Myanmar's denial of access for UN expert is 'outrageous'

Responding to news that the Myanmar authorities have denied access to the country for UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:

“The Myanmar government’s decision to bar the Special Rapporteur from accessing the country is outrageous. It is a further indication that authorities will do anything they can to avoid international scrutiny of their human rights record.

“At a time when the security forces stand accused of crimes against humanity during their vicious campaign against the Rohingya, accountability for human rights violations are crucially important.

“The international community must urge the authorities to allow Yanghee Lee access. It is the ordinary people and victims of human rights abuses who continue to suffer.

“The Myanmar military claim they have done nothing wrong during the past months. If so, the authorities should have nothing to hide – why are they denying access for independent and impartial investigators?”

Amnesty has documented several attacks by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya in recent months, and repeatedly called for the UN Fact-Finding Mission and other independent observers to be given unfettered access to Myanmar.