UNITED NATIONS: An ind­e­pendent United Nations expert on Myanmar decried reported killings, tortures, as an “ongoing humanitarian crisis” for the Rohingya Muslim people and other minorities.

In a statement from the Office of the High Comm­issioner for Human Rights on Monday, Special Rap­porteur Yanghee Lee accused authorities of “presiding over a worsening human rights situation in the country.

Ms Lee said she catalogued a list of concerns during her 12-day visit to the country, which was held at the invitation of the government, which also included the use of human shields by security forces and deaths in custody.

“I am disappointed to see the tactics applied by the previous government still being used,” said Ms Lee, who wrapped up her visit on July 21.

“We are told not to expect Myanmar to transition into a democracy overnight — that it needs time and space,” she continued.

“But in the same way, Myanmar should not expect to have its close scrutiny removed or its special monitoring mechanisms dismantled overnight. This cannot happen until there is real and discernible progress on human rights.”

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2017