Tasks being implemented by Citizens Fundamental Right, Democracy and Human Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw

FORMATION of the Amyotha Hluttaw Committees, Commissions and Bodies are being constituted in accordance with the stipulation of 147 ( c ) of the 2008 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. It is to ensure the rights of the citizens according to the Constitution, and also ascertaining not to deprive and divest of the basic legal rights of the citizens. Moreover, it protects the individual human rights and interests of the citizens.

The Committee has been uplifting the capabilities and capacities by engaging with motley assortments of bodies such as that of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commissions; that of the various bodies working in collaboration on the human rights issues, the religious matters, the internal conflicts, and the social affairs; that of the bodies working for economic matters; that of the civil society organizations and government bodies for the emergence of accountable and responsible business undertaking.

With the approval of Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker, the Committee has visited various prisons under the Myanmar Prisons Department for checking up the human rights conditions, and submitted its findings to the relevant ministries.

Moreover, the Committee has visited on an inspection tour of the fishery sector at Pyapon Township in Ayeyawady Region after slavery cases involving its fishing rafts attracted public criticism. With regards to the incoming letters of complaints and letters reporting cases of misconduct, inspections have been taken up into consideration.

Furthermore, the officials of the Committee have been engaged in relevant workshops, attended short term courses, and participated in foreign study tours. It is therefore, an interview has been conducted with U Myo Htat (alias) Salai Myo Htike, Secretary of Citizens Right, Democracy and Human Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw, and presented in this article for the esteemed readers.

Question: Kindly explain the task and mission of the Citizens Right, Democracy and Human Rights Committee of Amyotha Hluttaw.

Answer: Our Committee has been engaging accordingly in the implementation tasks within the command, control and jurisdiction as entrusted by the Amyotha Hluttaw. The main focus in the task is to concentrate on the justice and equality of the citizens. In possible shortest term, it is to ensure them get the full rights of the citizens given by the state through the laws and by-laws of the country.

The Committee has the authority to legally intervene with the approval of the Hluttaw Speaker to probe on the tip-offs, the petitions and the submissions over the grievances of the citizens on human rights. It has the authority to submit through the Speaker to the Hluttaw on its finding with the recommendations after conducting field trips. This is the main function of the Committee.

Another aspect of the Committee is to invite the persons concern if there is suspicion on human rights abuse, and that the Committee could make actual field trips to the ground zero where problem originated. The Committee could attend the relevant workshops, the local and foreign meetings and seminars with the approval of Hluttaw Speaker. We have been doing our best for the progress and maturity of Citizens Right, Democracy and Human Rights within the framework and authority of the Committee.

Q: Are the citizens enjoying the full basic rights as they really deserve?

A: The public needs to understand the laws and by-laws being enacted and prescribed by the State. The citizens must understand the basic rights given in the State Constitutions and enacted laws including the rights with regards to the human rights. The deserving rights are already prescribed in the relevant laws and by-laws, and that all the people have the full rights to enjoy with equality. In my personal view, most of the people feel that they have not been fully accorded with the basic human rights.

Q: Please tell us about the gender equality.

A: With regards to the gender equality, womenfolk in our Chin nationals have no rights to enjoy legacy and inheritance in the family. Only the males have the rights to inherit the legacy. It was in the past, and now the situation has been changed. However, it could not be termed as full gender equality.

In my view, such inequality existed in the past, and now the situation should be changed. In today’s world, there are many women prime ministers on this planet. Many women are holding the leading posts of the nations.

In our country, there are many exemplary people in the leading roles. In my opinion, there should not be gender inequality. Equality is mainly concern with own personal concern. It depends on own outlook, own conviction and own decision.

We have heard a lot of criticism that there is no gender equality at the workshops with regards to the disabled, handicapped and infirmed people.

With a view to eradicate such attitudes and misconceptions, the relevant ministries are conducting training courses and many workshops. In my opinion, I wish the gender equality avails among the disabled people. I wish others to discard discrimination, and I hope all to have gender equality.

Q: Please tell me what sort of tasks that your Committee is implementing with regards to the disabilities?

A: We send our representatives to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrations, other events, and workshops. More educational chances are opened up for the disabled people. On the part of the State, the departments have accorded opportunities to the disabled people. Matters are taken up in the form of international cooperation.

