Geneva, 3 october 2007 - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation FORUM-ASIA welcome the fact that the UN Human Rights Council devoted today a special session to the human rights situation in Myanmar/Burma. "The whole world has been watching Burma: States have been widely denouncing the harsh repression by the military junta against the Burmese people", said Anselmo Lee, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
We take note of the adoption of the resolution by consensus by all member states of the UN Human Rights Council, including traditional supporters of the Burmese regime like China and Russia. We regret however that the price to pay was a softened wording including no express condemnation of the human rights violations perpetrated by the junta.
The Human Rights Council urged the government of Myanmar to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur on the HR situation in Burma, and requested him to seek an urgent visit in Burma and report back to the Council in December.
"This is a signal to the junta that they cannot continue to repress behind closed doors: those who ordered or perpetrated international crimes must be held criminally liable. Therefore the establishment of facts is crucial. The ball is now in the camp of the military regime: should they continue to fail cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur, UN member states will then have to take strong measures under the UN Charter, such as an arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions", concluded Souhayr Belhassen, President of FIDH.
Press contact : Gaël Grilhot : +33-1 43 55 90 19