To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the establishment of a UN inquiry into alleged human rights violations committed against the Rohingya by the Burmese Army and security forces.
Answered on
14 February 2017
We have called repeatedly for an independent investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine. The UN High Commissioner for Human rights has already issued a substantive report on the widespread and alarming level human rights violations carried out by the military Rakhine State since 9 October. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma also referred to them in her press briefing following her visit in January. Her full report is due out in March ahead of the Human Rights Council, at which we will advocate for a full renewal of her mandate. In the light of the two reports we will also consider, with our EU and international partners, what scope there is for further enhancing scrutiny of the military's actions in Rakhine.
We support the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which is due to report in the summer. This has the support of the Burmese Government and the international community, and therefore represents the most realistic way forward.
In the meantime, we strongly urge the Burmese military to show restraint and to permit humanitarian access to the affected areas.