UN Envoy Slams 'Deplorable' Conditions in Myanmar Camps

 
A senior United Nations envoy on human rights has criticized what she called “deplorable” conditions in displaced-persons camps in Myanmar’s communal-violence-wracked Rakhine state following a 10-day visit in which she also noted “backsliding” on democratic reforms in the formerly military-ruled country.

Yanghee Lee—Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar—said that thousands of Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims made homeless by fighting in Rakhine state over the last two years still languish without rights in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

“The situation is deplorable,” Lee, a South Korean, said at the conclusion of her visit—her first to Myanmar since being appointed to her post last month.

“Many have remained in the camps for two years, and I do not believe that there is adequate access to basic services,” she said In a statement released at the weekend before leaving the country.

Though poor conditions—including lack of access to adequate sanitation and health care—prevail in all the camps she visited, “the health situation in the Muslim IDP camps is of particular concern,” Lee said.

“I have received disturbing reports of people dying in camps due to the lack of access to emergency medical assistance and due to preventable, chronic or pregnancy-related conditions.”

Rights groups have also said in the past that Rohingyas in severely restricted northern Rakhine state suffer from soaring malnutrition and maternal mortality rates.

Rohingyas, who are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, often cannot travel, marry, or seek medical treatment without official permission.

Lee also said that restrictions on freedom of movement in both Buddhist and Muslim IDP camps in Rakhine have had negative impacts on other basic rights such as access to livelihood, food, water, and education.

Communal violence

Sectarian violence in largely Buddhist Myanmar has left up to 280 people dead and another 140,000 homeless since 2012—mostly Muslims, according to rights groups. Much of the violence was in Rakhine state.

Muslims account for about 4 percent of Myanmar's roughly 60 million people.

During Lee’s visit, the Rakhine government announced that it had invited Paris-based Doctors Without Borders (MSF) back to the state following its expulsion in February and also called for the return of other international aid organizations which fled a month later after Buddhist mobs disrupted their work helping displaced Rohingyas.

In March, Buddhist mobs in the Rakhine capital Sittwe attacked the offices of various international nongovernmental organizations [INGOs], including the U.N., reportedly sparked by the removal of a Buddhist flag from the building of German medical aid group Malteser International.

Buddhist flags have been flown as symbols of opposition to the ethnic Rohingya Muslim minority, who Rakhines perceive as receiving preferential treatment from INGOs.

“More must be done to stop misinformation which only serves to heighten tensions and hostility and to increase the sense of [favored] treatment,” Lee said, adding, “The conditions of both camps and the situation of both communities must be accurately reflected and seen for what they are.”

Official discrimination

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Muslim community in Rakhine continues to face official discrimination, including restrictions on travel and on marriages and birth registrations, Lee said.

“I have received continuing allegations of violations against the Muslim community, including arbitrary arrests, torture and ill-treatment in detention, death in detention, the denial of due process and fair trial rights and rape and sexual violence.”

“I believe these allegations are serious and merit investigation, with perpetrators held to account,” she said.

Lee also noted “worrying  signs of possible backtracking” in Myanmar on media freedoms and the right to protest despite political reforms enacted over the last three years by President Thein Sein’s administration.

These included efforts made to harass and intimidate journalists reporting on corruption and other politically sensitive issues and activists campaigning against land grabs “or trying to help communities affected by large-scale development projects,” Lee said.

“The enjoyment of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly are essential ingredients for Myanmar’s democracy and for debating and resolving political issues,” Lee said—particularly in the run-up to national elections next year.

Religious Curbs in Xinjiang ‘Increases Potential’ For Violent Extremism

 
Beijing’s new religious freedom restrictions on ethnic minority Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang amid an anti-terror campaign could trigger new violence in the already restive region, the United States warned Monday, as it released an annual report on international religious freedom.The U.S. State Department report, aside from listing various religious curbs in China, also identified Myanmar as undergoing a “troubling” trend in which sectarian violence was displacing families and devastating communities.

