PRESS RELEASE
1. As a principle, Myanmar rejects country-specific mandates including that of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar as they do not create a conducive environment for constructive engagement and genuine dialogue for promotion and protecting of human rights. Myanmar firmly believes that the Universal Periodic Review-UPR process is the most dependable and uncontroversial monitoring mechanism to address and rectify human rights situations in all countries on an equal footing.
2. It has been in the spirit of cooperation and in good faith that Myanmar has invited and received successive special rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
3. In this spirit, Myanmar invited and received Ms. Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar for the third time to the country for a five-day visit from 3 to 7 August 2015. The duration and the places were balanced with the security concerned expressed on her part. In addition, the disagreement expressed by the people of Myanmar on her observations
after her second visit to Myanmar in January 2015 was also taken into careful consideration.
4. The Special Rapporteur could not visit a state which was declared as one of the severely flooded States compounded by bad weather condition. A few requested meetings in Nay Pyi Taw were not able to accommodate as high authorities were engaged with natural disaster responses in the fields.
5. Myanmar positively took note the commitment of the Special Rapporteur to
engage constructively and openly with the Government and all other stakeholders. It is also pleased to observe the efforts of the Special Rapporteur to listen to the diverse views and opinions. Myanmar, however, encourages the Special Rapporteur to further diversify and enrich her sources of information since her end of mission statement contained a wide range of allegations and speculations rather than truth and facts.
6. The rights to participation in political process of a country such as voting in elections is the rights of its citizens. There is no restriction for those who wish to become citizens to apply citizenship in accordance with the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law.
7. Myanmar continues to reject use of “Rohingya” since the people of Myanmar do not recognize that invented terminology.
8. One of the most significant progresses that Myanmar has made in its new era is in the area of freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. No one is arrested or charged for simply exercising their rights peacefully.
9. Illegal migration in the region is driven by quest for greener pasture and victims are exploited by the people smuggling and human trafficking networks. Countries of origin, transit and destination in the region are redoubling their efforts to address it. On humanitarian grounds, Myanmar reacted as a responsible member of the international community by rescuing, temporarily
sheltering and providing assistance to trafficked victims within its own resources. Repatriation of hundreds of the boat people is continuing in close cooperation with the country of origin.
10. It is hoped that the Special Rapporteur would produce a balanced report in future, refraining from selectivity and partiality, and for better promotion and protection of human rights of all citizens of Myanmar.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
12 August 2015