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| Protesters make the three-finger salute during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, April 27. AFP-Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
A coalition of human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region, including the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), has condemned the ongoing military coup in Myanmar and urged the junta there to cease all forms of violence against civilians.
The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), a grouping of 25 national human rights institutions in the region, released a statement, Monday, expressing deep concerns about the continuing violence and killing of civilians in the country which began when the military seized power in February.
"We are deeply concerned about the continuing violence in Myanmar, where more than 765 civilian protesters have reportedly been killed, and at least 3,500 people imprisoned, since the events of Feb.1," read the statement issued under the APF chairperson's name.
It called on the Myanmar military to immediately stop all forms of violence against protesters and release all political prisoners, while encouraging it to adopt ASEAN's five-point consensus plan and work toward a peaceful political solution to the current situation, including a return to democracy and respect for the rule of law.
In addition, the APF expressed deep concerns about the current inability of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission to perform its mandated functions in line with the Paris Principles.
"All national human rights commissions must operate to be legitimate, credible and effective in promoting and protecting human rights. The chairperson, commissioners and staff of the commission should also face no reprisals for performing their role," it said.
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| A man is held by police during a crackdown on anti-coup protesters in front of the Myanmar Economic Bank in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 15. AP-Yonhap |
The organization added that it remains committed to providing support to Myanmar's human rights commission to assist it to meet such expectations.
The message from the APF came after NHRCK Chairperson Choi Young-ae sent a letter to it in March, calling for the international community's proactive response to the events in Myanmar.
Choi concurrently serves as the deputy chairperson at the APF and a member of the sub-committee on accreditation at the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
At a governance committee meeting of the APF, April 26, Choi mentioned the solidarity and support from the international community shown for Korean citizens during the country's May 18 pro-democracy movement in 1980, and urged the international community to express such support for the movement in Myanmar as well.
The Myanmar military is continuing its lethal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters after it seized power, Feb. 1, and ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
As of Tuesday, a hundred days have passed since the coup and the civilian death toll has reached 781, while 3,843 others have been detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Group, a local monitoring agency.
The Korean government has been showing its support for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, calling for the immediate release of those detained including Suu Kyi, and a peaceful resolution to the situation based on lawful and democratic procedures.
