UN rights expert arrive Burma, but oppositions hopes grim

http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1712-un-rights-expert-arrive-burma-but-oppositions-hopes-grim.html

by Solomon
Saturday, 14 February 2009 19:38

New Delhi (Mizzima) - As the United Nations Human Rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana arrives Rangoon on Saturday for a second visit, Burma's opposition party and rights activists said they do not expect significant changes from the trip.

Quintana, the UN special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Burma, is on his second visit to the country to see if there had been any developments since his last visit in August 2008, the UN said.

During his trip, February 14 – 19, Quintana will meet a number of political prisoners and travel to Kachin, Karen and Arakan states, the UN said in its press release on Friday.

The envoy, who had proposed the Burmese junta to implement four core Human Rights elements during his last trip, will also see if there had been any developments since his first trip.



During his earlier mission, Quintana had suggested to the Burmese ruling junta to implement four core human rights elements including the revision of domestic laws that limit fundamental rights of the people and to implement a progressive release of an estimated 2,000 prisoners of conscience still in detention in the country.

The other two are - to reform and train the military so that it conforms to human rights, and make changes in the judiciary so that it is fully independent.

Quintana, following his first trip to Burma told Mizzima in November that, "One of my goals for the next mission is to establish with the government for implementation of this four core human rights elements."

He proposed four core human rights elements to junta on his first mission a review of national legislation in accordance with the new constitution and international obligations, the release of political prisoners, and a review of the authority and power of the armed forces and judicial system review.

"Human rights situation [in Burma] is a challenging task for me and for other human rights agencies," said Quintana.

Meanwhile, Nyan Win spokesperson of Burma's main opposition party – National League for Democracy - said, they are ready to meet the visiting UN rights envoy and are willing to talk about the Burmese judiciary system and the situation of Human Rights.

But Nyan Win said they have no much expectation on the visiting envoy saying, "Because we have been suffering for 20 years and there is no sign of any reformation, but we welcome his [Quintana] visit."

The Rapporteur, according to the UN, will also seek meetings with various organizations, and political parties but the NLD said it is so far unaware of any meeting scheduled with them.

"We are frustrated with his first visit because he gave us only a short time to talk and we did not have enough time to tell him everything that we know," Nyan Win said.

"And after his trip, we see that there are no changes. Everything remains same," he added.

Quintana, during his earlier visit, August 3-7 2008, he met with the NLD, pro-junta group National Unity Party and also with several religious leaders, and traveled to the Irrawaddy Division to see the devastations caused by Cyclone Nargis.

Meanwhile, a Burmese human rights activist Aung Myo Min said, with Burma's ruling junta refusing to follow his recommendations, the mission could be termed unsuccessful but would be watching the present trip's effectiveness.

"The Military junta have not implement any of the points he [Quintana] had recommended and are continuing with their random repressions by arresting and sentencing unlawfully," said Aung Myo Min, the director of Thailand based Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB).

Following his visit in August, the Burmese junta released a few political prisoners including veteran journalist and NLD leader Win Tin along with four other NLD leaders in September.

But the junta on the other hand arrested several activists and sentenced at least 250 activists to long prison terms.

"With the given political scenario there is nothing much to hope on his trip," he added.

But Aung Myo Min said it is crucial that the junta do not control the UN rights expert's schedules but allow him full access to places and people whom he considers he should met during his visit.

"If he is allowed to meet with who ever he wants to meet including political prisoners and other various organizations then we can only hope for some positive result," Aung Myo Min said.

The Burmese rights activist stressed that Quintana should keep the meeting with political prisoners as his priority during his trip, as several of the political prisoners are reportedly suffering from ill-health with lack of proper support.

"He should meet with political prisoners including 88 generation student leaders, Gambira [monk], and with female political prisoners who are facing extreme difficulties under the lack of proper health care," he added.

But he said, Quintana should not look for reasons to prove if there had been any rights abuses but rather think of how best to approach for a solution.

"There is no need for investigation on whether human rights have been abused, since it is already known to everyone. Rather, he should focus on finding a solution to the abuses," Aung Myo Min said.