NYAN LYNN AUNG 15 JAN 2019,
THE government said it would not rescind its ban on UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee from entering Myanmar, despite her recent request, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
U Aung Kyaw Zan, deputy permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs, said the government will not allow Lee to visit because of the hostility of local people towards her.
He added that Lee would most likely be banned from entering Myanmar until her term ends because her statements lack independence, balance, impartiality and accuracy.
Under the UN Human Rights Special Procedures, Lee is currently visiting Thailand and Bangladesh through January 24 to assess the current human rights situation in Myanmar.
She was to scheduled arrive in Thailand yesterday and will travel to Bangladesh on Saturday, where she will visit Dhaka and refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. She also plans to visit the island of Bhashan Char, the UN said in a statement.
“I still seek to engage with the Myanmar government, and I remain committed to my mandate to monitor the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I will continue to meet with people from Myanmar and speak out about human rights issues that occur around the country,” Lee said in a statement.
Lee has not been allowed to visit Myanmar to carry out her work mandated by the UN Human Rights Council since December 2017 because residents and local NGOs had complained that her assessment of Myanmar’s human rights situation was biased.
The government asked the UN Security Council to replace Lee because she lacked objectivity.
U Myint Thu, permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs, also accused Lee of violating codes of conduct.
U Aung Zaw Oo, advocacy director of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters, urged the government not to hide the real human rights situation in the country and to allow Lee to enter Myanmar to do her work.
“The government should be tolerant and allow her to continue with her mandate,” U Aung Zaw Oo said.
Myanmar Times/News/Foreign Ministry continues ban UN Special Rapporteur Lee.
U Aung Kyaw Zan, deputy permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs, said the government will not allow Lee to visit because of the hostility of local people towards her.
He added that Lee would most likely be banned from entering Myanmar until her term ends because her statements lack independence, balance, impartiality and accuracy.
Under the UN Human Rights Special Procedures, Lee is currently visiting Thailand and Bangladesh through January 24 to assess the current human rights situation in Myanmar.
She was to scheduled arrive in Thailand yesterday and will travel to Bangladesh on Saturday, where she will visit Dhaka and refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. She also plans to visit the island of Bhashan Char, the UN said in a statement.
“I still seek to engage with the Myanmar government, and I remain committed to my mandate to monitor the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I will continue to meet with people from Myanmar and speak out about human rights issues that occur around the country,” Lee said in a statement.
Lee has not been allowed to visit Myanmar to carry out her work mandated by the UN Human Rights Council since December 2017 because residents and local NGOs had complained that her assessment of Myanmar’s human rights situation was biased.
The government asked the UN Security Council to replace Lee because she lacked objectivity.
U Myint Thu, permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs, also accused Lee of violating codes of conduct.
U Aung Zaw Oo, advocacy director of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters, urged the government not to hide the real human rights situation in the country and to allow Lee to enter Myanmar to do her work.
“The government should be tolerant and allow her to continue with her mandate,” U Aung Zaw Oo said.
Myanmar Times/News/Foreign Ministry continues ban UN Special Rapporteur Lee.
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