The chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission last week refused to back the proposed formation of a “truth commission” or an investigation into alleged abuses in Rakhine State.
The truth commission, along with an investigation into the recent conflict in Rakhine State, was suggested by United Nations special rapporteur for human rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana, at a press conference before he left the country on August 4.
But human rights commission chairman U Win Mra told The Myanmar Times the investigation of alleged human rights violations in Rakhine State could potentially lead to more violence.
“I cannot say in detail because I have not seen Mr Quintana’s statement from the press conference [but] re-investigation is uncertain at this point because [Rakhine State] has just reached a stable and tranquil condition. We don’t want to instigate problems by reinvestigating the past,” he said on August 8.
“Truth commissions are established by new governments in countries that have transformed after violence, unrest and human rights abuses so they can be rediscovered and revealed. That is why it is a different condition here: the transition in Myanmar was peacefully attained by the election.”
Mr Quintana said an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine State was needed as “a matter of urgency”.