Myanmar strongly condemns and rejects all IIMM statements

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on September 9 that Myanmar strongly condemns and rejects all statements, including the 8th annual report submitted to the Human Rights Council, by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). It is said that a joint interactive discussion was held on September 7 during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from September 7 to 9, on the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). Myanmar has not recognized the IIMM mechanism since its inception to this day, and the mechanism itself has many legal weaknesses and was established with the intention of politically pressuring a country, according to the statement. The IIMM originated from the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) established in 2018. The FFM was established unilaterally by the OHCHR without Myanmar's consent, and based on the FFM's findings, the IIMM was established in 2018 by a resolution of the 39th Human Rights Council under the pretext that a stronger mechanism was needed to preserve evidence, according to the statement. The IIMM is merely a follow-up result of one-sided, politically motivated Human Rights Council resolutions targeting a country, and the IIMM is acting as a political tool for a country or regional bloc, it is also stated. Furthermore, the annual report of the IIMM mechanism, like in previous years, is written based on one-sided accusations against the Myanmar Tatmadaw, information from unverified opposition groups and individuals, and inflated figures. Such misrepresentations of Myanmar's situation can encourage and assist terrorism, cause terrorism and instability, and hinder the government's efforts to maintain peace and stability within the country, the statement points out. The airstrikes and operations they accuse have been retaliatory responses by the Tatmadaw against military targets in accordance with the Rules of Engagement (RoE) for national defense and the protection of the lives and property of the people, due to terrorist attacks and occupations of towns and villages by armed insurgents. The Tatmadaw is taking special care to ensure that innocent civilians are not harmed, it is stated. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reconfirmed that Myanmar strongly condemns and rejects all statements, including the 8th annual report submitted to the Human Rights Council, by the IIMM organization.