HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MYANMAR WARMLY WELCOME RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Geneva 6 May 2002




Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Paulo Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar, warmly welcome the release of Aung San Suu Kyi ending her 19 months of de facto house arrest and wish to share this moment of great joy with the people of Myanmar and all those who celebrate this historic event.

The High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur commend the Government of Myanmar for this important step towards advancing the political dialogue and the process of national reconciliation. They sincerely hope that Aung San Suu Kyi will be able to resume fully her normal activities as a leader of a legal political party and that her release will be followed by the release of all other political prisoners in Myanmar.

In this context, the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur wish to pay tribute to the outstanding efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy that have contributed to the progress of confidence-building talks.

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi attests that principled engagement with the Government of Myanmar has been effective in supporting the best interests of the Myanmar people and the promotion and protection of their human rights. Both the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur are ready to discuss with the Government of Myanmar possible cooperation endeavors that would enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Myanmar.





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