A United Nations spokesperson has clarified that a senior UN official who visited northern Arakan State last week did not categorically deny rape allegations made by Rohingya women living in the region, contrary to reports by state media.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, explained that remarks made by Renata Lok-Dessallien, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Burma, at a press conference held on 3 November did not constitute a denial of the claims.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Dujarric said that “given the nature and scope” of last week’s two-day visit to the region by senior diplomats, “the intent of the delegation was not to look into allegations nor draw full conclusions.”
Burma’s government has consistently denied claims of human rights abuses in the region in the wake of security operations carried out since Rohingya militants attacked border police outposts on 9 October. (Courtesy of dvb.no)
