Item 4: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Madame President,

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar for his continued work and welcomes his oral update to the Council.

The continued human rights scrutiny remains crucial while Myanmar remains in the grip of a military already accused of decades of war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of humanitarian law. We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the military’s continued campaign of violent force against dissidents, ethnic and religious minority groups since the coup on 1 February.

We specifically condemn the recent killing of a Baptist pastor who was short dead in Chin state on the 18 September amid continued attacks by the Myanmar military on civilians in the state.

Pastor Cung Biak Hum, 31, was shot by soldiers as he tried to help extinguish a blaze caused by artillery fire, which destroyed 19 homes in the Thantlang township. The Chin Human Rights Organization reported that soldiers proceeded to remove the pastor’s finger and steal his wedding ring.

The pastor, his community, and many others like it continue to suffer violence and grave human rights violations at the hands of the Myanmar military. We urge the international community, and especially this Council, to act urgently to prevent further escalation in the abuses of all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

We echo calls for increased sift and concrete international action, including cross-border humanitarian access, and we reiterate the urgent need for a global arms embargo as a means of pressuring the military regime to end its horrific treatment of the people of Myanmar.

Thank you.