More opportunities are to be created for their survivals. Their rights must be fully included in the framework of the existing laws. Our Committee has been frequently engaging with the disabled groups. We always listen to their suggestions.

Our findings have been submitted to the authorities concern through the Hluttaw Speaker. The task is carried out within the scope of our responsibility.

Whenever we met with them, we always think about the welfare of the disabled people and consider what the State could be accorded to them. We have been cooperated in full to ensure the rights of the disabled people.

Q: Tell us more about the findings on the suffering of the workers who are working on the rafts in fishery sectors.

A: As there are recent incidents in the fishery sector, we went on field trips with the approval of the Speaker. We had visited to many villages in Pyapon Township. We met and discussed mainly with the owners of the fishery business.

It is unfortunate to make a visit and see the workers on the rafts as they are working in the sea that is large about 30 miles in wide open space. Therefore, we met and discussed with the departmental officials of district level and township level. We have recorded the information given by the government officials. We will mention all the relevant factors in the report to the Hluttaw.

I would like to say that we are working to the best of our ability to get the rights of the citizens without any denial and deprivation. We also consider for the rights of the business owners to ensure their rights and benefits including securing work licenses in accordance with the laws. On the part of the State, we ensure to get the relevant tax and revenues from the commercial sector. Our Committee is working with the aim and objective for equality, justice and fairness of human rights among the owners and the workers. All the findings in the field trips have been included in the report to be submitted to the Hluttaw.

The findings at the prisons under the Myanmar Prisons Department would be included in the reports for the Hluttaw. These findings would be channeled to the relevant ministries through the Hluttaw. If and when the cooperation is needed, we are ready to engage positively with the relevant ministries.

Q: Please tell us about the tip off and secret information on misconduct.

A: We received a total of (1080) letters from aggrieved persons who complained and provide information on their loss. We checked and scrutinized the letters and sorted out (690) letters and taken action in this regards by the Committee.

Through the Speaker of Hluttaw, we send the information to the relevant ministries. When we received back the advice from the Union Government, the ministries, the regional and state governments, we acted accordingly by informing the deprived persons in the matters.

Q: Please tell us with regards to the field trips.

A: We made field trips in the Kachin State. We also made field trips to the prisons in Mon State. The Committee members have been to prisons in Mandalay Region and other production sites and venues related with prisons.

Q: Please tell us more if you have things to add in this interview.

A: During the three years period of the current parliamentary terms of Hluttaw, our Committee has visited on field trips to many prisons with the approval of the Speaker. We have been to Yamethin Prison; Loikaw Prison; Thaton Prison; Yinn Nyein Production Station; Taunggote Production Station; Kalay Prison and Kalaywa Myoma Police Detention Cell; Yazagyo (1) and Yazagyo (2) Farming and Vocational Training Yard; Htonbo (1), Htonbo (2) and Htonbo (women) Production stations; and Mandalay Central Jail. We have visited to their vocational training sites.

We also visited Htonbo (1), Htonbo (2) and Htonbo (women) rock and stone production stations. Moreover, we met and discussed with the responsible officials at the Mandalay Central Prison. We went there with the main intention of facilitating and assisting to establish human rights in the prisons.

Their suggestions and advice are submitted to the relevant authorities through the Hluttaw. These are the tasks undertaken by our Committee during the three years period of field visits with the approval of the Speaker.

Regarding the letters reporting on misconduct, our Committee has visited to Myitkyinar with the approval of the Speaker. In connection with the issues of workers, we had been to Pyapon District area in the Ayeyawady Region and examined the situation of fishery workers assigned on the rafts. The finding would be included in the report to be submitted to the Hluttaw.

When the citizens submitted complain letters on their loss and deprivation, we tried our best in relieving their distress by the directive of the Hluttaw within the authority of our Committee. We sincerely desire no harm and loss incurred to the citizens.

We also wish that the government departments shoulder their jobs in sincere and earnest manners for the citizens. Our Committee has devoted and dedicated desire that all the citizens may have the conditions to enjoy human rights benefits in the context of existing laws. We wish all citizens may fully enjoy the basic human rights that they truly deserved. Thanks to all concerned.

Interviewed by Nandar Win

Translated by UMT (Ahlon)

PHOTO: MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar