Two UN staff members sentenced in Myanmar
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Martin Nesirky
Two United Nations staff members and their partner have reportedly been sentenced to prison terms in Myanmar for their alleged involvement in communal violence in Rakhine State in June.
United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky says the United Nations has not received formal notification from the government of Myanmar about the case.
He stressed that formal and precise charges need to be provided to the world organization before any action is taken by the authorities.
"The country team in Yangoon has received information that a court in Maungdaw has sentenced three people: one from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), one from the World Food Programme and a third person who works for a partner organization of the refugee agency. So, in other words, not a UN person, and in all three cases apparently in connection with violent incidents in Rakhine State in June”
The UN spokesman said a detained staff should be treated in accordance with all applicable international conventions and immunities that they may be entitled to.
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