GLOBAL ACTION NEEDED TO PREVENT MASSACRES IN MYANMAR, UN RIGHTS COUNCIL TOLD

GLOBAL ACTION NEEDED TO PREVENT MASSACRES IN MYANMAR, UN RIGHTS COUNCIL TOLD
New York, Oct 2 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations <"http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/5/index.htm">Human Rights Council opened a special session on Myanmar today amid denunciations of the "brutal crack-down" by the authorities and calls for decisive international action to prevent a repeat of the massacres that marked a pro-democracy uprising nearly two decades ago.

"The failure of the international community to prevent the massacre following the 1988 people's uprising causing the death of over 3,000 protesters must not be repeated," Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E4C93338524DC804C12573680039B3A3?opendocument">told the session in Geneva.

"The world is watching and while the time for mere words has passed, decisive action is now needed. No State can condone such actions," he added, joining his voice to recent condemnations issued by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.

Mr. Pinheiro called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees and political prisoners, including the country's top democracy advocate, Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years.

"I am shocked and saddened by the growing number of reported deaths and serious injuries suffered by protesters, including monks, and bystanders in Yangon, Mandalay and other major cities in Myanmar," he said of the latest demonstrations that began last month.

"I strongly condemn the use of deadly force by the security forces and call upon the Government of Myanmar to desist from such brutal measures and to cooperate in the efforts launched by the international community designed to prevent the further deterioration of the human rights situation."

He decried the recent media black-out and cutting of internet access as "a further example of the intolerable and oppressive means used by the authorities," and urge the Council to seek detailed information on the number of people killed and injured from the Government. "Impunity should not prevail for flagrant violations of human rights," he added.

"The persecution of members of political parties in the opposition and human rights defenders shows that nowadays the road map for democracy and the laying down of principles for a new constitution by the National Convention faces many obstacles to bring a genuine transition," Mr. Pinheiro declared, calling for a strategic dialogue with the help of regional States to reconcile the army with the people of Myanmar.
"There will be no progress in Myanmar's political transition unless ordinary people have space to express their views and discontent, peacefully and in public. The starting point for a national reconciliation requires meaningful and inclusive dialogue from the Government with and between political representatives and ethnic groups," he concluded.
2007-10-02 00:00:00.000

___________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/

_______________________________

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/