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	Religious violence in Myanmar, Government must tackle Prejudice and Discrimination – UN Expert by Tomás Ojea Quintana Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Myanmar   April 2013   The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has expressed serious concerns over the spread of violence between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Myanmar and urged bold steps by the Government to counteract this frightening trend.   “The Government must take immediate action to stop the violence from spreading to other parts of the country and undermining the reform process. This includes stemming campaigns of discrimination and hate speech which are fuelling racist and, in particular, anti-Muslim feeling in the country. And it involves holding to account those responsible for acts of violence and destruction against religious and ethnic minorities,” the Special Rapporteur said.   “The warning signs have been there since the communal violence in Rakhine State last June and the Government has simply not done enough to address the spread of discrimination and prejudice against Muslim communities across the country, and to tackle the organised and coordinated mobs that are inciting hatred and violently attacking Muslim communities,” he added.   Last week saw violence between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Mandalay region in central Myanmar that left 12,000 persons displaced and unconfirmed numbers dead. Subsequently, a curfew and state of emergency has been imposed in four townships in Mandalay region. There are reports of violence spreading to Bago and Yangon. In June and October last year, inter-communal violence in Rakhine State, Northwest Myanmar, left 120,000 internally displaced and, according to Government figures, nearly 200 dead.   Mr. Ojea Quintana welcomed calls from Government leaders, including the President’s televised address to the nation earlier today, for compassion, tolerance, understanding and empathy amongst people of all faiths in Myanmar.   He also notes the President’s warning to “political opportunists” and “religious extremists” not to misuse religion to incite hatred. However, he believes State authorities need to do much more. This includes addressing allegations that some State officials, including local politicians and administrators, have been encouraging discriminatory views and inciting hatred.   The Rapporteur also expressed concern about religious leaders or their supporters publicly spreading hate speech, including through social media.   “I have seen worrying footage of religious leaders, including Buddhist monks, seemingly advocating religious intolerance. The Government must clearly distance itself from such incitement to hatred, and instruct its officials to do likewise.   Although Myanmar is a majority Buddhist country, the Government must promote tolerance of all faiths and religions.”   Furthermore, journalists attempting to cover the violence in Mandalay have reportedly been attacked and threatened by armed mobs, and the Rapporteur highlighted the obligation of the State authorities to protect journalists.   While noting the President’s statement that the security forces will be used to protect the life, liberty and security of the people, the Rapporteur warned against a heavy-handed approach that sees strong military action as the only way to restore public order, and urged a more holistic approach to address the root causes of inter-communal tensions.   In addition, Mr. Ojea Quintana revealed, “I have received reports of State involvement in some of the acts of violence, and of instances where the military, police and other civilian law enforcement forces have been standing by while atrocities have been committed before their very eyes, including by well organised ultra-nationalist Buddhist mobs.   This may indicate direct involvement by some sections of the State or implicit collusion and support for such actions.”   Other allegations received by the Special Rapporteur have indicated that the military and police may be arbitrarily detaining people based on religious and ethnic profiling.   “Tackling discrimination is fundamental to establishing the rule of law, and impunity for acts of violence and discrimination must no longer be tolerated,” he said. “The military and police must now be held to account for human rights violations committed against ethnic and religious minorities.”   While acknowledging the strong stance taken by the President’s Office, the Rapporteur called on other institutions such as Parliament, the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission to play their role in protecting constitutionally guaranteed rights, including freedom of religion.   He also emphasised the role of civil society and political parties in tackling prejudice and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, and praised the work of 88 Generation leaders such as Min Ko Naing, who had travelled to Meikhtila following the violence and worked to ease tensions and promote understanding.   In the Special Rapporteur’s latest report to the Human Rights Council earlier this month, he warned that the crisis in Rakhine State could spread to other parts of the country, and issued a number of recommendations to the Government aimed at addressing the widespread discrimination and prejudice against ethnic and religious minority groups in Myanmar, including lifting restrictions on discriminatory practices against Muslim communities, and reviewing the functions of the border security forces. http://bit.ly/2SAn0GH   Feb. 2013   Myanmar: “Key Human Rights issues remain unaddressed”.   The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, has called on the Government to urgently address a number of human rights issues.   The Special Rapporteur re-stated his call to the authorities and the people of Myanmar to address the issue of truth, justice and accountability through the creation of a truth commission.   “What happened during the previous military governments remains untouched. I believe this is crucial for the process of national reconciliation and to prevent future human rights violations by learning from the past,” Mr. Ojea Quintana noted.   The expert also called on the international community to recognise the reforms that have taken place, but also urged them to focus on their implementation, especially in the areas of human rights capacity development for police, army, judges and lawyers. He also reminded them of their important role in prioritising human rights when engaging in bilateral relations with Myanmar, including in business and investment relations.   Kachin State   “I have been particularly concerned over the previous months of the escalation of military offensives, which has brought further death, injury and destruction to the civilian population,” Mr. Ojea Quintana noted. “The ongoing large military presence, which remains beyond the reach of accountability mechanisms, means that serious human rights violations are continuing there.”   “The resolution of the conflict will need to address the role played by ethnic minorities in the reconstruction of the nation,” Mr. Ojea Quintana stressed, while drawing attention to “the importance of involving community-based organisations, which are dealing with the consequences of the conflict, to participate in a transparent process of political dialogue and negotiation.”   