Conflicting Myanmar Reports?

Susan Sacirbey

Diplomaticallyincorrect.org

February 23, 2013

Child soldiers, genocide, ethnic hatred, Rohingya Muslims, Kachin Christians, cronyism, corruption, have all become names associated with Myanmar, or as some call – “Burma.” This week alone, there were two seemingly conflicting reports coming from the UN, one associating unaddressed human rights issues, the second – the release of 24 child soldiers by the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces. 

Ongoing conflict between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims has created 115,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Rakhine State. Despite reforms claimed by the Government, there is fear of spreading violence to other parts of Myanmar. There are also concerns of excessive government force and human rights abuse, which have all contributed to the number of Rohingya fleeing the country by boat in unsafe vessels many drowning at sea to escape indignity and fear at home. 

Relief supplies continue to be stymied by authorities and logistics to afflicted areas, and medical conditions worsen. At the same time, the Tatmadaw’s action plan to end and prevent child use and recruitment is a welcome development. The Government has agreed to: “Identify all children in the Tatmadaw and ensure their unconditional release/discharge; facilitate the reintegration of released children into their families and communities; and facilitate processes that seek to end child recruitment by non-State armed groups.” 

With greater Government transparency, accountability, and genuine reform and human rights measures to respect all Myanmar’s ethnicities and religions, we may be witness to new images of hope among Myanmar’s children. As Global Citizens, let’s change the picture. 

UN News Centre Sources 

“The reforms in Myanmar are continuing apace, which is a good sign for the improvement of the human rights situation in Myanmar,” said the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the country, Tomás Ojea Quintana, after his latest visit. However, he warned that “there are significant human rights shortcomings that remain unaddressed.” 

Mr. Ojea Quintana called on authorities to address the issues of truth, justice and accountability through the creation of a truth commission, adding that this is crucial for the process of national reconciliation and to prevent future human rights violations. 

During his five-day trip, Mr. Ojea Quintana visited Naypyitaw, Yangon, Kachin and Rakhine, and met with Government officials, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society and former prisoners of conscience, among others. He also met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Chairperson of the National League of Democracy. 

The Special Rapporteur said he was particularly concerned by the escalation of military offensives in Kachin, where some 75,000 people have fled their homes since fighting began in June 2011 between Government troops and rebels. 

Security issues in the state are also hindering humanitarian access, and Mr. Ojea Quintana stressed that all administrative and political obstacles should The living conditions of some 120,000 people who are living in internally displaced camps are especially worrying, the expert said, without adequate health care in the larger Muslim camps. 

On 18 February, 2013, The United Nations welcomed the release of 24 children by Myanmar’s armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, and called for the acceleration of discharges in line with the commitment made last year by the Government to end child rights violations. 

Last June, the UN and the Government of Myanmar signed an action plan that sets a timetable and measurable activities for the release and reintegration of children associated with Government armed forces, as well as the prevention of further recruitment. 

According to a news release issued by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the 24 children were officially discharged at a ceremony on Friday in Yangon, attended by senior officials of the Tatmadaw and the Government, as well as the UN. 

“This release of 24 children is a welcome step in the implementation of the action plan by the Government and reflects its commitment that children should not, and will no longer, be recruited and used for military purposes,” stated UN Resident Coordinator in Myanmar Ashok Nigam. “I call for the acceleration of the release of all children from the Tatmadaw and for the non-State armed groups to also do the same,” he added. 

Myanmar is one of 14 countries – with armed forces or armed groups identified by the UN Secretary-General as committing grave child rights violations – working together with the UN system to end grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict.