FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
The UN special expert on Myanmar has just presented his report to the Human Rights Council. In it, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro talks of systematic and extremely serious human rights violations and calls on the Council now to follow up on its own resolutions on Myanmar.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, presented two reports during the 7th session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday (March 13). The first was on the general situation in the country, the second on events following the peaceful uprising in September 2007, bloodily put down by the ruling Junta. The renewal of the Rapporteur’s mandate is due to be reviewed during this session.
For seven years Pinheiro has worked on the issue of human rights in Myanmar. “I did not create my mandate. You have entrusted me with the follow-up of your resolutions” he told Council members. He said there has been no progress on the Council’s recommendations of December 2007. "Read the resolutions that you have adopted and see if they have been respected or not in Myanmar,” he demanded.
The sombre atmosphere in the room reflected the gravity of the human rights violations listed in his report: summary executions, torture, forced labour, sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers, detention of political prisoners, forced displacement, confiscation of land, restrictions on the rights of assembly, on humanitarian aid, on the opposition, on freedom of the press, the culture of impunity. But it is not an exhaustive list.
For seven years Pinheiro has worked on the issue of human rights in Myanmar. “I did not create my mandate. You have entrusted me with the follow-up of your resolutions” he told Council members. He said there has been no progress on the Council’s recommendations of December 2007. "Read the resolutions that you have adopted and see if they have been respected or not in Myanmar,” he demanded.
The sombre atmosphere in the room reflected the gravity of the human rights violations listed in his report: summary executions, torture, forced labour, sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers, detention of political prisoners, forced displacement, confiscation of land, restrictions on the rights of assembly, on humanitarian aid, on the opposition, on freedom of the press, the culture of impunity. But it is not an exhaustive list.
Sham Reforms
In 2004 the Burmese authorities announced a seven-point road map leading to democratic transition. A referendum on a new constitution is due to take place in May 2008, as well as multiparty elections in 2010. In between came the peaceful demonstrations of September 2007 and their bloody repression by the military junta.
Since December 2007, the government has not given Mr Pinheiro permission to visit the country. He did however, make a report. “At least 31 people have been killed, between 3,000 and 4,000 people were arrested between September and October 2007 and at least 74 disappearance cases merit serious investigation” said Mr Pinheiro, adding that, “at least 1850 political prisoners are behind bars”.
He also revealed that, “activists, human right defenders, and journalists are hunted down and arrested for such reasons as having a copy of my last report to the Council. I am extremely concerned that official reports by this Council can be used as proof of criminal activity”.
Only 15 dead
For its part, the Burmese delegation totally rejected both the Pinheiro reports, considering them “completely lacking in objectivity and impartiality. It accused the Special Rapporteur of interfering in the country’s internal affairs and stressed Mayanmar’s “positive and significant” development towards a democratic state. The Ambassador explained the reasons for refusing to give permission for Mr Pinheiro to visit Myanmar since December 2007. “The timing is not opportune…the government has had a very busy and important schedule” in the run up to the referendum. He also told the Council “we would like to restate that only 15 people died” in the crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Twenty- one delegations and eight NGOs responded to his remarks. China said it hopes Myanmar will adopt a more conciliatory attitude in the Council. India called for a “process involving all sections of society including Mrs Aung San Suu-Kyi and ethnic groups”. The International Commission of Jurists said “the situation is a test for the Council as well for all its members to exercise their responsibility so that the government of Myanmar is held to account”
“If the Council wants to have meaning, said Pinheiro, taking the floor for the last time. "I think it is fundamental that its resolutions are respected. It is time to check what is applied and what is not”.
His final words received thunderous applause broke out. According to seasoned Council observers, “it was a rare moment within these walls”.
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