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Subject: Fwd: SPECIAL RAP ON MAYANMAR -- ORAL STATEMENT TO CHR



>
> STATEMENT BY MR RAJSOOMER LALLAH, 
> SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 
> AT THE FIFTY FIFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
> 1 APRIL 1999
>
> 1TEM 9: QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
> AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD
>
>
> Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
>
> Madam Chairperson.
>
> This is my third report to the Commission since I assumed my mandate as
> Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The
report is
> based on information gathered up to December 1998 and should be read in
> conjunction with the interim report presented to the General Assembly at its
> fifty-third session.
>
> In spite of repeated indications by the Myanmar authorities that they would
> allow me to visit the country at an appropriate time, I regret to say that
> they have not so far authorised me to do so and to thus engage in a
> constructive dialogue on all the matters that are within my mandate.  This
> attitude of the Government highlights a significant difficulty which has
> persisted over the past years in fulfilling my mandate. I have nevertheless
> gathered as much reliable information as I was able to do in order to
give an
> accurate account of the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
>
>
> Madame Chairperson,
>
> The report essentially deals with two problematic areas in the field of
human
> rights which remain matters of serious concern. One of these areas
relates to
> the military government's measures preventing democratic governance and
> entailing violations of the rights to life, physical integrity, freedom of
> thought, expression, association and movement, among other rights. The other
> area of concern relates to the situation prevailing in the East of the
> country.
>
> With regard to democratic governance, there is no sign of any movement
> towards the transfer of power to the duly elected representatives of the
> people nor the engagement of any meaningful dialogue with the political
> opposition and the minority communities towards that end. This year has
> witnessed an intensification of the repression, particularly against the NLD
> and its adherents resulting in massive arrests of its leaders and followers
> and in manoeuvres to force their resignation from the Party. Despite some
> progress in the release of a few prominent  political prisoners, arbitrary
> arrests of the rank and file of the Party and of many students have led to
> severe overcrowding in prisons and further deterioration in conditions of
> detention.
>
> Th Secretary-General of the NLD continues to be subject to harassment and
> repression in the exercise of her political activities  and continues to be
> plagued by personal vilification. She was most recently affected by a
> personal tragedy in circumstances where it was not possible, in spite of
many
> diplomatic efforts, for her husband to visit her before his death.  This
> raises the question of the extent to which respect for family rights may be
> adversely affected in the case of other citizens who, in the interests of
> their own safety and security, have had to leave the country.
>
>
> Madame Chairperson,
>
> The situation in the East of Myanmar continues to witness the loss of
life of
> significant numbers of civilians in situations suggesting plain disregard
for
> basic standards of international human rights and humanitarian law. The
> current situation in these ethnic States, including the on-going conflict,
> will inexorably lead to a humanitarian disaster, where more than an
estimated
> half a million people have been displaced by the current political and
> military strategy and more than one hundred thousand others have taken
refuge
> in Thailand. While a political solution rather than a military one strongly
> suggests itself and has become urgent, I appeal to the authorities in the
> meantime to respect the provisions of international human rights and
> humanitarian law  with a view to minimizing, at the very least, the
suffering
> of civilians caught up in the present conflict.
>
> Indeed, many people, including women and children, have taken refuge in the
> jungle in life-threatening conditions without assistance or protection. The
> on-going conflict has also greatly reduced production in subsistence
> agriculture, causing food shortages. The extremely difficult socio-economic
> situation continues to produce unacceptably low standards of living with
> scarce opportunities for improvement.
>
>
> Madam Chairperson,
>
> UN agencies in general are extremely limited in their onsite activities. The
> international community is strongly urged to strengthen multilateral efforts
> to assist the people in Shan, Karen and Karenni states and in protecting the
> civilian population from human rights abuses.  The Government is also urged
> to take steps to prevent excessive use of force and to protect all
persons in
> its territory with a view to fully respecting international human rights and
> humanitarian law standards.
>
> To best address the challenges before it, these populations should continue
> to receive humanitarian support of the international community, both inside
> Myanmar and across its borders where thousands have sought refuge. The focus
> should be on projects to provide assistance and protection to vulnerable
> groups, particularly displaced persons. National reconciliation and
> integration require that human rights be respected at all stages of the
> process.  The integration of the whole spectrum of civil, political ,
> economic, social and cultural rights in all multilateral efforts remains a
> paramount priority. I would like to emphasize the necessity for close
> co-ordination between UN agencies on humanitarian assistance programmes and,
> in this regard, to suggest the strengthening of these efforts, particularly
> with regard to vulnerable groups.
>
>
> Madam Chairperson, 
>
> To conclude, another matter of great concern is the issue of forced labour
> which continues to be legitimized  by the legislation and practice of the
> country. Forced labour, including child labour, should be urgently
stopped by
> the government and finally resolved both in law and practice. It is indeed
> unacceptable that at the end of the 20th century, forced labour which, in my
> view approximates a contemporary form of slavery is not yet prohibited
> despite the repeated calls from the international community. Myanmar is a
> party to Convention 29 of the ILO and should urgently take all steps to give
> effect to the recommendations of the recent Commission of Inquiry conducted
> by the ILO in this regard.
>
> Thank you, Madam Chairperson



