Who will be responsible for past human rights violations?

October 6, 2010

After the November 2010 elections, whether the people like it or not, a new government, with heads of both active and retired military commanders, will be formed and power will be transferred within the inner circle of the military leaders.

In many countries, where there have been past serious violations of human rights, there have always been commissions on truth and reconciliation formed to inquire about these past human rights violations in order to avoid the possibility of similar mistakes in the future.

However, the transition in Burma does not seem to embody such a commission for the formation of truth and reconciliation, because the most of human rights perpetrators will be in power, and they will continuously try to win through war in all matters, without accepting the political intentions of the people for peace talks or reconciliation.

The civil war will be continued and the human rights violations in ethnic regions will continue. The oppression of pro-democracy movements will continue and the imprisonment and the detention of political leaders and activists will continue. The new regime will have ignored past human rights abuses and will not conduct opportunities for genuine peace, truth and reconciliation in order to accept all parties to participate in peaceful transition.

Since there is no truth and reconciliation within the country to provide justice for human victims countrywide, HURFOM believes it is the responsibility of international judicial institutions to seek justice for the people of Burma.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Commentary