PH’s CHR urges its Myanmar counterpart to probe human rights violations, killings
The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) has urged its counterpart in Myanmar to address and look into the “blatant killings, violent dispersals, and other gross human rights violations being committed by the Myanmar military government against its people.”
In a statement uploaded on its website on Thursday, April 1, CHRP expressed “deep concern over the silence of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC).”
Since the coup last Feb. 1, special envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgner warned that a “bloodbath is imminent” due to reports that more than 520 people have been killed.
CHRP said National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) “are mandated to ensure that human rights are promoted and protected in accordance with the international human rights standards set by the core international human rights treaties.”
It also said:
“As an NHRI, we believe that it is within our obligation to call out our fellow institution when we see that their people are suffering from gross human rights violations, where even the young are not spared.
“We believe that it is imperative to act quickly and with fortitude in responding to this urgent situation.
“We remind them that the international community will be behind them as support for whatever action they will take for the promotion and protection of human rights, especially for the sake of their people.
“Finally, we highlight that on the crossroads of history, silence in the face of injustice has only ever emboldened the perpetrators. May the MNHRC be guided by the continuing cries for help of the people they are called to serve.”
Reports by an international news organization stated Myanmar’s junta had declared a “ceasefire” although it would continue to respond to “actions that disrupt government security and administration.”
It also reported that “pro-democracy demonstrators have repeatedly filled streets in Myanmar for nearly two months in protest over the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and key government officials.”
“The response by security forces has seen unarmed civilians shot in the street, and beatings, arbitrary detentions and nighttime raids on the homes of suspected opposition members. This weekend saw the bloodiest crackdown yet, with at least 114 people killed on Saturday” (March 30), the report added.
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