The Special Rapporteur noted that humanitarian access is still a challenge in Kachin State due to security issues and the harassment of local staff from humanitarian organisations, as well as the steady decrease in donor funding. “I believe that there are administrative and political obstacles that can be overcome to improve access,” he said.   Rakhine State   Mr. Ojea Quintana noted that Rakhine State is going through a profound crisis that has the potential to undermine the entire reform process in Myanmar.   “Both Muslim and Buddhist Rakhine communities continue to suffer the consequences of violence that the Government has finally been able to control, though question marks remain over the extent to which excessive force has been used,” he said.   The Special Rapporteur expressed concern about the situation of 120,000 people in internally displaced camps, with particular regard to the lack of adequate health care in the larger Muslim camps.   “This is not just a matter of lack of resources, but requires the safe passage of humanitarian assistance to these camps. Currently, local and international medical staff are unable to provide medical care to some of the Muslim camps due to the threats and harassment they face from local Rakhine Buddhist communities,” the expert said. “I urge the local authorities to send a clear message through their networks that this harassment of staff is not acceptable.”   “Feelings of fear, distrust, hatred and anger remain high between communities. To address this requires education, responsible local journalism, as well as mutually respectful dialogue between community leaders. Time does not heal wounds unless measures are taken to repair relations,” he said.   “The facts of what has happened need to be established and those responsible for human rights violations held to account, which I hope the Investigation Committee established by the President will help to do in its upcoming report which should be made public.” Visit the related web page
	China Outsells UK in World’s Lucrative Arms Bazaar by Thalif Deen Inter Press Service   Mar 2013   After ranking ahead of Japan as the world’s second largest economy, China has reached another milestone: displacing the UK as the world’s fifth largest arms supplier.   In a new study released Monday, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said, “This is the first time China has been in the top five arms exporters since the end of the Cold War (in 1992).”   Asked how Chinese arms compare with some of the more sophisticated Western weapons systems, Dr. Paul Holtom, senior researcher and director of the Arms Transfers Programme at SIPRI, told IPS, “It is perhaps also more pertinent to ask how Chinese weapons for export compare to those being offered by Russia, Ukraine etc. as it is with these suppliers that China is likely to be a rival in the short-to medium-term.”   Holtom said the profile of China’s recipients remains predominantly lower income states in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.   China’s rise has been driven primarily by large-scale arms acquisitions by Pakistan, a country once described by a Chinese delegate as “our Israel”.   The United States is currently the largest supplier of weapons to Israel, a longtime political, economic and military ally, which is heavily protected against any forms of sanctions in the Security Council.   According to SIPRI, the five largest suppliers of major conventional weapons during the five-year period 2008-12 were the United States (30 percent of global arms exports), Russia (26 percent), Germany (seven percent), France (six percent) and China (five percent).   This is the first time that the UK has not been in the top five since at least 1950, the earliest year covered by SIPRI data.   Overall, the volume of international transfers of major conventional weapons grew by 17 percent between 2003-2007 and between 2008-12, according to the study.   Traditionally, the world’s five major arms exporters have been the five permanent members of the Security Council, the only U.N. body with the power to declare war and peace.   Germany, currently the third largest arms supplier, is a not a permanent member of the Security Council, but the UK is.   Besides being an exporter, China was also a key arms importer during the period 2008-12   Asia and Oceania accounted for almost half (47 percent) of global imports of major conventional weapons.   The top five importers of major conventional weapons worldwide were India (12 per cent of global imports), China (six percent), Pakistan (five percent), South Korea (five percent), and Singapore (four percent) – all in Asia.   These sales come at a time of heightening tensions over territorial disputes in the East and South China seas.   Asked if most developing countries were attracted to Chinese weapons due to discounted prices, or due to the fact that Beijing does not lay down political conditions, including human rights standards, Holtom told IPS it is difficult to definitively say what the main attraction is.   Cost and also the terms of the arrangements – e.g. long-term low interest loans, barter etc. – will obviously be an important element in procurement considerations, he pointed out.   The issue of “security of supply” could also be a factor.   From the perspective of some analysts in Moscow, for example, the decision to include S-300 SAM systems in the scope of the Russian arms embargo on Iran damaged Russia’s reputation with regards to a “secure source of arms supplies” and there is a fear that China will be a beneficiary of this.   Holtom said Wikileaks, the online organisation known to publish classified documents, indicates that Chinese companies are also sensitive to issues of human rights concerns and pressure from the United States.   “But it is likely to still be regarded as a ‘secure source of arms supplies’ compared with some of the other major suppliers that assess arms export against a wider range of criteria than China – e.g. European Union member states apply the eight criteria of the EU Common Position relating to serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, impact on conflict and instability and diversion risks,” he said.   He said China’s three principles on arms sales are: contribution to the self-defence capability of the recipient state; not harming the peace, security and stability of the region or world; non-interference in the recipient country’s internal affairs.   Holtom also pointed out there have been very significant developments with regards to the Chinese arms industry since the reforms of the late 1990s.   However, he said it is perhaps important to stress that some sectors are able to deliver more advanced systems than others, and that there is also a difference between systems that are being produced for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and those that are being produced for export.   However, the JF-17/FC-1 has been developed and delivered to Pakistan and this has been an important factor for China’s rise in the SIPRI statistics and there is interest from a number of states.   Like the J-10 combat aircraft, these items contain Russian components that could come into play with regards to export prospects and competition.   With regards to battle tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery, frigates, anti-ship missiles and Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), China has secured some clients that are perhaps attracted by the lower costs of these items and anecdotally there are comments that both the equipment, terms of the deals and training are improving.
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