EBO
News Summary:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Suspension of Human Rights Visit to
2. UN rights envoy "very frustrated" over lack of prisoner releases
3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Press Release
SUSPENSION OF UN HUMAN RIGHTS VISIT TO
FCO Minister Mike O'Brien today supported the decision by the United Nations
Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in
fact-finding visit to
being used for confidential discussions with prisoners in Insein prison.
Mike O'Brien said:
"It is unacceptable for the Burmese authorities to undermine the work of the
Special Rapporteur in this way. The Burmese regime has given the Special
Rapporteur no option but to suspend the fact-finding trip, and this event provides
further evidence of the regime's continued reluctance to work with others to
address
"I call on the Burmese regime to provide a full and credible explanation for
the discovery of the listening device and for the authorities to honour their
commitment to allow the Special Rapporteur full and unhindered access to
to allow the Special Rapporteur to conduct a full and unhindered investigation
into the reports of the use of sexual violence by the Burmese armed forces
in
Press Officer: Jeff Wilson Tel: 020 7008 3101
----------------------------------
UN rights envoy "very frustrated" over lack of prisoner releases
by Samantha Brown
cut short a mission to the country this week after a bugging incident said
Wednesday he was "very frustrated" by the military regime's slow release of
political prisoners.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who halted his visit three days short of its
scheduled end after finding a microphone in a room where he was interviewing
political prisoners, said he had met with several government ministers.
"(I told them) I was very frustrated with the situation of political
prisoners who have not been released in large numbers," he said during an
interview in the Thai capital with AFP.
Human rights groups estimate that 1,200 to 1,300 political prisoners
currently
remain in
to secure their release.
Several hundred others have been released since a historic dialogue was
brokered by another UN envoy, Razali Ismail, between the junta and National
League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi in October 2000, which is
aimed at national reconciliation.
Pinheiro also said "(I) expressed somewhat my disappointment because during
this year I haven't seen much progress in terms of national reconciliation, or
the political dialogue.
"From all my meetings both with the NLD and the government, my impression
is that there was no substantial progress in the dialogue. There have been
contacts but more on logistical questions, not on real political issues," he
said.
"I hope ambassador Razali can return and continue facilitating this
dialogue and the international community is able to overcome the present
situation."
Pinheiro departed from
have"
-- after discovering the listening device during interviews at
Insein prison on Saturday.
The Brazilian academic refused to speculate on whether the regime's
infamous military intelligence had placed it there.
"I can't elaborate. The only thing I can say is that I found the device
under the table," he said, adding that it was up to the junta to work at
rebuilding the trust he had established with them.
"It's not my responsibility to do that (rebuild trust). I have expressed my
complaint to the government, I explained why I interrupted my mission and then
I left the country and I am presenting my report on March 31 to the Human
Rights Commission," he said.
The special rapporteur said the early wrap-up of his fifth mission would
affect
his report to the commission in
"It has affected it because I wanted to stay three days more," he said.
He said he had not entertained thoughts of resigning and would wait for the
commission to decide after its current session on whether his mandate would be
renewed.
"For the time being I will continue doing everything I am supposed to be
doing," he said.
------------------------------
Free
For Immediate Release:
Media Contact Jeremy Woodrum (202) 547-5985
US Consumers Successfully “De-Pants”
New Data Shows Clothing Imports Plummet $100 Million as 39 Retailers Ban
Retail of Products from
Department of Commerce, apparel imports from the Southeast Asian country
of
million. The sharp decrease resulted from the almost-unprecedented
decision
by 39 major
Burmese military junta, which is known for horrific human rights abuses
including torture, the use of rape as a weapon of war, the recruitment
of more child soldiers than any other country in the world, and the use
of forced labor and forced child labor in the construction of apparel
manufacturing zones.
The 39 companies include Wal-Mart, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Jones
Bloomingdale’s. The Free Burma Coalition estimates that these companies
sold
$381 billion in goods last year, putting a huge chunk of the
retail
market off-limits to goods made in
acknowledge
that human rights conditions in
there
socially irresponsible: “what is going on there [in
violation of the philosophy and spirit of our vendor supplier code of
conduct,” said a Federated spokesperson in the Los Angeles Times. Since
January 2003, 4 more companies have announced a ban on
including
Saks Incorporated and Mothers Work, the largest
maternity-wear retailer.
companies to avoid the country, saying that sanctions “send a strong
economic and political message” to the military regime. In its latest
report
on human rights in
“Forced labor, including forced child labor, has contributed materially
to the construction of industrial parks subsequently used largely to
produce manufactured exports including garments.”
###
If you do not wish to receive this daily newsletters, please reply
with your e-mail address and the "cancel" in the text section.
With many thanks,