KUALA LUMPUR – United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews has praised Malaysia for showing increasing leadership regarding the crisis in the junta-led country.
In citing Malaysia as an exemplary nation, he urged other countries in the region to adopt a similar approach to the human rights abuses taking place under Myanmar’s military rule.
Andrews, who is on an official visit to Malaysia, said junta forces have killed more than 2,000 civilians, arrested more than 14,000, and displaced more than 700,000.
He said this drove the number of internally displaced persons to well over one million, and plunged the country into an economic and humanitarian crisis that threatens the lives and well-being of millions.
“Too much is at stake for Myanmar and its people to accept complacency and inaction by the international community,” Andrews said in a statement after wrapping up his eight-day visit to Malaysia.
“The military’s attacks on the people of Myanmar constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. No one has been spared the impact of the military’s violence.”
He said the Rohingya ethnic group fell victim to genocidal attacks by security forces, adding that there were about 104,000 registered Rohingya in Malaysia.
“My mission here provided me with a unique opportunity to sit face to face with dozens of courageous men, women and children who fled the horrors that have engulfed many areas of Myanmar, including those who have recently arrived in Malaysia.
“They provided me with first-hand accounts of what they witnessed or directly experienced. These stories, without exception, emphasised the terror that is raging across the country.”
Despite lauding Malaysia, Andrews said the refugees in Malaysia had told him about the challenges they face here, including the threat of detention, insufficient access to education for children, and alleged extortion by authorities.
“Let me be clear, refugees from Myanmar are here because they were forced to come here. Their inability to return to their homes in Myanmar is directly linked to the military junta’s human rights violations and war against the people of Myanmar.
“It is impossible to address issues related to those seeking refuge in Malaysia and other nations in the region without directly and effectively addressing the crisis inside of Myanmar.”
However, he pointed out that Malaysia through Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah had recognised the need to address the crisis.
Andrews said Malaysia had also challenged Asean nations to re-examine their current policy on Myanmar, as Saifuddin had called on the regional pact to move from a policy of “non-interference” to one of “non-indifference”.
“Malaysia has given voice to the obvious fact that after more than one year, nothing has moved and since nothing has moved, more people are being killed and more people are being forced to flee the country.” – The Vibes, June 23, 2022
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