workers to the vulnerable people in
Rakhine State, in order to prevent a further deterioration of the serious
humanitarian situation.
Mr President,
Estonia welcomes the
creation of the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar at
the Human Rights Council 34th session. We encourage the Government
of Myanmar to cooperate fully with the mission, including by granting the
mission full and unrestricted access to all areas of the country. Cooperation
with the mission will assist the government’s commitment to upholding the rule
of law and holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations. We
also call upon Myanmar to take urgent and meaningful steps to implement the recommendations
of the Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Thank you.
 
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