2017年CRI Commission urges full access to Myanmar's Rakhine

 

Ghassan Salame, member of the Advisory¹ Commission on Rakhine State, briefs media on the commission's interim² report and recommendations in Yangon on March 16, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

A 9-member international commission set up to monitor issues in Myanmar's northwestern state of Rakhine is calling for full humanitarian³ and media access to the region.

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, headed by former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Anna, is tasked to propose solutions to resolve long-standing communal⁴ conflict between Buddhist⁵ and Muslim populations in Rakhine.

Six months after its establishment at the behest of the Myanmar government, it comes up with an interim report and recommendations following several field trips.

Commission member Ghassan Salame chaired the press briefing held in Yangon on Thursday.

"First and foremost, a full and unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations into the areas where violence has taken place, in fact, to all areas in Rakhine State. The second recommendation is for the full and regular access for both local and international media representatives to these same areas."

Access to the region has been restricted since the government forces began "clearance⁶ operations" after nine police border guards were killed in attacks on the 9th of last October.

As the security forces have been accused of extrajudicial killings⁷, rape⁸, torture, and arson⁹ during the operations, the commission calls on the Myanmar government to ensure that perpetrators of the crimes to be held accountable.

Salame notes changes need to take place within the security forces.

"First, in its composition. What the commission would like to see is a better representation of all the groups living in Rakhine in the police force because we believe when the police force in its composition reflects better the general population of the state, it helps a lot. Second… we would like the local police to be trained in better respect of human rights."

The commission also calls for closure of all camps for internally displaced persons.

We don't believe that the IDP (camps) are a natural state of things, especially for those who are in the IDP (camps), who used to live a few meters or a few dozens meters from those IDP (camps)."

More than 100,000 people, most of whom Muslims, have been displaced since violence broke out in 2012. Some have been reportedly stuck in the camps nearly five years after being forced to move.

The Myanmar government is also urged to draft a clear strategy and timeline to revitalize a failed citizenship¹⁰ verification process.

Over one million Muslims in Rakhine are reportedly denied citizenship, which leads to their movement restricted and rights denied.

A statement issued by Myanmar's State Counsellor's office hours after the report's release says the large majority of the 30 or so recommendations will be implemented¹¹ promptly¹² with a view to maximum effectiveness. And the implementation¹³ of a few will be contingent¹⁴ upon the situation on the ground.

A final report by the commission will be submitted by the end of August.

1 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。

5 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

6 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

7 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

8 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

9 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

10 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

11 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

12 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

13 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

14 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。