SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR ENDS FIELD MISSION

18 October 2001


The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, has just concluded his first fact-finding mission to that country.

At the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur arrived in Yangon on 9 October after a stop-over in Singapore where he had consultations with officials and with academic institutions. Mr. Pinheiro made an initial visit to Myanmar earlier this year.

In Yangon, where he stayed for four days, the Special Rapporteur met with Government officials and ethnic minority leaders, and visited educational, religious, academic and other institutions. He also met with the UN country team, members of the diplomatic community, and international civil society organizations.

On 13 October the Special Rapporteur went with his team to Lashio (Shan State), where he was received by local authorities. The mission visited a Wa cease-fire area, the new border town of Muse, and the Lashio prison.

The following day the mission travelled to Mandalay and had meetings with local authorities, visited the office of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Mandalay central prison, Hton-Bo labour camp, and a university in Sagaing Division.

On 17 October, the mission, originally scheduled to last until 20 October, had to be suspended due to an ailment of the Special Rapporteur, who was obliged to return to his home country of Brazil. As a consequence, visits to Kachin State, Insein prison, and a labour camp near Yangon had to be cancelled. The Special Rapporteur was however able to meet the Foreign Minister, Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as the leadership of the NLD, including its Secretary General.


Before leaving for Brazil, the Special Rapporteur said he had received full and unhindered cooperation on the part of the Myanmar Government during this mission. He said he hoped to be able to return to Myanmar as soon as his health permits to pursue his fact-finding mission and efforts to develop partnership with all interested parties towards improving the human rights situation in the country.




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