YANGON: Myanmar on Monday told a UN rights envoy it had rejected accusations of abuse by security forces in the wake of communal unrest, after the United Nations raised fears of a crackdown on Muslims.
In a press conference attended by UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana, Myanmar's foreign minister said the government had exercised "maximum restraint" in bringing an end to the violence in western Rakhine State.
"As such, Myanmar strongly rejects the accusations made by some quarters that abuses and excessive use of force were made by the authorities in dealing with the situation," Wunna Maung Lwin told reporters.
He said the country "totally rejects the attempts by some quarters to politicise and internationalise this situation as a religious issue".
Quintana told reporters that on Tuesday he planned to visit Rakhine, where tens of thousands remain displaced by fighting that erupted between Buddhist and Muslim communities in early June.
His trip comes just days after the United Nations warned that Muslim communities in Rakhine, particularly the Rohingya people, were being targeted by security forces.
Earlier this month Amnesty International warned of "credible reports" of abuses -- including rape and unlawful killings -- by both Rakhine Buddhists and the security forces.
According to official figures, at least 77 people were killed in the unrest, including eight killed by security forces.
Of the more than 60,000 displaced, Myanmar officials said the vast majority -- around 53,000 -- were Muslims.
Ten aid organisation staff -- six from the UN and four employees of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) -- are among more than 800 people being held in relation to the unrest.
Both sides have accused each other over the attacks, which flared up following the rape and murder of a local Buddhist woman and subsequent revenge killing of 10 Muslims on June 3 by a mob of ethnic Rakhines.
Fears about the situation have spread across the Islamic world, with threats of violent reprisals against Myanmar from extremists from Pakistan to Indonesia.
Myanmar's government considers the estimated 800,000 Rohingya in the country to be foreigners while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and view them with hostility.
Earlier this month, President Thein Sein told the United Nations that refugee camps or deportation was the "solution" for the Rohingya, according to his official website. Quintana is set to meet the Myanmar leader in the capital Naypyidaw on Friday.
March on Myanmar embassy
Meanwhile, Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) marched towards the Myanmar embassy to register their protest on the violence against Rohingya Muslims.
The procession was led by President Islamabad District Court Bar Association (IDCBA) Syed Javed Akbar Shah Mashhadi accompanied with approximately 100 lawyers.
The President said that it was a peaceful march towards Myanmar embassy and it was just to hand over the copy of resolution that IBA passed unanimously on Saturday, July 28 regarding the brutalities of Myanmar against the Muslim community.
Speaking on the occasion, he stated that it was need of the hour to raise voice against the inhuman act of a section of the Myanmar public and to immediately stop its atrocities on the Muslim population.
He also appealed to the United Nations, International Bar Association and International Civil Society to protect Myanmar Muslims fundamental human rights on priority. Moreover, he urged stern action against the murderers of innocent Muslims in Myanmar.
He reiterated that the Muslims of the world to unite on one platform and build up diplomatic pressure on Myanmar to stop this heinous crime.
In the end, the demonstrators disbursed and backed to Islamabad District Court (IDC) peacefully.
COMMENTS (59)
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Why is everybody missing the point of the matter,there are innocent people being killed ,that is the real problem ,don't over shadow that fact with nonsence talk of people burning flags in pakistan.we all remember,no its actually like dejavue bosnia and hertzegovana,it started exactly the same.so how many people need to die here before attention is raised of it
@burmese:
u must read your history first
burmese Read your reliogion ideology first
I think Pakistan should sent forces to protect Muslims by all means so and make a permenant Army Camp.....It is must, like Americans did in Afganistan.....Crush them by force......it is only solution.
@ liaqat kan: you might be sharing your genuine feelings, however, don't you see that most of the commentators here think that it is not a significant issue because 1) they suppose that Muslim Ummah especially rich Arab countries are silent on this too, 2) some assume that people who are condemning Burmese killings are indifferent with the situation in Syria, 3) some thing that Pakistanis should first focus on internal issues and stop persecuting Ahmadis and Shias, 4) some feel that it is the habit of Muslims around the world to portray themselves as victims, 5) some even doubt if the situation is really bad out there as they have found out fake photos as an evidence ignoring the reporting from independent media and concerns from international organizations, 6) some take even protesting not-so-liberal and consider that illegitimate poking, 7) some question why Bangladeshi or Indonesian Muslims are totally silent when they are not in fact, etc etc. So chill out man :-(
very very sad the killing muslims cominety in burma so we ar apeal to all international and pakistani midia to stop poor burmi muslims killing ,Q to all human rights where thay now sailint whin a killing a muslims cominity so thay ar all the part OF a big terrirest AMRICA SO WE HATE THOSE WHO NOT AGINST THIS KILLING.
@Burmese: why are there hundreds of thousands Rohingyan Burmese living in Pakistan, else where, taking refuge if you are such nice people?
@burmese:
Pakistan is unable to face its own internal problems and therefore seeks simpler problems outside of Pak to solve.
