United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, ends his visit to Myanmar

16 November 2007


The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, ended yesterday in Yangon, his five-day visit to Myanmar at the invitation of the Government in accordance with the mandate entrusted to him by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Mr. Pinheiro was pleased to be back in the country and would like to express his gratitude to the Government for its hospitality and for having accommodated his proposed agenda.

The Special Rapporteur would like to draw attention to the fact that this mission can not be considered as a full fledged fact- finding mission. The conditions for an independent and confidential investigation mission would require a different framework. However, Mr. Pinheiro has noted the importance of the access he has had to some of the detainees as well as to interview the law enforcement authorities.

In the new capital, Nay Pyi Taw, Mr. Pinheiro met with U Nyan Win, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Minister of Home Affairs; U Aung Kyi, Minister of Labour and Liaison Officer with the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy; U Soe Tha, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development; Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Minister of Religious Affairs and U Zaw Min, Joint Secretary General of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).

The Special Rapporteur participated in a round table with the 20 members of the newly established Human Rights Body, within the Government, and was also briefed by Brig- Gen Kyaw Hsan, Minister for Information and Secretary of the National Convention Convening Commission, about developments regarding the seven step road map towards democracy.

Mr. Pinheiro met also with the UN Country Team led by its Resident Coordinator, Charles Petrie; with over 20 ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as with some representatives of International Non Governmental Organizations.

The Special Rapporteur also met with representatives from the national ethnic groups and the women’s development association.

In Yangon, Mr. Pinheiro held consultations with senior officials from, among others, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Law Enforcement, the Yangon Peace and Development Council and the Yangon General Hospital.

During his second visit to the Insein Prison, the Special Rapporteur was authorized to hold one to one meetings with five detainees. Win Tin, the oldest political prisoner who was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and for whom Mr. Pinheiro will ask, as in previous occasions, his immediate release. Su Su Nway, a prominent activist who was arrested on Wednesday. Min Zeya and Than Tin a.ka. Kyi Than both 88 generation students and Maung Kan, NLD member. The Special Rapporteur also visited the former Government Technical College (used during the demonstrations as a detention facility); the No. (7) Police Battalion Control Command Headquarters in Kyauktan, Thanlyin and the the Htain Bin Crematorium.

Mr. Pinheiro has requested a number of crucial details from the authorities regarding, among others, detentions, conditions of detention, numbers of released people, whereabouts of those detained and causes of death. The Government has provided the Special Rapporteur with a number of detailed records that responded partially to his requests. He will work on the information provided and continue liaising with the Government on the matter. Concerning detention, the Special Rapporteur re-emphasized a strong call to the authorities to re-engage with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Senior abbots of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (the State Governing Body of the Buddhist Clergy), of the the Kya Khat Waing Monastery in Bago, the Board of Trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda also met Mr. Pinheiro during his visit. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur visited two monasteries (Nan Oo and Ngwe Kyar Yan) where he had discussions about the incidents that occurred during the demonstrations. He was authorized to meet in a private meeting with a group from among the 92 monks of the Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery that have been transferred to a different location.

Prior to his visit and during his days in the country the Special Rapporteur requested a meeting with the Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He regrets he was unable this time, as informed by the authorities, to meet her. The Special Rapporteur has been informed that this option will remain in the agenda for possible follow-up mission. The Special Rapporteur considers that the coordination in this complementary angle of the Secretary-General’s good offices is essential and he and Professor Gambari keep constant and regular communications.

While noting that this mission should be seen as a process and not a one-off event, the Special Rapporteur expresses his hopes for the country’s engagement with the international and the regional counterparts. In this regard he is confident in the ASEAN mechanisms.

The Special Rapporteur will elaborate on all the information collected and will prepare a report to the Human Rights Council. The report will be shared with the Government of Myanmar prior to its submission.