U.N envoy complains of state surveillance, access restrictions in Myanmar

Record ID: 903555

  • Title: U.N envoy complains of state surveillance, access restrictions in Myanmar
  • Date: 21st July 2017
  • Summary: YANGON, MYANMAR (JULY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR YANGHEE LEE WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS LEE TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, YANGHEE LEE, SAYING: "The general situation for the Rohingya has hardly improved since my last visit in January and has become further complicated in the north of Rakhine. I continue to receive reports of violations allegedly committed by security forces doing operations." JOURNALIST TAKING PICTURES WITH MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, YANGHEE LEE, SAYING: "As well as increasing restrictions on my access, individuals who meet me, meet with me continued to face intimidation, including being photographed, questioned before and after the meeting and, in one case, even followed. This is unacceptable." JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, YANGHEE LEE, SAYING: "This is my third visit under the new government and I have to say I am disappointed to see the tactics applied by the previous government still being used." JOURNALISTS SEATED LEE LISTENING TO JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION LEE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2017 16:41
  • Keywords: Myanmar United Nations Yanghee Lee human rights Rohingya Rakhine State refugee camps visit
  • Location: YANGON, MYANMAR
  • City: YANGON, MYANMAR
  • Country: Myanmar
  • Topics: Race Relations / Ethnic Issues,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016QNW11J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Activists and journalists in newly democratic Myanmar continue to be followed and questioned by state surveillance agents, a U.N. envoy said on Friday (July 21), at the conclusion of a visit she said was beset by official snooping and access restrictions.
    Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee told a news conference at the conclusion of her 12-day visit that she faced "increasing restrictions" on her access.
    Lee said it was "unacceptable" that people meeting her were watched and even followed by agents she suspected to be from the police Special Branch that once stalked political opponents during almost half a century of dictatorship.
    Lee also said "the general situation for the Rohingya has hardly improved" since her last visit in January "and has become further complicated in the north of Rakhine."
    In November last year, Myanmar's army swept through villages where stateless Rohingya Muslims live in the area of Maungdaw.
    Some 75,000 people fled across the nearby border to Bangladesh, according to the United Nations.
    About 1.1 million Rohingya - who many in Myanmar view as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh - are denied citizenship and face restrictions on their movements in Rakhine.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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