A/HRC/22/58 rights and labour standards, the Special Rapporteur also urges the Government to implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and use the Principles for Responsible Contracts in the development and negotiation of investment contracts with the private sector. 35. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about increasing reports and allegations of violations of land and housing rights across the country. While there are no clear data, land confiscations reportedly increased in 2012, particularly to clear areas for infrastructure projects and natural resource exploitation. He also notes allegations of the involvement or collusion of security forces, the police, local Government officials and private businesses. Notably, the majority of complaints received by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) and the Parliamentary Rule of Law Committee headed by Aung San Suu Kyi are related to land disputes and land confiscations. Farmers and civil society activists across the country have been protesting against land confiscations, including the continued demonstrations against the Letpadaung copper mine mentioned above. Farmers, often with no documentation to prove land ownership, face harassment or are arrested if they resist eviction (see A/67/383 for further analysis and recommendations). Parliament has established a commission to deal with land confiscations, and he encourages it to make public the results of its work. III. Conflict and the situation of ethnic minorities 36. The Special Rapporteur has previously highlighted concerns regarding the ongoing conflict and tensions in ethnic border areas, including the increased troop presence in various States, which have engendered human rights violations such as forced labour, portering and sexual violence. 37. The Special Rapporteur has followed closely developments in Kachin and Northern Shan States and is concerned by the allegations he continues to receive of attacks against civilian populations, extrajudicial killings, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as torture. He has also received allegations of the use of landmines, the recruitment of child soldiers, as well as forced labour and portering committed by all parties to the conflict. He notes continuing reports of arrests of ethnic Kachin men suspected to have links with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) or the KIA (mostly made under the Unlawful Associations Act, the Explosive Substance Act and the Emergency Provisions Act) and the torture of suspects to extract confessions. In February, the Special Rapporteur received similar allegations when he visited camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myitkyina (the two Jan Mai Kaung camps) and Waingmaw (the Thargaya and Lavoa camps). In Myitkyina Prison he met with Brang Shawng and Manam Tu, both ethnic Kachin men arrested in Kachin IDP camps and detained and charged on suspicion of belonging to the KIA. He has serious concerns that both were tortured by the military during interrogation to extract false confessions. 38. The Special Rapporteur is concerned by reports that a number of civilians were killed (26 between September 2012 and February 2013) and that an estimated 2,000 persons were newly displaced (since November 2012) as a result of the recent escalation of the conflict, with the military reportedly using air power and heavy artillery to attack targets in and around Laiza. 39. Following talks in China, the Government and the KIO issued a Joint Statement on 6 February and agreed to work on an overall framework for the de-escalation of the conflict and to establish a monitoring mechanism in this respect. The Special Rapporteur joins the Secretary-General in welcoming this development and urges all parties to continue dialogue towards genuine and sustainable peace in Kachin State. He also renews his call on the 9