UN committee condemns Myanmar rights record

UNITED NATIONS — A key UN committee on Thursday strongly condemned human rights violations in Myanmar and sharply criticized the country's first election in 20 years for restricting opposition parties and candidates — including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 65-year-old Nobel peace laureate was released from house arrest on Saturday — a week after the election — and the General Assembly's human rights committee urged Myanmar's military junta to follow up by releasing all political prisoners, "currently estimated at more than 2,100." The European Union, United States and other Western nations have sponsored General Assembly resolutions for many years condemning Myanmar's human rights record, but this was the first to focus on the election and the political exclusion of many opposition, pro-democracy and ethnic supporters. Suu Kyi was barred from running under the country's new electoral laws. The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won a landslide victory in the Nov. 7 election which opposition parties and international critics allege was rigged to keep the military rulers in power. The last election in 1990 was won in a landslide by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, but the military refused to hand over power and instead clamped down on its opponents. The human rights committee called on Myanmar's new government to take "immediate measures" to start serious talks with Suu Kyi and other concerned parties, civic organizations and ethnic groups, stressing that genuine dialogue and national reconciliation are essential "for a transition to democracy." The committee voted 96-28 with 60 abstentions to approve the resolution condemning Myanmar's rights record — a gain of four "yes" votes from last year. The resolution, which is not legally binding, must now be approved at a plenary meeting of the 192-member world body where its adoption is virtually certain. Myanmar's UN Ambassador Than Swe defended the election, which is part of the government's roadmap to democracy, and told the committee "the resolution has no moral authority." But Philippe Bolopion, UN advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said the improved vote "should make clear to the Burmese regime that most of the world saw through its sham election and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, cynically designed to divert attention from the continued military rule" and continued detention of political prisoners. Human Rights Watch backs a proposal by the UN special investigator on Myanmar for an international commission to look into possible crimes against humanity in Myanmar and urges the UN system to start working toward its creation, he said. "Such a commission ... would make military commanders of all sides think twice before committing further atrocities, as war continues in the ethnic border areas of the country, and there is every possibility, as the resolution states, that things could get worse," Bolopion said. The resolution strongly urges the junta to lift restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, movement and expression and expresses "grave concern at the continuing practice of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." The election was also discussed in the UN Security Council where members received a closed-door briefing on the outcome and Suu Kyi's release by Vijay Nambiar, the secretary-general's chief of staff and point person on Myanmar. But the 15 members were so divided that the council did not issue any statement. Several diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations were private, said China and Russia both praised the election while the U.S., Europeans and other were very critical. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke to Suu Kyi earlier Thursday and expressed his administration for her courage and dignity where were "a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world," the UN spokesman's office said. Ban reiterated his commitment to continue to uphold "the cause of human rights" and support all efforts by the government, Suu Kyi and others "to build a united, peaceful, democratic and modern future for their country," it said. — AP