@entropy:
I wonder who is worse in your eyes Indians or Pakistani liberals.
it is surprising that most of the media is so quite on this issue but the need of the time is to bring the real facts about this matter i guess we need to know what Burma people are saying about this specially other Muslims who are living in other state of Burma, only they can give the reliable information.
@abdul karim KHAN: Thank you Khan Saab...I did not know that US is expert in creating Urdu Fonts without help of Urdu experts. Obviously those Urdu experts are from Ummah.
Why are we so concerned? especially the liberals!
Over exaggeration,factual distortion and propaganda on Facebook and Hotmail by right wing groups have really worked,that's what I could say after watching these demonstrations. Rajesh Khanna died two weeks back and I saw this picture being shared by this friend of mine saying our media is shameless enought to pay tribute to Khanna for two-three days but have no concern for hundreds of Muslims that got slaughtered in Myanmar.I wonder if those who are burning flags had a chance to watch any other news websites apart from Urdu dailies?
Myanmar is lucky that it is not a neighbour of Pakistan.
@abdul karim KHAN: You are referring to comment from another "Raj" who has commented on flags.j Not my comments under "Raj - USA". My comments were different as below:
"Pakistan is going to be soooooooo disappointed after it sees the reaction from China !!!!!!! comments were different as below:"
We as a Pakistani are too quick to react about others problem, where no body cares about Pakistan.
We never go to the street, when we are Killing each other in our own country, Muslim is killing Muslim, weather it is Shia, Ahmadi's, Karachi killing, Taliban killing, honer killing list goes on and on.... We are Muslim enemy of our own. So we need to fix our own problem first then talk about others.
No wonder! we are called a nation of hypocrites.
Whatever happens anywhere in the world, Pakistanis are the first to bring things and flags up. It seems their anger knows no bounds, control over self is not one of their specialties, and support for victims all over the world is like their personal and undying duty. I wonder if they ever think of fixing their broken country and society first.
Do you have THE right to protest????????? Considering your dismal record on minorities!!! Hundreds of shias and ahmadis killed this year only. Pakistan stands tall among the worst and yet these demonstrations. The country I would show as an example of religious persecution and minority eradication in this world is Pakistan. Nothing comes close. Not even the tenth place!!!
Why do Pakistanis and our government not show the same level of support and demand action when Pakistani Christians, Hindus, or Muslim-minorities are attacked and slaughtered?
@Umer: i think he right,look at your house first >
@Raj - USA: use your brain 10 people burning the flag it do not mean all PAKISTANI is burning the flag,you INDIAN need to get excuse some how show the world PAKISTAN is a not a good country,you guys doing this 1947 and keep on doing it,keep busy you guys got good job.and you guys do not find any think start beating the same drum again bumbay or bombay attack.
Sal sal . if those are Pakistani Ahmadi it's a bigger deal than some 2000 Muslim from other country.
As someone recently wrote, Pakistanis have decided to take on the Mantle of Leadership, on self appointed basis. Are these morally famished beings of Paki land are blind when it comes to Karachi, where innocent people are dying everyday, they are innocent and hungry people. Where because of clashes between two political parties there are 2276 deaths. Let us just conveniently ignore these deaths in karachi (which are 22.7 times more than those in Burma). But lets ignore Karachi but not whats happening in Burma. I am 100% sure these people can’t even point out Burma on world map. I pity this nation. You should cloth your children and feed their stomach. “The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly.” ― William Shakespeare
@Umer: i agree with you Umer 100% , why looking other one we have to do first stop killing each other then we can tell other
@Aryabhat:
"Does anyone realise that this is turning in to a farce? Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran or Turkey are not raising hackles but Pakistanis can’t help it! Can they? If you really care so much about Rohingya then send a Ship/Plane to Rangoon with some humanitarian aid!"
That is well-stated. I think these protesters should also send ships/planes to (not only provide humanitarian aid but also help them to move to Pakistan) the half a million behari Pakistani Muslims rotting in Bangladesh in refugee camps for four decades and the Uighur Muslims being massacred by the Chinese army on a daily basis.
Umer, Yuri and other very angry Pakistani liberals and Indians,
Why do you people keep going on about minorities being killed in Pakistan? Many more members of the Sunni majority in Pakistan have been killed in religious violence than all the religious minorities put together. And please don't compare the treatment of minorities in Pakistan with the oppression of Rohingyas in Burma.
According to Hamid Mir tweet;
Ooops..
@EEA: "so this doesn’t mean we shall remain quite on atrocities outside our country…" Hey, if making a racket inside your own country doesn't make an iota of difference, you may go ahead and scream your head off "on atrocities outside our country" for all the good it has done or will do! Simmer down!
@SalSal:
Many thousands of Ahmadis are already jailed, persecuted, oppressed and a number of them killed and injured and a number of mosques attacked or confiscated and this is going on for decades and will continue for the foreseeable future. Hard to see how this is comparable to one or two incidents in some foreign land?
It is so pathetic that Islamabad Bar is protesting about this one minor incident but no one protests when Taliban kill innocent people in Pakistan,Afghanistan,seems like it is ok for the people and hard line Islamist if Shia are getting killed,other minorities in Pakistan are being killed or discriminating but they are worried about this incident which happened in a foreign country,I think Pakistanis needs to start worrying about Talabanisation in Pakistan, influence of Saudi wahabism in Pakistan.
