UN envoy calls Myanmar for action on Rohingyas
The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has called for urgent action by the government there to end the suffering of the Rohingya population.
At the end of a four-day visit to Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, Yanghee Lee said: "The magnitude of violence these families have witnessed and experienced is far more extensive than I had originally speculated."
Read more: Myanmar Rohingya Abuse: UN rights envoy in Rakhine for probe
During her visit, she met members of the Rohingya population who had fled to Bangladesh after attacks and reprisals followed in Myanmar, according to a UN press release issued today.
The expert reported several allegations of horrific attacks including the slitting of some people's throats, indiscriminate shootings, houses being set alight with people tied up inside and very young children being thrown into the fire, as well as gang rapes and other sexual violence.
Read more: Yanghee Lee to arrive in Dhaka Feb 19
"I urge the Government of Myanmar to immediately cease the discrimination that the community continues to face, to act now to prevent any further serious rights violations and to conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into those already alleged to have occurred," the envoy said.
"We all owe it to those I have met and their fellow community members to do everything in our power to ensure this is done and to give the Rohingya people reason to hope again," she concluded.
The special rapporteur will present her full report to the UN Human Rights Council on March 13, 2017. The report will be posted online.
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