UN rights body condemns systematic abuses in Myanmar

UN rights body condemns systematic abuses in Myanmar
Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:18pm IST
By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, March 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Friday condemned what it called systematic human rights violations in Myanmar and urged the ruling military junta to release all its political prisoners, believed to number 2,100.

The Western-sponsored resolution was criticised by most Asian countries and Russia who said the non-binding resolution was counter-productive.

"Condemnation and exerting pressure are not helpful to fundamentally solving the problem," China's envoy said. The resolution called on Myanmar's military rulers to halt "politically motivated arrests" and immediately release without conditions all political prisoners held in "harsh conditions, in unknown locations or without charge."

They included opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate whose latest house arrest began in 2003.

The Human Rights Council also called on Myanmar authorities to review the "harsh sentences" handed down against critics since November at closed-door trials and to end impunity for human rights abusers.

The council also extended for one year the mandate of its special investigator on Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, saying the situation in the country needed careful monitoring.

Quintana, in a report to the Council earlier this month, said about 400 political prisoners had been given sentences ranging from 24 to 65 years in recent months.

The Argentinean lawyer called for the release of more than 2,100 political prisoners -- including activists, journalists and people arrested for lodging complaints about forced labour -- to allow them to take part in an election set for 2010.

Quintana, who has visited Myanmar twice in the past six months, has urged the country to halt its use of civilians in forced labour -- including as "human minesweepers."

Wunna Maung Win, Myanmar's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, rejected the resolution as "lopsided and highly intrusive." "We believe country-specific, politically motivated resolutions have no place in the work of the Council," he said. "Nevertheless, as a member of the United Nations we shall continue cooperation with the Human Rights Council."

Yangon's envoy recently told the Council the country holds no political prisoners, only individuals serving prison terms for breaking domestic laws.

Myanmar's military, which has ruled in various guises since 1962, has promised an election in 2010 as part of what it calls a "roadmap to democracy." Western governments have criticised the poll as a sham aimed at entrenching military rule.

The country's information minister said on Friday his country would open talks with the United States after a rare visit by a top U.S. diplomat amid a review of Washington's policy towards the regime.

The United States, which is not a Council member, was among co-sponsors of the EU text, along with Australia and Canada.

The Geneva forum ends its four-week session on Friday.