• Burmese
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Commentary

UN Rapporteur: Finding the Truth or Furthering False Narratives in Myanmar?

Aung Zaw by Aung Zaw
September 30, 2020
in Commentary
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0 0
A A
Ethnic Rakhine people stage a protest against the UN and INGOs in relation to the Rakhine issue in Yangon in 2012. / The Irrawaddy

Ethnic Rakhine people stage a protest against the UN and INGOs in relation to the Rakhine issue in Yangon in 2012. / The Irrawaddy

11.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Myanmar has a new UN special rapporteur on human rights: Thomas Andrews, a former member of the US House of Representatives from the first Congressional District of Maine.

He succeeds Yanghee Lee of South Korea, who, after initially being given access to Myanmar, was informed by the government in 2017 that she had been barred from returning to the country, as she had failed to demonstrate impartiality or objectivity in carrying out her work.

Andrews’ brief bio mentions that he is a senior adviser to the US-based human rights group Fortify Rights.

RelatedPosts

Myanmar Junta Trains Staff on Electronic Voting Machines Across the Country

Myanmar Junta Trains Staff on Electronic Voting Machines Across the Country

July 8, 2025
473
Malaria Cases Rise in Western Myanmar 

Malaria Cases Rise in Western Myanmar 

July 2, 2025
621
How Myanmar Military Conscripts Child Soldiers

How Myanmar Military Conscripts Child Soldiers

June 24, 2025
1.5k

Recently, Andrews said his primary constituents are those whose human rights are under threat or under siege. He also pledged to engage with and listen to the government of Myanmar on issues of human rights.

Then-UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Yanghee Lee gives a press conference ahead of her departure from Yangon International Airport in 2014. / The Irrawaddy

Now that he is UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, his past and present affiliation with Fortify Rights will surely raise concerns.

It remains unclear whether he will be issued a visa to enter the country, but in any case, critics say Andrews will need to distance himself from Fortify Rights if he wishes to establish credibility as an impartial witness to events in Myanmar.

Why?

Last week, an article published in Asia Times rightly pointed out blunders in reporting by US media stalwart The New York Times and Fortify Rights, who published alleged testimony by two Myanmar soldiers who claimed to have committed murder and other atrocities against Rohingya people in Rakhine State in 2017, on their bosses’ orders.

Critics not only questioned the credibility of the Fortify reports, but also pointed out that the publicity potentially endangers the safety of the two soldiers, their family members and close friends and associates still in Myanmar, as they could be subject to reprisals, which would deter other potential witnesses to atrocities from coming forward.

According to the reports, the two soldiers are believed to be in The Hague—the location of the International Criminal Court.

But the soldiers are not, as the reports claim, deserters; rather, they are prisoners of war. In northern Rakhine, the Myanmar army engages in daily clashes with the Arakan Army (AA). The two soldiers mentioned in the reports are among many serving officers and troops who have been captured during the conflict. They did not desert their units.

Furthermore, there is a glaring omission in the story: How did the two captured soldiers get to The Hague? Were Bangladesh officials involved? Unconfirmed reports from Bangladesh suggest they were given Bangladeshi passports to facilitate travel to the Netherlands. If so, who stamped the Schengen visa in their passports? Who was involved in the operation? Did Fortify Rights play a role?

Foreigners who have been working on Myanmar issues for decades and independent critics say this is not the first time Fortify Rights has misconstrued the plight of refugees and victims. No wonder it has earned itself the moniker “Falsify Rights.”

In 2017, mobile phone footage of Myanmar soldiers beating men wearing civilian clothes in Shan State shocked social media followers. Fortify Rights claimed the footage had been taken in recent days or weeks, a claim repeated by The New York Times. However, it turned out the video was two years old.

Stills of two Myanmar soldiers who are now believed to be in The Hague, taken from a video shot by the Arakan Army.

The New York Times is not alone in falling prey to such groups’ falsehoods. And it would be unfair to single out Fortify Rights, as there are other birds of its feather. The Arakan Project comes to mind.

When the Thailand-based human rights group reported a massacre in Du Chee Yar Tan in northern Rakhine State in 2014, the Associated Press immediately bought into the claim. This publication followed suit. Not to be left behind, Fortify Rights days later jumped on the issue and used it as an opportunity to criticize the government.

The Myanmar government and President’s Office denied there was any evidence of a massacre.

The UN then demanded that Myanmar authorities investigate “credible information” about a reported massacre of more than 40 Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State.

So far, no one has bothered to investigate the real story of what happened at Du Chee Yar Tan village.

Several independent sources including local human rights workers and independent researchers now say the Arakan Project, Fortify Rights and the UN made a huge mistake by repeating lies told to them by Muslim villagers.

There were clashes between police officers and local villagers, but no massacre took place. A conflict erupted between local residents and security forces following the disappearance of a police sergeant, who is presumed to be dead. But then Muslim villagers spread false information among the media and rights groups. There are many stories of similar episodes occurring elsewhere—each time, media and rights groups have failed to verify the accounts they are being told.

