Upper House MP voices concerns over human rights abuses in Arakan State

By Win Nyunt 15 Nov 2019

Win Nyunt | DMG
15 November, Sittwe

U Myint Naing, Amyotha Hluttaw Representative for No.5 Constituency in Arakan State is worried about the infringement of human rights for people in conflict areas in Arakan State.

Civilian causalities in conflict areas lack the guarantee of human rights and more than 10 people who were arrested on suspicion of having ties to Arakan Army (AA) died in military custody or detention, he said.

The Upper House lawmaker made the suggestion at a meeting regarding the report undertaken by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) from January to September 2019 during the Union Parliamentary session on 13 November.

“I found no figures about civilians taking shelter at the camps for internally displaced people who left their homes due to armed clashes, out-of-school children, and people who do not have Internet access in the report. I would like to suggest that the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission should focus on the aforesaid tasks,” the MP said.

The Amyotha Hluttaw Representative said the commission’s report stated only one human rights violation case in Kyauktan Village, Rathedaung Township, but there were some human rights abuses in Mrauk-U, Minbya, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw Townships.

He went on to say that two residents were killed and seven people were wounded by gunfire in Auttharkan Village, Mrauk-U Township. Some villagers were injured and homes were destroyed when artillery shells landed in Ywa Haung Taw Village while some residents from Kyaukyitkay Village were wounded by gunfire. In addition, three people died in detention after the Tatmadaw arrested 19 residents of Lekka Village, he added.

An explosion from a stray artillery shell fired by the Tatmadaw killed three children from Pan Myaung Village, Minbya Township. They also raided some houses in the village and looted valuable property of the villagers.

According to the Upper House legislator, a local from Thamee Hla Village in Rathedaung Township was killed in a shooting and some property had been taken. In separate incidents in Minphu Village, a young woman identified as Ma Yi Yi Soe died and another young woman named Ma April Soe were injured after being shot by the Tatmadaw. Five villagers from Si Taung Village, Buthidaung Township had been shot dead while hiding in a bomb shelter, he added.

One person was killed and one other injured as Tatmadaw troops opened fire on Myauk Taung Village in Kyauktaw Township. One man died in a mine blast near Malar Village while five people including an abbot and a teacher were injured by a mortar shell explosion at a monastery and a school near Miwa Village. Moreover, gunfight erupted in Buddhaw Village in Ponnagyun Township, the Upper House parliamentarian said.

According to the commission’s report, a majority of complaint letters presented by the public over violation and abuse of human rights were addressed to government departments. There are awareness campaigns directed at government ministries that violate human rights. The staff in these ministries should listen to public voices, U Myint Naing suggested.

“The government needs to fully guarantee the public about human rights in accordance with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he highlighted.

He also pointed out that the lawmakers will witness violations and abuses of human rights in conflict areas in Arakan State if they make field trips to their constituencies.