HRC 51 - EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue on report of Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Mister President,

The EU thanks the Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for the annual report and his oral update, and reiterates its strong support to this mandate.

The EU continues to condemn, in the strongest terms, the military coup, and is alarmed that, since it took place, crimes have been committed in Myanmar on a scale and in a manner that constitutes a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population. Some of these crimes may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder; torture, deportation and forcible transfer, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, and imprisonment. Even children are targeted, including as proxies for their parents.

The EU also strongly condemns the politically motivated executions of pro-democracy and opposition leaders by the Myanmar military, and calls for a return to the de facto moratorium on the death penalty.

The EU calls on the Myanmar armed forces to immediately halt the use of violence against civilians, including persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, and to allow the population to exercise their rights, including the human rights to freedom of expression and assembly

Mr. Koumjian,

Could you elaborate on the legal implications of the executions of the four pro-democracy and opposition leaders carried out in July?