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<p>We remain concerned that human rights violations by the Burmese security forces
following the violence in Rakhine State in October 2016 have not been fully investigated
or addressed. That is why the UK co-sponsored a resolution at the Human Rights Council
in March which set up a Fact Finding Mission to look into the human rights situation
in Burma. We have urged the Government of Burma to cooperate fully with the Mission
and its mandate and to enable the Mission to visit Burma.</p><p>Ministers have raised
this issue with the Burmese authorities and our broader concerns about the recent
outbreak in violence in Rakhine State. The Foreign Secretary has spoken on several
occasions with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has raised our concerns. Our
ambassador in Rangoon has also raised our concerns with the Burmese authorities.</p><p>We
support the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan,
and welcome its report published on 24 August. Amongst its recommendations, the Commission
noted that the Government of Burma must take full responsibility for all residents
in Rakhine State and ensure access to services and humanitarian aid. We assess that
the Commission's recommendations provide the most realistic solution to address the
longstanding and underlying issues in Rakhine. The UK stands ready to support Burma
to implement the Commission's report. The UK has raised Burma twice at the UN Security
Council since the outbreak of the current violence, and secured the Council's first
press statement on Burma in eight years. The UK also raised its deep concern about
reports of human rights violations at the 36<sup>th</sup> session of the UN Human
Rights Council.</p>
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