I am deeply concerned by the human rights and humanitarian situation in Rakhine. A range of human rights organisations report of human rights violations by the security forces, and humanitarian access is also restricted which is particularly impacting those already affected by malnutrition. 

As you may be aware, the UN Special Rapporteur, Yanghee Lee, recently visited the region and has publicly criticised the crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority and urged the military to respect the law and human rights.

I am encouraged that Ministers share our concerns about this crisis and continue to engage with the Burmese Government on this. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary visited Burma in January and discussed the need for a restrained security approach with the Home Affairs Minister, as well as the importance of resuming humanitarian access and of ending discrimination against the Rohingya. He also raised these issues with the State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi. 

I know that the Government has considered the viability of a UN Commission of Inquiry into this issue. However I understand that establishing an inquiry would require broad international support; unfortunately this simply does not exist in the current international environment, and for that this I will not be signing EDM 844.