“The struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma is a struggle for life
and dignity.” Aung San Suu Kyi
The Human Rights Council’s decision to hold an urgent full-day meeting on
the situation in Burma is an important step for Burma. Fifty-three states
called for the special session, which will be held today 2 October 2007.
“As the military regime is imposing its curtain of silence on the country,
on the repression it is orchestrating and on the suffering it is causing,
the Human Rights Council must act with decisiveness. In order to prevent
further violence, it is crucial that the strongest pressures be kept on the
regime, including a comprehensive arms embargo and targeted sanctions.”
said Dr. Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19’s Executive Director.
In a written statement submitted today to the Human Rights Council, ARTICLE
19 highlights its most serious concerns on the protection of freedom of
expression and human rights in Burma. The protests carried out peacefully by
tens of thousands of monks and civilians have been crushed by a heavy handed
and violent army crackdown. The severing of the country’s main internet
connection late last week has severely and unacceptably limited the flow of
information about events inside Burma to the international community.
Protected against international scrutiny, ARTICLE 19 fears the military
regime governing Burma may resort to whatever measures it deems necessary to silence any protest against their undemocratic rule.
ARTICLE 19 urges the United Nations Human Rights Council to issue a strong
condemnation of the Junta’s actions against the protesters, and to call on
all UN members, including major investors China and India, to impose a
comprehensive arms embargo on Burma, as well as sanctions targeted at the
military regime’s economic lifelines.
Conditions for lifting sanctions should include the immediate and
unconditional release of all those detained or imprisoned for the peaceful
expression of their views, including monks and other civilians arrested in
connection with the protests, and Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the adoption
of a timetable for political dialogue between all parties with a view to
establishing electoral democracy.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For a copy of the statement, go to:
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/press/burma-unhr-statement.pdf
For more information: please contact Catrina Pickering, Programme Officer,
+44 207278 9292
ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally
to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name
from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
guarantees free speech.