Human Rights Watch rebukes Australia for meeting with Myanmar junta chief

Yesterday, Human Rights Watch accused Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar of “lending credibility” to Myanmar’s junta government. HRW’s criticism got here after the ambassador met with the junta’s chief Min Aung Hlaing and of Myanmar’s state-owned media outlets on Wednesday to discuss “cooperation” in numerous sectors.
HRW Myanmar researcher Manny Maung said the meeting has damage global efforts to carry the chief accountable for human rights abuses, saying, “By taking photograph ops and accepting items, Australia only serves to lend credibility to a army junta that’s accused of committing warfare crimes”.
Last month, a human rights organisation, along with the Yale Law School Center, accused Myanmar’s chief Min of creating a special command that deployed snipers to kill unarmed protestors. The School Center and Fortify Rights investigated leaked documents and 128 testimonies from survivors, medical workers, witnesses and former military and police personnel concerning the violence in Myanmar.
The report identified sixty one military and police commanders who the researchers said should be investigated for crimes against humanity. Six of these people are allegedly active-duty army personnel, including a colonel and two majors. The researchers allege chief Min’s new particular command in the capital Naypyidaw was run by 4 of his high generals.
After Class full , Maung urged Australia to “align with its conventional allies” by avoiding additional high-level conferences with junta leaders and immediately imposing sanctions on Myanmar. Meanwhile, an official from Australia’s overseas affairs department said the ambassador had used the assembly to call for Myanmar to cease violence and launch detainees.
SOURCE: AFP

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