The UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has asked for a prompt independent investigation due to claims of abuses by security forces in Burma’s Rakhine state, noting that that the crisis reflected the long-standing systemic discrimination against the Muslim Rohingya community, who are not recognized by the Government and remain stateless.
Speaking on the issue Ms Pillay said,
“Reports indicate that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community.”
Addressing the Burmese government, she said,
“The government has a responsibility to prevent and punish violent acts, irrespective of which ethnic or religious group is responsible without discrimination and in accordance with the rule of law.”
She went on to urge national leaders to speak out against discrimination, the exclusion of minorities and racist attitudes and to support equal rights for all in Burma.
The UNHCR says that about 80,000 people had been displaced due to the violence. Extremist Buddhist monks have also been urging people to shun the Muslim Rohingya community and block aid from being distributed to them.
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