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<html>
<br>
<br>
<font size=4><blockquote type=cite cite><div align="center">
STATEMENT BY MR RAJSOOMER LALLAH, <br>
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR <br>
AT THE FIFTY FIFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS <br>
1 APRIL 1999<br>
<br>
1TEM 9: QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS <br>
AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar<br>
<br>
Madam Chairperson.<br>
<br>
This is my third report to the Commission since I assumed my mandate as
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The
report is based on information gathered up to December 1998 and should be
read in conjunction with the interim report presented to the General
Assembly at its fifty-third session.<br>
<br>
In spite of repeated indications by the Myanmar authorities that they
would allow me to visit the country at an appropriate time, I regret to
say that they have not so far authorised me to do so and to thus engage
in a constructive dialogue on all the matters that are within my
mandate.&nbsp; This attitude of the Government highlights a significant
difficulty which has persisted over the past years in fulfilling my
mandate. I have nevertheless gathered as much reliable information as I
was able to do in order to give an accurate account of the situation of
human rights in Myanmar.<br>
<br>
<br>
Madame Chairperson,<br>
<br>
The report essentially deals with two problematic areas in the field of
human rights which remain matters of serious concern. One of these areas
relates to the military government's measures preventing democratic
governance and entailing violations of the rights to life, physical
integrity, freedom of thought, expression, association and movement,
among other rights. The other area of concern relates to the situation
prevailing in the East of the country.<br>
<br>
With regard to democratic governance, there is no sign of any movement
towards the transfer of power to the duly elected representatives of the
people nor the engagement of any meaningful dialogue with the political
opposition and the minority communities towards that end. This year has
witnessed an intensification of the repression, particularly against the
NLD and its adherents resulting in massive arrests of its leaders and
followers and in manoeuvres to force their resignation from the Party.
Despite some progress in the release of a few prominent&nbsp; political
prisoners, arbitrary arrests of the rank and file of the Party and of
many students have led to severe overcrowding in prisons and further
deterioration in conditions of detention.<br>
<br>
Th Secretary-General of the NLD continues to be subject to harassment and
repression in the exercise of her political activities&nbsp; and
continues to be plagued by personal vilification. She was most recently
affected by a personal tragedy in circumstances where it was not
possible, in spite of many diplomatic efforts, for her husband to visit
her before his death.&nbsp; This raises the question of the extent to
which respect for family rights may be adversely affected in the case of
other citizens who, in the interests of their own safety and security,
have had to leave the country.<br>
<br>
<br>
Madame Chairperson,<br>
<br>
The situation in the East of Myanmar continues to witness the loss of
life of significant numbers of civilians in situations suggesting plain
disregard for basic standards of international human rights and
humanitarian law. The current situation in these ethnic States, including
the on-going conflict, will inexorably lead to a humanitarian disaster,
where more than an estimated half a million people have been displaced by
the current political and military strategy and more than one hundred
thousand others have taken refuge in Thailand. While a political solution
rather than a military one strongly suggests itself and has become
urgent, I appeal to the authorities in the meantime to respect the
provisions of international human rights and humanitarian law&nbsp; with
a view to minimizing, at the very least, the suffering of civilians
caught up in the present conflict.<br>
<br>
Indeed, many people, including women and children, have taken refuge in
the jungle in life-threatening conditions without assistance or
protection. The on-going conflict has also greatly reduced production in
subsistence agriculture, causing food shortages. The extremely difficult
socio-economic situation continues to produce unacceptably low standards
of living with scarce opportunities for improvement.<br>
<br>
<br>
Madam Chairperson,<br>
<br>
UN agencies in general are extremely limited in their onsite activities.
The international community is strongly urged to strengthen multilateral
efforts to assist the people in Shan, Karen and Karenni states and in
protecting the civilian population from human rights abuses.&nbsp; The
Government is also urged to take steps to prevent excessive use of force
and to protect all persons in its territory with a view to fully
respecting international human rights and humanitarian law
standards.<br>
<br>
To best address the challenges before it, these populations should
continue to receive humanitarian support of the international community,
both inside Myanmar and across its borders where thousands have sought
refuge. The focus should be on projects to provide assistance and
protection to vulnerable groups, particularly displaced persons. National
reconciliation and integration require that human rights be respected at
all stages of the process.&nbsp; The integration of the whole spectrum of
civil, political , economic, social and cultural rights in all
multilateral efforts remains a paramount priority. I would like to
emphasize the necessity for close co-ordination between UN agencies on
humanitarian assistance programmes and, in this regard, to suggest the
strengthening of these efforts, particularly with regard to vulnerable
groups.<br>
<br>
<br>
Madam Chairperson, <br>
<br>
To conclude, another matter of great concern is the issue of forced
labour which continues to be legitimized&nbsp; by the legislation and
practice of the country. Forced labour, including child labour, should be
urgently stopped by the government and finally resolved both in law and
practice. It is indeed unacceptable that at the end of the
20</font><font size=2><sup>th</font></sup><font size=4> century, forced
labour which, in my view approximates a contemporary form of slavery is
not yet prohibited despite the repeated calls from the international
community. Myanmar is a party to Convention 29 of the ILO and should
urgently take all steps to give effect to the recommendations of the
recent Commission of Inquiry conducted by the ILO in this regard.<br>
<br>
Thank you, Madam Chairperson</font></blockquote><br>
<br>
<div>Internet ProLink PC User</div>
</html>

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