Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, thought she had entered Koe Tan Kauk (Dounsay Fara) village, Rathedaung Township, on Saturday to interview residents about the human rights situation there. However, after speaking with residents, she soon learned that her minders from the Myanmar government had actually brought her to Tha Wun Chaung, a completely different village located in southern Maungdaw Township, according to Rohingya Vision.
Ms. Lee was reportedly angered by the subterfuge and left Tha Wun Chaung village after learning she had been duped.
Myanmar police were caught on video beating Rohingya villagers of Koe Tan Kauk in early November. The video of the beatings went viral last month, and the Myanmar government acknowledged the abuses.
On Sunday, Ms. Lee asked the minders not to accompany her and her interpreters during her visits to other villages in Maungdaw Township.
Rohingya Vision reported that Ms. Lee spoke with several women in the area who are pregnant after allegedly being raped by security forces.
Some of her interlocutors reportedly raised their concerns that the interpreter accompanying Ms. Lee was distorting their comments and has a history of negative statements against the Rohingya.
Al Jazeera has reported that the UN envoy had been blocked from entering some parts of northern Rakhine State, with the Myanmar government citing “security concerns”, and that her meetings on Sunday were only with individuals who had been pre-approved by the government.
Members of the Arakan National Party, who have called for the Rohingya to remain excluded from recognition as citizens of Myanmar, refused to meet with Ms. Lee, saying they had no faith she could resolve the conflict fairly.
An estimated 65,000 Rohingya civilians have fled to Bangladesh to escape abuses perpetrated by the Myanmar military since operations began on October 9 to apprehend a group of Rohingya insurgents who attacked three police installations that day and killed nine police officers.
Earlier this month, Ms. Lee had been prevented by authorities from entering parts of war-torn Kachin State.
She is expected to hold a press conference to discuss her trip on Friday in Yangon.
