Members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, which sparked outrage by negotiating compensation for two teenage maids who were allegedly abused for five years by a family in downtown Yangon, were under further pressure on Monday after MPs in the Lower House of parliament voted to take action against them.
U Pyone Cho, a lower house MP of from Yangon, made the proposal, arguing that the commission did not protect the rights of the victims, who were 17 and 16 at the time of their release earlier this month.
374 MPs voted in support while one voted against and eight abstained, according to news and video reports from the parliamentary session.
U Zaw Win, one of the members of the commission, was present and once again defended the actions of the body, saying it has acted honestly.
The vote is not binding, but puts more momentum behind the effort to dismiss the members of the commission. Ultimately the decision will come down to the president’s office, which has launched an investigation.
The case has generated widespread anger in Myanmar after it was brought to light by Myanmar Now reporter Swe Win this month.
