UN: BURMA COMMITTING ATROCITIES ON

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written 10:15 pm  Mar  3, 1994 by DEBRA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:hrnet.asia-pac */
/* ---------- "UN: BURMA COMMITTING ATROCITIES ON" ---------- */
## author     : tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
## date       : 02.03.94

HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET-HRNET

DATE=2/22/94
TITLE=U-N / BURMA RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=WAYNE COREY
DATELINE=GENEVA
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  A UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR says
government troops in Burma are committing atrocities on a
wide scale, especially against ethnic minorities.  But the
investigator welcomes the release of two thousand burmese
political prisoners since 1992.  V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY reports
froM Geneva.

TEXT:  U-N HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR YOZO YOKOTA says
allegationS of human rights abuses in BURMA are sometimes
exaggerated.

But in a report to the U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, MR.
YOKOTA says he has confirmed so many allegations that it is
clear they are widespread.  He says burmese government
troops are systematically committing atrocities against
innocent villagers, especially members of ethnic minorities.

The government has publicly denied that its forces are
killing, raping, or torturing civilians.  BUT MR. YOKOTA
says army officers privately confirmed to him that these
human rights violations are occurring, but that they are
rare.

The human rights investigator refers to one case in which
soldiers murdered 18 people in a village. The victims were
suspected of being sympathetic to the karen national
liberation front.  MR. YOKOTA says none of these people was
involved in any anti-government activity.  He adds that
government forces are believed to have murdered many other
people in the village who had disappeared.

MR. YOKOTA was disappointed that he was  not  allowed to
meet with burma's most famous DISSIDENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI,
When he visited Burma in November.

But he found some reasons to be  not  entirely pessimistic
about the human rights situation in the country.


MR. YOKOTA welcomes the release of two thousand political
prisoners since early 1992.  And, although many burmese are
afraid of being arrested, he says there were visible signs
of a relaxation of tension in some places.  (signed)

NEB/WC/SKH/BG

22-Feb-94 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)