HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNED OVER INTENSIFICATION OF REPRESSION IN MYANMAR

HR/98/73
6 October 1998




The following statement was made today by High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson:

I have been following with increasing concern the intensification of repression against Myanmar's political opposition over the last few weeks. Recently, over 200 members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) have been arrested or detained, while NLD leader Aung Saan Suu Kyi has been subjected to repeated harassment. Further, conditions of detention in the country fall far short of international standards, and a number of prisoners are reported to have died while in custody.

It is clear from the Commission of Inquiry established by the International Labour Organization that forced labour continues in Myanmar. Meanwhile, there also appears to be an official policy of forced displacement of ethnic minorities, which has resulted in large numbers of internally displaced and refugees in neighbouring countries.

I raised these issues with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Ohn Gyaw, during a meeting in New York on 23 September but received no satisfactory response. I take his opportunity to call on the Government of Myanmar to guarantee the rights of freedom of movement and association of all citizens and to accelerate the process of national reconciliation leading to the enjoyment of all human rights. I hope the people arrested or detained for political reasons will be released and allowed to express freely their views and opinion and demonstrate peacefully.

I urge the Government to establish a constructive dialogue with the United Nations system, including the human rights mechanisms in the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the country. Regrettably the authorities have failed to respond to consistent requests to allow the Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar, Rajsoomer Lallah, to conduct a field mission. I reiterate my support for Mr. Lallah's efforts to fulfil his mandate and again request the Government to cooperate with him and allow him to have direct contacts with the people of Myanmar.