@Salsal "So 100-200 innocent people killed is not a big deal?"
Yes. It is a big deal. But the statement coming from a Pakistani is really rich. These number of people a getting killed in Pakistan every day in all sorts of atrocities. Do you mean to say that it is not a big deal if done by Muslims?
Thank you, steven, for giving us the Burmese perspective on this issue and providing some balance in this discussion to our more religious and more excitable compatriots.
Off course he had to reject......they can't give excuses for their terrorist attacks.. And people who keep telling to correct ourselves first, well nobody is perfect so this doesn't mean we shall remain quite on atrocities outside our country...
If you judge a matter, you better look from both sides. In the recent event, both sides had much damaged – properties, lifes and most of all, "trust" on each other. Please stop biased news. They are getting problems NOTbecause of they are Muslims, it was because they are intruders, invadors. They have a lot of Muslim there living peacefully with other citizens. More than that, in Rakhine state we have different echnic groups and one of them is called 'Kaman'. Majority of the Kaman peoples are Muslims who are living with Rakhines side by side for many many years. They always accept Kamans as their ethnic nationality.
In my opinion, Burmese people do not have problem for somrbody saying "Allah is great". They are having problem only because a Bangladeshi group so called "Rohingya" are invading the country. Burma had great Muslims the past.. and still having great Muslims in the present..
steven
@SalSal:
Don't strawman my point. Nowhere did I say that the number who got killed is no big deal. I am against the deliberate fudging of facts and figures, which @sensible was doing.
The Media takes your to Tour of Palestine , Burma , all around the world yet they are Silent on Killing of Pashtuns Baluchs and Sindhi , Shias and Hazaras many more Victims of Pakistan because we do it ourselves and nobody else is Involved , stop Pointing fingures to others and see the Finger that points to yourself .
This can be expected from the same people who called Mumtaz Qadri their hero.
@MJ So 100-200 innocent people killed is not a big deal? Let's see what u will say if 200 Ahmadis are killed.
Pakistan is going to be soooooooo disappointed after it sees the reaction from China !!!!!!!
@Mj dude i didn't exaggerate anything, all i said about alzajeera is that it is the only news channel who provide detailed analysis and coverage of issue when most of the so-called leading news channels gave deaf ear to it. And death toll in literally in thousands, as reported by many arab tv channels.
Looking at the picture....I think we should dispatch 1000 Myanmar flags....I think in the upcoming month,Myanmar flags will sell like Hot cakes alongwith the Indian and US Flags....
Enough injustices inside of Pakistan to raise our voice against.
@Aryabhat: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran or Turkey are not raising hackles but Pakistanis can’t help it! Can they? If you really care so much about Rohingya then send a Ship/Plane to Rangoon with some humanitarian aid!
Could not, agree with you more ! It seems Pakistan has decided to take on the Mantle of Leadership, on self appointed basis as no other muslim country of any substance could give a toss about this ! Yes, they should send ships to relocate them to Pakistan, where their safety and security is definately Guraranteed, however its very people's safety & security is left to Allah's will !
Without a doubt grave crimes against humanity are being committed by the Burmese against the Rohingyas. The West's total silence on this issue exposes its hypocrisy and highlights how the West exploits 'human rights' for strategic gains and to promote its own interests. But the fuss we are making about the Rohingyas equally well exposes our hypocrisy. We make a racket about Burmese persecution of the Rohingyas but are totally silent about Saudi Wahabi persecution of Shias or Sudanese persecution of Christians and Black Muslims. And our own record on treatment of minorities, while not as bad as American propaganda likes to make it out to be, is hardly spotless.
@sensible: Don't exaggerate. Even Aljazeera puts the death toll at around 100-200.
Why these people are not condemning live telecasts of conversions. Moreover who provides them flags of different countries? Who helps them to make state of art banners in latest Urdu Fonts?
The myanmars government is quoting false figures.Thousands of innocent muslims including women and childern have been brutely killed by buddhists and myanmar's security forces are also involved in this barbaric act. Only Alzajeera tv have shown the comprehensive coverage of whole issue and it clears shows the footages of burma's brutality.
foreign affairs department of paksitan should ask myanmar government officially to stop immediately this severe violence against Muslims of myanmar. if myanmar government does not accept this proposal, then pakistani governement will take the strong staunce by leaving myanmar`s embassador out of pakistan.
Does anyone realise that this is turning in to a farce?
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran or Turkey are not raising hackles but Pakistanis can't help it! Can they? If you really care so much about Rohingya then send a Ship/Plane to Rangoon with some humanitarian aid!
In addition to passport forgery and visa fraud it seems we are also becoming the world leaders in flag burning.
Yes ! This is all blown out of propotion ! Nothing else ! Its just a minor tiff between two communities and security forces were never involved ! They did try to break this up, however got there too late ! I don't see why IBA is marching in protest ! They have short memories as to how they & their brethens were showering Rose petals on a cold blooded Murderer in the Court complex !