Burma: Religious Freedom

(asked on 9th October 2017) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the military’s role in the persecution of religious minorities throughout Myanmar, including in the Shan and Kachin States.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 23rd October 2017

The British Government remains deeply concerned by the persecution of the Muslim Rohingya population. There have been reports of rapes, killings, burning of villages, and the use of landmines; 536,000 refugees have fled over the border into Bangladesh since 25 August. The Burmese military is responsible for the brutality inflicted on the Rohingha and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe.

We also remain deeply concerned over continued human rights abuses in Burma's ethnic border areas, especially in Shan and Kachin where hostilities are still taking place. We have repeatedly called on the military to end hostilities comprehensively, and have called on all sides to enter into dialogue towards a sustainable and comprehensive nationwide ceasefire and political reconciliation process.

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