The 56th session of the Human Rights Council adopted the draft resolution on Myanmar contained in document no. A/HRC/56/L.18/Rev.1 on 10 July 2024 without a vote. Myanmar reaffirms its consistent position opposing country-specific resolutions and related mechanisms which run contrary to the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity and elimination of double standards and politicization.
The successive resolutions including A/HRC/56/L.18/Rev.1 tabled by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation-OIC conceal the root cause of 2017 tragic incident in northern Rakhine State where Aqa Mul Mujahidin aka ARSA extremists provoked coordinated attacks against civilians and several military outposts. False hope and life-threatening conditions imposed by the terrorists triggered forced displacement of many residents from Rakhine State to Bangladesh. Without recognizing the root cause, it is clear that the resolution does not aim to resolve the issue genuinely and meaningfully.
The repatriation process under the bilateral arrangement between Myanmar and Bangladesh has been hindered by AA ethnic armed insurgent group responsible for killing and maiming civilians in Rakhine State. Nearly 200 innocent civilians lost their lives due to AA’s attacks. Myanmar exercises maximum restraint in its counter operations in border areas. In connection with the Military Service Law, two batches of training have been ongoing only with volunteers, and therefore, it is not true that the military made forced recruitment. The elements contained in the resolution not only fail to reflect the situation on the ground but also incorporate unsubstantiated allegations against state security forces.
While Myanmar remains firmly committed to repatriating verified displaced persons from Rakhine State, it does not recognize the invented term “Rohingya” as it has never existed in legal and historical records of the country and it does not agree with the figures of displaced persons contained in the resolution.
Since Myanmar pays serious attention in combating hate speech, it has been disseminating awareness raising materials through different channels and providing timely information to the public. Some social media platforms have been facilitating misinformation and disinformation campaigns of media in exile and armed groups including AA. Myanmar further expresses its concerns over the languages with religious dimension contained in the resolution itself which may amount to hate speech.
Myanmar facilitates the field presence and visits of the United Nations agencies so long as security conditions allow. The Government has been willingly assisting in the relocation of UN international staff and their dependents as per their requests. The access issue in northern Rakhine State is due to security concerns of the respective agencies. The accusations contained in the resolution are far from reality.
While taking note of combining Interactive Dialogues, the text still creates two enhanced Interactive Dialogues and an Interactive Dialogue until September 2026 despite developments on the ground. It further prejudices the work of the Human Rights Council in time of liquidity crisis. Furthermore, the resolution tabled by the EU has invented four standalone interactive dialogues on Myanmar until June 2025. It clearly shows the multiplication and duplication of unwarranted work.
In addition to above-mentioned facts, the resolution dictates to a sovereign state and interferes in internal affairs of Myanmar. Therefore, Myanmar strongly objects the resolution A/HRC/56/L.18/Rev.1 as a whole and dissociates itself from the adoption of it. Myanmar appreciates fellow developing countries which firmly uphold the principles of opposing country-specific resolutions while it calls the rest to demonstrate the same.
Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Geneva
11 July 2024