27 Jul 2012

GENEVA / MYANMAR HRC

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Navi Pillay, has raised serious concerns about the ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar's Rakhine state after the violence that took place between the Buddhist and Muslim communities there. She's calling for a "prompt and independent investigation.” CH UNTV

Posted at: July 27, 2012 11:30 am

Duration: 2:10

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: GENEVA / MYANMAR HRC
TRT: 2.10
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE:   27 JULY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, flag at the Palais des Nations

27 JULY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, podium at the briefing room
3. Cutaway, journalists at briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): 
"The High Commissioner raises serious concerns about the ongoing human rights 
violations in Myanmar's Rakhine state after the violence that took place between the Buddhist and Muslim communities there and she's urging a prompt and independent investigation."
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): 
"We have received reports from independent sources alleging discriminatory and arbitrary responses by security forces during the events back at the end of May and early June. And reports indicate that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community."
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, Spokesperson, United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR: 
"Some displaced Muslims tell 
"UNHCR staff they would also like to go home to resume work, but fear for their safety. Movements are restricted in Sittwe, preventing IDPs and host families from earning a living as labourers, trishaw drivers and market sellers. Fishermen cannot reach the lagoon and the nearby waters are too rough for fishing. Some say they are running out of money and food. The sick now have to travel long distances to access health care in the IDP camps. Pregnant women are also facing problems reaching hospitals."
9. Cutaway, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR: 
"An estimated 80,000 people are displaced in and around the towns of Sittwe and Maungdaw, according to our assessments. Most of them are living in camps for internally displaced people, with smaller numbers staying with host families in 
surrounding villages."
11. Wide shot, journalists

STORYLINE:

OHCHR Spokesperson Rupert Colville said the high Commissioner had received reports from independent sources "alleging discriminatory and arbitrary responses" by security forces during the events back at the end of May and early June. He added that the reports indicated that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a "crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community."

Meanwhile the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said that an estimated 80,000 people were displaced in and around the towns of Sittwe and Maungdaw.

He said that many were too scared to consider returning home while others were being prevented from earning a living.

UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said that some displaced Muslims told UNHCR staff. "they would also like to go home to resume work, but fear for their safety".

He said that movements were restricted in Sittwe, preventing IDPs and host families from earning a living as laborers, trishaw drivers and market sellers.

Filed under 1.