Statement by India under Agenda Item 4: ID with SR for Human Rights in Myanmar in the 42nd Session of the Human Rights Council ( 09-27 September 2019), delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary,
Permanent Mission of India, (Geneva, 16th September 2019)
Madam Vice-President,
We thank the Special Rapporteur on her oral presentation. We have been emphasizing that it is important to recognize limits to capacity in Myanmar’s system, bearing in mind its evolving democracy, developing institutional capacities, and its engagement in the last two decades with the region and the world. The international community should be making a stronger effort to help create conditions for sustainable, safe and speedy return of all displaced communities. It is also our belief that it is vital to promote an engagement-based effort to address the root causes of socio-economic conflict in Rakhine State, so that priority is given to the return of displaced persons.
Myanmar’s efforts to implement the Annan Commission recommendations needs to be encouraged. The Independent Commission of Enquiry, with eminent leaders from the Philippines and Japan, should be engaged constructively. The positive response from ICOE to engage with UN Human Rights entities should also be engaged with.
It has been our belief that threatening Myanmar with punitive action, including at the ICC, to which that State is not a signatory, will only be counter-productive. Any approach taken should also aim at reliving the strain on Bangladesh’s socio-economic system. The way forward must be to encourage the implementation of the agreement reached regarding the return of displaced persons, and to facilitate the early start of repatriation, for which international efforts to improve the socio-economic environment in Rakhine is an essential prerequisite.
Finally, it is important that the approach of our effort here at the HRC takes the right tone. Building trust is key to helping address the problem. Matters should not degenerate to the point that both Government and legislature of the country take formal positions in opposition to engagement with any envoy of the UN system.
I thank you, Madam Vice President.
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