UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001011

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNGA BM
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA



1. (U) On October 24 Professor Paulo Pinheiro, Special
Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar,
presented his report to the Third Committee of the UN General
Assembly.


2. (U) Professor Pinheiro outlined the tragic events that
have taken place since the publication of his report,
including violent repression of peaceful protestors and the
use of non-law enforcement officials and non-state armed
groups together with security forces. He called for the
release of all political detainees, including Aung San Suu
Kyi. Pinheiro outlined his objectives for his upcoming trip
to Burma, during which he will be particularly concerned with
the situation of detainees and of those killed during the
protests. Noting worsening economic and social conditions,
Pinheiro stated that international humanitarian assistance
should not be made hostage to politics. While international
attention has focused on the protests for democracy in the
cities, he also called attention to the situation of the
repression of minority groups in the rural areas and to
internally displaced communities. He noted the lack of
reliable information available to Burmese citizens due to
government suppression of outside communication, including
radio and the internet.


3. (U) Burma responded that Pinheiro's report was not
objective and was based on unsubstantiated allegations. The
delegate expressed Burma's intention to fully cooperate
during upcoming visits by Pinheiro and Gambari. The delegate
blamed recent events in Burma on political activists and
rabble-rousers who infiltrated the small peaceful protests
over fuel prices and treatment of monks. He argued that
security forces intervened only when the situation got out of
hand. He alleged that the situation would not have
deteriorated to the level it did had it not been for the
subversive acts carried out by political opportunists aided
and abetted by their foreign supporters. He stated that "a
certain political party" in collusion with western embassies
"even disseminated malicious news." The Burmese delegate also
denied allegations of human rights violations, particularly
those of sexual violence and recruitment of child soldiers.


4. (U) Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees delivered the US
statement expressing concern for the human rights situation
in Burma, particularly that of political prisoners, and
calling on the Burmese government to implement the steps
demanded by the Security Council and the international
community. (Full text available at www.usunnewyork.
usmission.press releases/20071024 255.html)


5. (U) In addition to the United States, Portugal on behalf
of the EU, France, Guinea Bissau, Switzerland, New Zealand,
Japan, Germany, Brazil, Canada, and Australia all made
statements expressing concern for the human rights situation
in Burma. However, China noted Burma's cooperation and stated
that the situation there is becoming calm. The Chinese
delegate said that the people and government of "Myanmar"
should settle the situation, and that the international
community should be involved through constructive engagement.


7. (U) Full text of Pinheiro's report can be found at:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/
457/14/PDF/N0745714.pdf?openelement
Khalilzad