To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Burma's state institutions have the capacity and capability to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the persecution of, and violence against, minorities in Burma. [R]

The Burmese Government have commissioned state-affiliated groups to carry out a number of investigations into incidents of violence and allegations of persecution against minorities in Burma—for example the investigations into the incident in January in Du Chee Yar Tan village in Northern Rakhine State carried out by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, and by the Myanmar Red Cross. We recognise the efforts of these investigations but remain concerned that their reports are not an independent and complete answer to the allegations that have been made. We have made repeatedly clear that such investigations must be transparent and meet international standards.