In launching the report, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Chinese authorities were harassing Christians, arresting Tibetan Buddhists simply for possessing the Dalai Lama’s photograph and preventing Uyghur Muslims from providing religious education to their children or fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.Speaking at a press conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said the Chinese Government “severely restricts the religious practices of Uyghur Muslims.”

He cited the ban by authorities on fasting particularly for civil servants and teachers.“Broadly targeting an entire religious or ethnic community in response to the actions of a few only increases the potential for violent extremism,” he said.Beijing in May launched a “strike hard” campaign against “terrorism” in Xinjiang aimed at stamping out attacks the government has linked to religious extremism.

Around 200 people have died in unrest in Xinjiang in the past year or so, the government says, including in a May 22 bombing in the region's capital Urumqi, which killed 31 people and injured 90, and which prompted the launch of the anti-terror campaign.Many Uyghurs complain that they are subject to political, cultural, and religious repression for opposing Chinese rule in the resource-rich region.According to the report, Chinese officials cited concerns over “separatism, religious extremism, and terrorism as a pretext to enforce repressive restrictions” on the religious practices of Uyghur Muslims.

“Authorities often failed to distinguish between peaceful religious practice and criminal or terrorist activities,” the report said.“It remained difficult to determine whether particular raids, detentions, arrests, or judicial punishments targeted those seeking political goals, the right to worship, or criminal acts.”Local authorities reportedly fined individuals for studying the Quran in unauthorized sessions, detained people for “illegal” religious activities or carrying “illegal” religious materials, and stationed security personnel in and around mosques to restrict attendance to local residents, the report said.

China reportedly sought the forced repatriation of ethnic Uyghurs living outside the country, many of whom had sought asylum for religious persecution, the report said, adding that in some cases third countries complied with Chinese requests, which reportedly led to imprisonment and torture of returnees.

According to the report, government respect for and protection of religious freedom in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas of China were “poor,” with widespread official interference in religious practice—especially in Buddhist monasteries and nunneries.It said that authorities prosecuted family members and colleagues of Tibetans who self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule on charges of “intentional homicide.”

Local authorities also used a variety of means, including administrative detention, to punish members of unregistered religious and spiritual groups, such as house churches and Falun Gong, the report said.The State Department has designated China as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) since 1999. CPC states are considered among the worst violators of religious freedom in the world.

Myanmar

Myanmar, or Burma, has also been designated a CPC since 1999 and, despite significant democratic reforms since President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government took power from the military regime in 2011, continued to impose severe limitations on religious freedom, the report said.Malinowski said that those who are resistant to change in Myanmar have sought to hold back progress by focusing national attention on issues of religious differences.“In [Myanmar], if you fear or oppose your country’s forward political progress, you’re probably not going to convince too many people to be against democracy,” he said.

“But you might get somewhere by trying to divide people across religious and racial lines, focusing political discourse on issues such as interfaith marriage and religious conversion.”He cited the example of the monks-led “969” movement, which claims Myanmar’s minority Muslims are threatening the Buddhist majority, saying it was fueling “anti-Muslim sentiment and violence in a country that has had a long tradition of different communities living together.”

Rights groups say Muslim Rohingyas in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state have borne the brunt of bloody communal violence that has left more than 280 people dead and tens of thousands displaced since 2012.The report also cited “policies prohibiting or impeding Muslim land ownership in some areas,” as well as reports of local government officials participating in anti-Muslim discrimination and failing to stop violence in Rakhine state.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, “individuals and congregations of multiple faiths reported harassment, detentions and surveillance throughout the year,” Malinowski said.“Many requests by religious groups for registration remained unanswered or were denied, usually at the provincial or village levels,” the report said.

It said that several religious groups reported abuses, with a “particularly high number of reports” of beatings, arrests, detentions and criminal convictions coming from groups in the Central and Northwest Highlands.The State Department included Vietnam on its list of Countries of Particular Concern in 2004 but removed it from the blacklist two years later and has since ignored repeated calls by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedoms (USCIRF) to reinstate the country’s designation.

