Junta Permits Visit of UN Human Rights Chief
By Lalit K Jha/United Nations October 23, 2007
After initial reluctance, the Burmese military government has agreed to permit the visit of the top United Nations human rights official to Burma, the UN said on Monday.
Paolo Sergio PinheiroThis would be the first visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special UN Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, to the country in four years.
Though the dates are yet to be finalized, the visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro is expected to be on November 17 or earlier.
The Secretary General spokesperson, Michèle Montas, said permission to visit the country was given by Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in a letter to the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on October 19.
Nyan Win suggested that the visit be before November 17, when the summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations begins.
Pinheiro, who is based in Geneva, has been critical of the human rights violations in Burma. In statements during the violent crackdown of peaceful protesters by the security forces, Pinheiro and the other UN human rights officials urged Burma's military government to immediately release all political prisoners.
Brazilian-born Pinheiro was appointed to the post in 2000 and last visited Burma in November 2003. So far he has visited Burma six times.
After the violent crackdown on the recent monk-led protests, there has been increasing international pressure on the Burmese regime to allow UN human rights officials to visit the country and ensure that they be given access to prisons and be allowed to meet detainees.
After initial reluctance, the Burmese military government has agreed to permit the visit of the top United Nations human rights official to Burma, the UN said on Monday.
Paolo Sergio PinheiroThis would be the first visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special UN Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, to the country in four years.
Though the dates are yet to be finalized, the visit of Paolo Sergio Pinheiro is expected to be on November 17 or earlier.
The Secretary General spokesperson, Michèle Montas, said permission to visit the country was given by Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in a letter to the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on October 19.
Nyan Win suggested that the visit be before November 17, when the summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations begins.
Pinheiro, who is based in Geneva, has been critical of the human rights violations in Burma. In statements during the violent crackdown of peaceful protesters by the security forces, Pinheiro and the other UN human rights officials urged Burma's military government to immediately release all political prisoners.
Brazilian-born Pinheiro was appointed to the post in 2000 and last visited Burma in November 2003. So far he has visited Burma six times.
After the violent crackdown on the recent monk-led protests, there has been increasing international pressure on the Burmese regime to allow UN human rights officials to visit the country and ensure that they be given access to prisons and be allowed to meet detainees.
US Wants Gambari to Visit Burma Soon
By Lalit K. Jha/United Nations October 23, 2007
The US ambassador to the UN said on Monday it wants the UN Special Envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who is currently on a consultation trip to the region, to revisit Burma as soon as possible.
Noting that political repression in Burma continues unabated, the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said: “It’s urgent that Gambari be allowed to come into Burma, to facilitate indirect conciliation that is necessary in the transition to a new order that is necessary for Burma to become a normal place.”
It is believed that the ruling Burmese military junta is reluctant to allow Gambari to vist Burma earlier than his previously scheduled visit in November.
Khalilzad said: “We are calling on all those with influence to redouble their efforts to get Gambari there as quickly as possible. The Burmese have said he can come but at a later date in November. We would like to see that happen as soon as possible, and I think this is a view that many of us share.” The US is in consultation with key countries such as India, China and Asean nations in this regard, he said.
The US, which imposed additional sanctions on key Burmese leaders and large businesses last week, wants Gambari to facilitate a dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, and the military junta, Khalilzad said.
“There is a need for a dialogue and for the dialogue, the leader of the opposition is Aung San Suu Kyi. She needs to be in circumstances where she can conduct the conversations. The Burmese have appointed someone that I believe, the deputy minister of labor, to be a liaison with her. We don’t know if any discussions or negotiations have taken place. They need to take place, and Gambari can facilitate that,” he said.
Khalilzad said there is also a need for representatives of the UN human rights group and EU representatives to go to Burma and to have access to prisoners.
“Gambari can assist with all of those. But the key issue is the issue of dialogue, reconciliation and the start of a transition process,” he said.
The US ambassador to the UN said on Monday it wants the UN Special Envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who is currently on a consultation trip to the region, to revisit Burma as soon as possible.
Noting that political repression in Burma continues unabated, the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said: “It’s urgent that Gambari be allowed to come into Burma, to facilitate indirect conciliation that is necessary in the transition to a new order that is necessary for Burma to become a normal place.”
It is believed that the ruling Burmese military junta is reluctant to allow Gambari to vist Burma earlier than his previously scheduled visit in November.
Khalilzad said: “We are calling on all those with influence to redouble their efforts to get Gambari there as quickly as possible. The Burmese have said he can come but at a later date in November. We would like to see that happen as soon as possible, and I think this is a view that many of us share.” The US is in consultation with key countries such as India, China and Asean nations in this regard, he said.
The US, which imposed additional sanctions on key Burmese leaders and large businesses last week, wants Gambari to facilitate a dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, and the military junta, Khalilzad said.
“There is a need for a dialogue and for the dialogue, the leader of the opposition is Aung San Suu Kyi. She needs to be in circumstances where she can conduct the conversations. The Burmese have appointed someone that I believe, the deputy minister of labor, to be a liaison with her. We don’t know if any discussions or negotiations have taken place. They need to take place, and Gambari can facilitate that,” he said.
Khalilzad said there is also a need for representatives of the UN human rights group and EU representatives to go to Burma and to have access to prisoners.
“Gambari can assist with all of those. But the key issue is the issue of dialogue, reconciliation and the start of a transition process,” he said.
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