by Mungpi
Saturday, 21 November 2009 22:03
New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma’s ‘systematic and widespread’ human rights violations came in for severe condemnation by a special committee of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, which urged the junta to begin a process of genuine political reforms.
The 192-nation world body’s Third Committee focusing on Human Rights, on Thursday approved a resolution on Burma by a vote of 92 in favour to 26 against, with 65 abstentions.
The draft resolution condemns Burma for its systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedom of the Burmese people, expressing grave concern over the recent trial, conviction and sentencing of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to another 18 months of detention.
The resolution, while welcoming the recent release of more than 100 political prisoners, urged for the immediate and unconditional release of the more than 2,000 political prisoners languishing in prisons across the country, including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
The resolution also strongly urged the Burmese Government to lift restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, movement and freedom of expression -- including for the media -- by ending censorship.
It also stressed on the importance of national reconciliation through genuine dialogue with Burmese democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, and expressed appreciation of the recent contacts between the government and her and all other stake holders including ethnic groups.
The General Assembly resolution also called on the Burmese junta to take necessary steps to ensure a free, fair, transparent and an inclusive electoral process.
Defending Burma’s position, Burma’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Than Swe, said the resolution presented by Sweden on behalf of the European Union (EU), was “anachronistic and flawed.”
The Burmese ambassador said, the resolution was glaringly deficient and patently subjective and has only repeated allegations that “invariably emanated from exiles and insurgents without noting the formidable challenges faced by the government and people or the vast transformations taking place in Myanmar [Burma] today.”
Than Swe said, Burma had approved a new constitution and is preparing for general elections to be held in 2010 and assured that the election would be free and fair.
“It was unconscionable for the European Union to turn a blind eye to those positive developments,” Than Swe said.
He added that EU’s concerns were misplaced and the draft resolution was a means to maintain pressure on Burma in tandem with sanctions.
“Political pressure and the denial of development aid were unjust and immoral,” he added.
Burma’s close allies such as China and Russia along with several other countries, however, disagreed with the resolution saying such a resolution could be counterproductive to political dialogue and national reconciliation in Burma.
China’s representative to the UN said, China believes in constructive dialogue and cooperation as the only way to promote human rights.
“Finger-pointing would not help,” said the Chinese ambassador.
Similarly, the Russian Federation’s delegation said, it did not agree with the practice of one-sided, selective resolutions on the human rights situation of individual countries and therefore would vote against it and urged other countries to do so.
The West led by the United States, has maintained sanctions as a means of punishment for the Burmese military junta’s appalling human rights violations, and their unwillingness to implement democratic reforms.
However, China and Russia, along with Burma’s neighbouring countries, including India and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have a different view and maintain good relationships and even allowed Burma to be a member of their grouping.
While Burma’s military rulers claim that it is making efforts to improve the human rights situation, rights activists including the United Nations rights envoy to Burma said human rights violation in Burma is still rampant.
According to the Thailand-based Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), a group providing humanitarian assistance to Burmese refugees along the border, military campaigns by the Burmese Army in remote areas where ethnic minorities live has created thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and led to a great number of refugees to flee to the camps along the border.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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