Govt accuses EU of infringing on Myanmar’s sovereignty

By Mizzima

March 28, 2015

The government has criticised a European Union resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 27, saying it amounts to an infringement of Myanmar’s sovereignty and interference in its affairs.

“The resolution does not adequately and objectively reflect and apprise of the efforts and achievements in promoting and protecting of human rights of the people of Myanmar,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release issued in Nay Pyi Taw.

“In addition to this drawback, some facts amount to infringing on the sovereignty and interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar,” the ministry said in the release, published in the state-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar on March 28.

It said the resolution had criticised and prejudged the holding and the outcome of the general election due later this year and had ignored efforts to ensure the vote is free, fair and transparent.

The resolution was also criticised for containing “a terminology which is not accepted by the nation and its entire people”, though the news release did not make clear if it was referring to the use of the term “Rohingya”.

It also said references in the resolution to Myanmar’s cooperation with United Nations agencies and the international humanitarian community were “misleading”.

“At this critical juncture, only constructive contributions and advices (sic) should be made for further progress towards reaching the goal of the whole [reform] process rather than focusing on and criticising some incidents,” the news release said.

Myanmar would maintain its efforts to promote and protect the human rights of its people, the foreign ministry said.

“In so doing, cooperation with friendly nations and the international organisations which support Myanmar with constructive views will be continued,” it said.