Laos

The report said that while the constitution and some laws and policies in Laos protect religious freedom, “enforcement of these laws and policies at the district and local levels was mixed.”

It cited reports of attempted forced renunciations, imprisonment, detention, and assaults in detention, and said that, while the law does not recognize a state religion, government financial support and promotion efforts “elevated the status of Buddhism.”“District and local authorities in some of the country’s 17 provinces continued to be suspicious of non-Buddhist or non-animist religious groups and occasionally displayed intolerance for minority religious groups,” it said.This was especially true in the case of Protestant congregations, “whether or not officially recognized,” the report said.

North Korea

In North Korea, which has been designated a CPC since 2001, “the government continued to severely restrict religious activity,” except for some officially recognized groups tightly supervised by the government, the report said.It cited reports which indicated that religious persons who engaged in proselytizing in the country and those in contact with missionaries were arrested and subjected to extremely harsh penalties, “including executions.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the North “stands out again … for its absolute and brutal repression of religious activity.”“Members of religious minorities are ripped from their families and isolated in political prison camps. They are arrest and beaten, tortured and killed,” he said, adding that some individuals have reportedly been arrested for “doing nothing more than carrying a bible.”North Korea says it plans to prosecute two American tourists that it detained earlier this year, accusing them of "perpetrating hostile acts."

The North Korean government had previously said it was holding the two U.S. citizens, Jeffrey Fowle and Matthew Miller, but hadn't said what it planned to do with them.North Korea is currently holding three American citizens, including Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in 2013 by a court that said he had carried out acts aimed at bringing down the regime of leader Kim Jong Un.

District guards back on beat

 
Daun Penh security guards were back on their City Hall beat yesterday – and back to using violence against protesters.Guards used stun guns and batons in a confrontation with land-rights protesters outside the Monivong Boulevard offices, leaving two women, both from the Borei Keila community, unconscious.The violence came less than two weeks after guards were themselves beaten during an opposition demonstration. That incident led to the arrests of opposition lawmakers, who were released last Tuesday when the political deadlock over last year’s national election was resolved.

Ee Sarom from NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, said yesterday that it was disappointing to see that despite the resolution state violence, which became a hallmark of the deadlock was continuing.
“They’re still using violence against civilians,” he said. “None of this helps these communities find a resolution to their problems.”

Protesters from Boeung Kak and Borei Keila gathered in the morning to demand City Hall honour its promises to resolve the years-long disputes.Tensions flared, however, when Boeung Kak activist Chan Vuthisak, one of 23 people arrested and tried during the protests in early January, taunted security guards.A clash broke out after guards attempted to detain him among the crowd.
Violent and unpunished crackdowns by the guards have become more frequent since men matching their description dismantled an opposition protest camp in Freedom Park on January 4.
As has been the case before, the district security guards yesterday were accompanied by police who were not involved in the clash. Some of the guards were dressed in their usual navy blue outfits and helmets.

Others that Post reporters have seen in that attire before – including one man with a stun gun – were wearing beige and camouflaged clothing.
The women knocked unconscious, Prak Sipha, 45 and Khem Srey, 33, said upon waking that their bodies felt “numb”. They were taken to an NGO’s clinic.
Following the clash, City Hall invited 10 representatives from the communities in for talks.
Chhay Kemhorn, from Borei Keila, said officials had told her that they had delayed a resolution for villagers because of the violence on July 15.
“We are so disappointed . . .
That dispute had nothing to do with us,” she said, adding officials had made a fresh offer to set up a “public forum” about their grievances on August 12. City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said he had received “no information” about yesterday’s clash.

Fire at garment factory kills 1

 
An early-morning blaze killed one Chinese national and injured three others at a garment factory in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district yesterday.The fire that burned the Chang Sheng factory to the ground, killing clothing inspector, Zing Zangsun, 42 – who lived there – was caused by an electrical malfunction, said Net Vatha, director of Phnom Penh’s fire department.
“People should learn from this fire, because it was mostly caused by the factory’s electrical connection,” Vatha said. “Electrical wires should be connected correctly and fire extinguishers should be available for protection.”

