EBO
News Summary:
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1. UN envoy's hasty departure confirms
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UN envoy's hasty departure confirms
by Pascale Trouillaud
envoy
was "confidentially" interviewing political prisoners:
hardly find a better way of reinforcing its image as a black sheep of the
international community.
A "very angry" Paulo Sergio Pinheiro announced in
curtailing by two days a visit during which he was updating a report on the
human rights situation in the military-ruled country, which he is due to
present
to the Human Rights Commission in
"I informed the authorities that while interviewing prisoners at Insein
Prison on Saturday 22nd March I found a functioning listening device in the
form of a wireless microphone placed under the table in the room which I was
using to conduct my interviews," a bitter Pinheiro said before his departure.
"I am very angry about this incident and I straight away decided to leave
the country," he said.
Despite being focused on its military campaign in
immediately.
"We regret that the government of
agreed to" before Pinheiro's visit, a State Department official said using the
country's former name.
The incident, which
being investigated and was "sincerely regretted", will only further tarnish
the
image of
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) chairman Khun Tun Oo told
AFP Pinheiro's sudden departure represented a setback for the national
reconciliation process.
"We can say it's a backward step... not only with regard to the human
rights issue, but also the national reconciliation process, which are all
interrelated."
A Yangon-based diplomat said the incident was "very regrettable".
"It's sad for everybody, for the regime, also for the political prisoners
and for Mr. Pinheiro. It cannot push things forward," he said.
In exchange for Pinheiro's patient and conciliatory approach, he has been
granted during his last five missions -- including this week's ill-fated one
-- total freedom in his interviews across the country.
The junta had committed not to penalise or prosecute the potentially
sensitive people he spoke to during his interviews, including prisoners or
ethnic minorities.
This was a great change compared to the treatment given to his predecessor,
Mauritian Rajsoomer Lallah, who was never even permitted by the regime to set
foot
in
After such a breach in the moral contract between the junta and Pinheiro,
the question of whether the envoy may resign has now been raised.
"He will certainly ask himself the question after such an incident," the
diplomat said.
Pinheiro already had reason to be frustrated with
Before he left
political prisoners was "unacceptable". There are still 1,200 to 1,300 in
The junta has freed a few hundred prisoners in the last two years as
goodwill gestures, but has failed to release any recently with the exception
of a group of 45 people released a few days before Pinheiro's arrival last
week.
At the same time, dialogue on democratic transition expected to take place
between the top generals and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has stalled.
Pinheiro's discouragement seems to have already been felt by the other UN
envoy
to
The special envoy of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan had played an
essential part in brokering landmark talks between the junta and the Nobel
Peace Prize winner which began at the end of 2000. But since Aung San Suu
Kyi's release from house arrest last May, nothing has moved.
"The general opinion is that the number one (Senior General Than Shwe) has
put on the brakes," the diplomat said.
On the eve of his ninth mission to
to resign if "if I think I am not going anywhere with the discussions".
And as Pinheiro stormily left
difficulties getting a new invitation to
return to early this year.
"The horizon is totally dark," the diplomat said.
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