Working on the issue of the Rohingya is a worthy cause, but critics say their record of consistently playing fast and loose with the facts means rights groups like Fortify deserve closer scrutiny. Many go further, saying the group is willfully misconstruing reality in Myanmar in order to expand its funding base.

In Myanmar, we have grown used to a revolving door of UN envoys—of varying degrees of fitness—along with an unappetizing assortment of peace industrialists, carpetbaggers and gold diggers who arrive looking to exploit Myanmar’s plight in order to extend their CVs, before moving on to greener pastures. Their reputations are deservedly rotten, but they continue to unfairly tarnish Myanmar’s image.

If a poor image is the destiny of the country, so be it. But leave Myanmar alone to it.

Lastly, it cannot be ignored that the issue of funding is vital for a number of these organizations and individuals. In their world, greed and social media vanity trump the truth—and the Rohingya issue is a cash cow. But honestly, and sadly, some longtime observers now say that many rights groups preach accountability while giving themselves license to exaggerate, distort and repurpose reality to fit their Orientalist narratives.

In recent decades, countless stories have emerged of the military’s human rights violations against civilians, activists and political prisoners in Myanmar. The role of local and international media and human rights organizations is imperative in exposing and seeking accountability for these atrocities, and in deterring further abuses.

However, their reporting should be guided by the truth and abstain from exaggeration.

Once again, truth is the first casualty—and the perpetrators are still at large.

You may also like these stories:

UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Urges China, Russia to Join Calls for Accountability on Rohingya

Political Correctness and the Genocide Case Against Myanmar

Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Rejects Damning Rohingya Rights Report

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Arakan ProjectFortify Rightshuman rights groupMyanmar MilitaryRakhine StateRohingyaThe HagueThe New York TimesUS media
Aung Zaw

Aung Zaw

Aung Zaw is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Irrawaddy.

Similar Picks:

Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta
Burma

Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta

by The Irrawaddy
August 18, 2023
27k

Powerful armed groups in Karen, Kachin and Kayah states say the regime is ready to topple.

Read moreDetails
China-Backed Illegal Rare Earth Mining Surging in Northern Myanmar
Burma

China-Backed Illegal Rare Earth Mining Surging in Northern Myanmar

by Yan Naing
July 15, 2022
34.8k

A Myanmar military-backed militia in Kachin State is protecting Chinese-run mines that produce coveted rare earth minerals used in hi-tech...

Read moreDetails
Interview

Myanmar’s Junta And Its Military Face Annihilation, Arakan Army Says

by Hein Htoo Zan
November 25, 2023
22.5k

The current war in Myanmar differs from past conflicts in the country because ethnic armies are no longer on the...

Read moreDetails
In Western Myanmar, an Ethnic Landlord is Poised to Liberate ‘Crony Beach’
Burma

In Western Myanmar, an Ethnic Landlord is Poised to Liberate ‘Crony Beach’

by The Irrawaddy
June 25, 2024
15.8k

After capturing Thandwe Airport, the Arakan Army is just steps away from Myanmar’s most valuable beach and the crony-owned resorts...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta ‘Sweetens Deal’ For China in US$ 8 Billion SEZ And Port in Rakhine State
Myanmar-China Watch

Myanmar Junta ‘Sweetens Deal’ For China in US$ 8 Billion SEZ And Port in Rakhine State

by The Irrawaddy
December 27, 2023
14.8k

Business analysts say the concession contract was likely tweaked to offer better terms for China’s state-owned firm CITIC, which has...

Read moreDetails
Arakan Army Seizes Major Myanmar Junta Base on Bangladesh Border
Burma

Arakan Army Seizes Major Myanmar Junta Base on Bangladesh Border

by Hein Htoo Zan
May 4, 2024
13.4k

The fall of the Kyee Kan Pyin Border Guard Police headquarters exposes Maungdaw to AA attacks.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
A Chinese family gathers for a photo following the flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square to mark the 71st Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Thursday. / Getty / Kyodo

600 Million Trips May Be Made in China for Eight-Day Holiday Amid Pandemic

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong appears at the city’s Eastern Magistracy on Sept. 30, 2020 for joining an anti-mask law protest last October. / Kyodo

Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Indicted for Mask Protest

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

37 Years and Counting: Why Has Myanmar’s Democracy Struggle Taken So Long?

37 Years and Counting: Why Has Myanmar’s Democracy Struggle Taken So Long?

6 days ago
1.3k
Myanmar Junta Blacklists 200 Firms for Dodging Hard Currency Grab

Myanmar Junta Blacklists 200 Firms for Dodging Hard Currency Grab

1 week ago
1.3k

Most Read

  • Chin Resistance Tensions Boil Over as CNA Seizes Rival’s Myanmar HQ

    Chin Resistance Tensions Boil Over as CNA Seizes Rival’s Myanmar HQ

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Starves Last Rakhine Strongholds as AA Closes In

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China’s Surveillance State Watches Everyone, Everywhere

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Trains Staff on Electronic Voting Machines Across the Country

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.