About 80 per cent of the building was burned, he said.Damage from the fire had not been calculated as of yesterday, said Hel Phalla, an administrative staffer at Chang Sheng. But Vatha estimated the loss to be about $2 million, he said.Security guard Sun Vanny yesterday said he immediately called the fire department at about 4am when he saw smoke coming through the crack of a door, he told a Post reporter yesterday.Fire officials say the building likely became fully engulfed about an hour later.Chin Ravy, a villager who lives in and rents rooms out of a house neighbouring the factory said many of his tenants ran away from the rental property when they saw the fire next door.

A fire crew rests after extinguising the blaze that destroyed the Chang Sheng factory Phnom Penh.

“Nothing [at my house] was damaged, but I am scared and have packed my belongings already,” Ravy said yesterday morning, as flames continued to torch the factory. “The people who rent rooms in my house just ran away, because they were so scared.”

While the approximately 900 employees who work for the factory are reeling from the fire and Zangsun’s death, most are also nervous about how this will affect their monthly salary, which is due in a few days, said Lon Ry, a 47-year-old Chang Sheng worker whose daughter also works there.
“I hope the factory thinks about the employees’ salaries, because [workers] will not have enough money to pay their housing and food expenses,” Ry said yesterday. “But the factory officials will meet us Tuesday.”After nearly 27 trucks put out the fire, responding officials removed two iron safes full of money, Vatha said.Because Chang Sheng is so close to several other factories, some will remain closed for a few days while the acrid smoke clears out from rooms and corridors, said a worker at T&K, which abuts the burned factory.Considering the cause of the fire, Dave Welsh, factory owners and the government should be more vigilant about fire safety, especially in the country’s most lucrative industry.“There’s a responsibility to make sure that... [employees’] right to work in a safe environment is upheld,” Welsh said.

Vietnam pledges effective use of Japanese ODA

 
Receiving Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the Lower House Budget Committee, in Hanoi on July 28, Hung thanked the government and people of Japan for their valuable assistance to Vietnam, especially ODA to development projects in the country.
He said bilateral relations have developed strongly since the two countries established the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in March 2013.
He appreciated Japan’s support for Vietnam at international forums, and hoped the parliamentary friendship groups of both countries will maintain visit exchanges to share experience and boost cooperation.
The NA chief also proposed that Vietnam and Japan expand cooperation in culture, education, security and national defence, alongside economics.
For his part, Toshihiro Nikai, who is also president of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, acknowledged the quality of Nhat Tan Bridge and other Japanese-funded projects in Vietnam, saying their success will help promote bilateral economic cooperation.
He said the two countries need to work closely to move Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations forward, while increasing cooperation in preventing natural disasters.
Regarding the recent tension in the East Sea, both host and guest shared the view that Vietnam and Japan will cooperate closely in maintaining a peaceful environment of peace and cooperation in the region.
They also showed their strong resolve to defend national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vietnam-Japan agreements running smoothly
President Truong Tan Sang welcomed Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Lower House of Japan Toshihiro Nikai in Hanoi on July 28, saying that agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders are being carried out smoothly.
The State leader said Vietnam and Japan have been gaining high mutual trust in various fields, particularly in politics.
He noted the two sides are working together in defence-security and economics-trade, while their cooperation in fishing tuna off the coast of central Vietnam has made important strides.
Vietnam has also completed procedures for the establishment of a Japan-Vietnam university, he added.
Toshihiro Nikai valued the host country’s favourable conditions for the school, which he deemed a symbol of their friendship.
He asked for more support from Vietnamese leaders for Japanese agencies and enterprises operating in Vietnam as well as his country’s hosting of the Olympics and Paralympics.
The legislator said Japan, as a close friend of Vietnam, always supports the country and is willing to help it improve traffic infrastructure.
At the meeting, Japanese parliamentarians applauded effectively implemented cooperation projects and touched upon the potential of collaborating in crop and animal husbandry and close coordination in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.