• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
23.10.09 15:56Press Conference by Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in MyanmarSeite 1 von 2http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2009/091022_Quintana.doc.htm
22 October 2009
Press Conference
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New YorkPRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR
The human rights situation in Myanmar remained alarming, with a pattern of widespread andsystematic violations that prevailing impunity allowed to continue, the Special Rapporteur on thesituation of human rights in Myanmar said today.During a Headquarters press conference today, Tomás Ojea Quintana described the findingsand recommendations on a range of critical human rights issues in Myanmar. Mandated by theHuman Rights Council, Special Rapporteurs are independent, but work under the auspices of theUnited Nations.Mr. Quintana noted that his report to the Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarianand Cultural) addressed the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners of conscience, fair trial and detention conditions, issues of free assembly and association, as well assituation of civilians affected by armed conflict in some areas of the country. (See Press ReleaseGA/SHC/3957.)He opened the press conference with the issue of national elections, which are scheduled for next year. He had told the Myanmar Government that the elections should be fair and transparentand that freedom of speech and freedom of association should be guaranteed. All prisoners of conscience had to be released prior to the elections.In general terms, it was his assessment that the human rights situation in Myanmar remainedalarming. He had urged the Government to take prompt measures to establish accountability andresponsibility regarding widespread and systematic human rights violations. Referring to starvationand reports of dire socio-economic conditions in many parts of the country, he had also asked theGovernment and the international community to find solutions to eradicate poverty.Mr. Quintana went on to outline his recommendations to the Government, which concerned:the release of all prisoners of conscience; review and reform of national legislation, which was not incompliance with international human rights standards; reform of the judiciary to assure independenceand impartiality; and reform of the military, which needed to respect international humanitarian law inconflict areas, as well as the rights of civilians.Asked about the Secretary-General’s efforts in Myanmar, he said that there was wide concernabout the fact that there had been little progress in ensuring respect of human rights in the country.He believed in continuing to engage the Government, and the Secretary-General’s decision to do thatwas positive. In his opinion, the Secretary-General’s first mission to Myanmar was very positive interms of recovery after Cyclone Nargis. Following that visit, the Government had decided to establisha tripartite core group with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UnitedNations, which had dealt with the situation very efficiently.Describing his visits to Myanmar in response to several questions, he said that he hadundertaken his first mission in August 2008, soon after he had received his mandate. His secondmission had taken place in February. The report presented to the Third Committee today was thesecond such survey, the first one having been presented to the Security Council earlier in 2009.During his visits, he had met with several prisoners of conscience in private, with his own UnitedNations interpreter. He had also requested meetings with Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, but the Governmenthad not granted those requests.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...