Global elders urge end to impunity in Myanmar

AFP/YangonFormer world leaders led by ex-US president Jimmy Carter appealed yesterday for an end to impunity over a wave of anti-Muslim attacks in Myanmar. The call came at the end of a three-day visit to the formerly military-ruled country by the group—known as “The Elders”—for talks with reformist President Thein Sein, religious leaders and civil society groups. “The Elders call for an end to impunity for the perpetrators of violence against the Muslim community and for the meaningful realisation of the right to freedom of religion,” they said in a statement. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway and and deputy chair of The Elders, said it could take decades to overcome “the ingrained prejudices promoted by extremist voices in parts of the country”. Violence against minority Muslims in the western state of Rakhine should “be halted as a priority”, she said. “No one can afford to ignore these senseless, destructive, repeated acts of brutality.” Religious violence—mostly targeting Muslims—has exposed deep rifts in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, casting a shadow over widely praised political reforms since military rule ended in 2011. Around 250 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in several outbreaks of violence since June 2012. Clashes in Rakhine state last year left about 200 people dead, mostly Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship by Myanmar. Rights groups have accused Myanmar security forces of complicity in the violence, while anti-Muslim riots elsewhere in the country have appeared well organised. The Elders—founded by former South African president Nelson Mandela in 2007 — also appealed for an end to the country’s conflicts between the military and ethnic-minority rebels, and for the release of all remaining political prisoners. “We were impressed by the pace with which reforms are proceeding. Myanmar is becoming a more open society,” Carter said. “The release of political prisoners is particularly encouraging. We trust there will be no political prisoners by the end of the year, as the president has pledged,” he added. Myanmar needs more women in politics to ensure a more vibrant democracy, Carter said.Carter, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and Brundtland met with Myanmar President Thein Sein, military leaders, ministers and civil society representatives on their three-day tour of the once-pariah state to assess its transition to democracy. “We have been struck by the growing contribution and leadership of women in civil society, and yet they are under-represented in the political process,” Carter told a press conference in Yangon.There are only 28 female members of the 664-seat lower and upper houses of Myanmar’s parliament, and only one female minister in the 36-person cabinet.“A truly vibrant democratic society cannot thrive without women’s equal status in all aspects of life,” Carter said.