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During 52nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Interactive Dialogues with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar were organized on 6 and 20 March 2023 respectively. The Council further adopted the EU-sponsored draft resolution entitled “Situation of human rights in Myanmar” on 4 April 2023. Similarly, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar made a briefing at the United Nations General Assembly on 16 March 2023 in New York. Since the participation of Myanmar’s legitimate representative was prevented in the meetings against the principles of international cooperation and dialogue, Myanmar registered its objection with the relevant UN bodies.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights fails to reflect the extent of terrorist acts committed by so-called CRPH, NUG and PDF though they were publicly available. It is disappointed that the High Commissioner evidently waters down the killings and violence committed by the terrorist groups which have claimed the lives of 5,475 innocent civilians including 162 children, 73 teachers, 16 health staff and 773 administrators as of 31 March 2023.

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar is going far beyond his mandate by shifting his focus to the matters related to refugees and migration and publishing numerous papers on that issue and interfering in interstate relations between the sovereign countries. It is unacceptable that some countries have offered asylum to the masterminds who are responsible for committing and inciting the massive killings and violence in Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur’s call for imposing sanctions and isolating Myanmar means to disturb the peace and stability of the country and to harm the interest of general population.

The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar made one-sided presentation to the United Nations General Assembly based on distorted information from terrorist organizations and the opposition groups. She should be further careful with the proposals from armed groups to misuse the humanitarian assistance for their political and military gains. The Government has been providing necessary assistance to affected population. In addition to the field presence of UN agencies in different Regions and States, Myanmar has allowed 24 UN field visits and 49 field visits of the diplomats from EU, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Britain and Norway between 2021 and 2022. Therefore, the allegations of access constraints are not true. The consent of the Government is prerequisite in providing assistance including humanitarian aids while Myanmar has been extending its cooperation to the United Nations agencies. The Special Envoy is advised to note that initiatives without the consent of the country-concerned will only be counterproductive and engaging with unlawful groups and people responsible for atrocities may amount to supporting terrorism.

The European Union again tabled the resolution against Myanmar contained in document no A/HRC/52/L.19 to 52nd session of the Human Rights Council. The lengthy document shows the extent of numerous mechanisms imposed on Myanmar and the level of interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country. Myanmar does not accept the resolution which includes dictated elements and intrusive language against political system, political process on democratization in line with the 2008 State Constitution and matters fall within the domestic jurisdiction of the country. The said resolution neglects endeavours of Myanmar on the repatriation of the displaced persons from Rakhine State following the terrorist attacks by ARSA aka Aqa Mul Mujahideen in 2017. In this connection, progress has been made between Myanmar and Bangladesh as Myanmar Technical Team for in-person verification visited Teknaf and conducted interviews with the verified persons in March 2023. The resolution further turns a blind eye to killings including 16 persons who were killed within the first three months of 2023 for their active role in repatriation process. The resolution ignores the undeniable fact that such killings and intimidations made forced displacement in 2017 and hinder the return of the displaced persons. The people of Myanmar and successive governments do not recognize the term “Rohingya” which is neither legally supported nor included in British colonial official records. Myanmar has been granting citizenship status to those who meet criteria set out in the 1982 Citizenship Law without any discrimination.

The afore-said country-specific dialogues and resolution are purely based on unfounded allegations, one-sided narratives and politically motivated agenda. Since the resolution entitled “Situation of human rights in Myanmar” goes contrary to the fundamental principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the Human Rights Council, Myanmar categorically rejects it and dissociates itself from the adoption of the resolution. The Government highly appreciates the countries which uphold balanced position during the dialogues and dissociate themselves from the adoption of the resolution.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nay Pyi Taw

6 April 2023

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