MANILA, Philippines – Detained Senator Leila De Lima on Wednesday slammed the Philippines’ rejection of a United Nations resolution addressing the human rights situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.
She called the move an “irrefutable proof” that the country is now turning into a “vassal state of China.”
“It likewise signals an equally alarming trend towards the dehumanization of the current administration,” De Lima said in a statement.
Of the 46 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) member states that voted, only the Philippines and China thumbed down the resolution.
This is the third time that the Duterte administration rejected a UN measure addressing the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people.
#HRC42 Council adopts res. on situation of #humanrights of #Rohingya Muslims & other minorities in #Myanmar, urges its gov. to sustain the democratic transition, by bringing all national institutions, incl. the military, under democratically elected civilian Gov. 37 y 2 n 7 abst. pic.twitter.com/xZtM6M7R9t
— United Nations Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) September 26, 2019
De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights chairperson, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should be asked if its vote against the UN resolution is the “true and genuine” position of the Philippine government or if the same was influenced by China.
“Despite the indubitable evidence of grave crimes, however, the Philippine government looked the other way to follow the position taken by the despotic regime in Beijing,” De Lima said.
“I condemn this vote. It does not represent who we are as people. We value everyone’s dignity. We stand for humanity. We strive for justice,” she added.
The UN resolution denounces “all violations and abuses of human rights in Myanmar, including against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, and expressing deep concern at the reports of ongoing human rights violations.”
The UN resolution also urged the Myanmar government to end all violence and violations of international law in Myanmar and ensure the protection of human rights of all human rights of Myanmar people including Rohingya Muslims and minorities. /gsg
READ: PH, China oppose UN resolution on abuses vs Rohingya Muslims