27 September 2016•Update: 27 September 2016
By Kyaw Ye Lynn
YANGON, Myanmar
Myanmar’s parliament has approved a proposal to take punitive action against some members of the country’s human rights commission for their apparent failure to protect the rights of two teenage maids who were tortured and abused by employers, state-media reported Tuesday.
The two girls -- San Kay Khaing, 17, and Tha Zin, 16 -- reported enduring five years of torture and physical abuse at the hands of a famous family of tailors for whom they worked as maids in Kyauktada township in the country’s commercial capital Yangon.
Some members of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, formed by former President Thein Sein in September 2011, have been accused of forcing the victims’ family members to settle the case with cash compensation of 5,000,000 Kyats (around $4,000) instead of legal action.
The case has caused outrage among the public and human rights groups, who have blasted the commission for letting the perpetrators off the hook after it mediated a financial settlement between them and the victims’ families.
The lower house proposal calling for action against the commission members was overwhelmingly approved Monday, with 374 votes in favor, one against and eight abstentions.
“Some members of the human rights commission handled this ruthless case in a very unjust manner and turned a blind eye to human rights,” lawmaker Tin Htwe was quoted as saying by the state-run the Global News Light of Myanmar.
Appointed military lawmaker Maj. Aung Zin Min also slammed the MNHRC for failing in its duty to protect the victims’ human rights, the report said.
A commission member, Zaw Win, told Anadolu Agency that they had carried out measures to remedy the sufferings and losses of the victims with honest intent.
“The commission can only suggest and advise the concerned department and organization how the case should be handled,” Zaw Win said.
He described the commission as being unlike those of other countries, and having no legal rights to pass judgment or take action against human rights perpetrators.
“That’s why we are urging the police to act accordingly.”
The vote came after the President Office ordered last week an investigation into the case, and instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide protection to the victims and a journalist who first reported the incident.
The two underage maids -- San Kay Khine and Thazin -- had escaped bondage at the prominent Ava Tailoring shop in Yangon and returned to their parents last month after an investigative report was published about them.
The two were “imprisoned” by their employers and denied rightful wages, and have recounted being cut with scissors and knives and burned with an iron.
