Burma should be Ashamed

On 8 March, in his periodic report to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Toms Ojea Quintana said that significant human rights shortcomings remained unaddressed in the country. The report included the following key issues of concern: The large gap between reform at the top and implementation on the ground. (1) Ongoing attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and torture in Kachin State. (2) Endemic discrimination against Rohingya in Arakan State. (3) Detention of over 250 political prisoners and ongoing torture in places of detention. (4) Ongoing arrest and detention of peaceful protesters. (5) Misuse of defamation laws to enforce censorship and heavy censorship of public broadcasting. (6) Increasing violations of land and housing rights across the country. (7) The judiciarys lack of independence from the executive branch. UNHRC adopts Burma resolution On 21 March, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution on the human rights situation in Burma. 114 The resolution expressed concern over the following issues: 115 Human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscation, rape, and torture. The situation of Rohingya and persisting inter-communal tensions in Arakan State. The ongoing armed conflict in Kachin State and associated human rights violations, including desecration of places of worship, sexual violence and torture, as well as allegations of international humanitarian law violations. The resolution urged the regime to conduct a full, transparent, and independent investigation into all reports of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law. 116 It also called on the authorities to release all remaining political prisoners. 117 The resolution extended the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma for another year, in spite of Burmas intensive lobbying that Tomas Ojea Quintina be replaced by someone who is favourable to Burma. The Burmese government is Saut Shet Less (apmuf&Suf less)