The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a response stating that the government strongly rejects the recommendations and the entire report presented by the so-called Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar during the 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council. The second bilateral dialogue on Myanmar was held on March 19 and 20, during the regular session of the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur’s report on the human rights situation in Myanmar was presented without the participation of the country concerned, Myanmar.
The response revealed that the deliberate omission of strong evidence in his report showed the biased nature of the report, raising questions about the fairness of the mandate as a whole. Some countries and UN mandate holders have called for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, while condemning the government’s efforts to hold free and fair elections.
The response also stated that Myanmar firmly rejects the so-called Special Rapporteur’s arbitrary conclusions without thorough analysis, as holding elections is a fundamental and indispensable requirement for a democratic system. Myanmar is a food-sufficient country, exporting 2.5 million tons of rice annually, but is facing rising food prices due to economic sanctions imposed by some Western countries.
The Special Rapporteur has repeatedly urged member states to take unilateral coercive measures against Myanmar in violation of international law and the UN Charter. The Security Council is the only UN body that can impose such measures, and this action is beyond the Human Rights Council’s mandate, the response states. The response also warns the Special Rapporteur that any attempt to infringe upon Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will not be tolerated. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur lacks the authority to dictate how member states should interact with Myanmar. The response also expresses a strong rejection of the entire report and appreciates the delegations for their fair and constructive discussions regarding Myanmar.
