Burma Update: Disappointed and Regret – UN Humand Rights Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana

By Political Defiance Committee, National Council of the Union of Burma • February 19, 2010

“I deeply regret that my special request to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not granted. I had requested specifically to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in advance of my mission. Nonetheless this meeting did not take place. I am disappointed that even this time I was not able to see her in this crucial time of the election year, which will be the first national elections in 20 years. Her role in the elections will be critical for the coming elections to be seen as credible,” UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana told newsmen at the press conference held at the Rangoon International Airport this evening just before he boarded the plane for Bangkok.

“If granted my meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi would have been positive indication of the Burma government’s willingness to engage with the international human rights system,” said Quintana in despair.

“Anyhow during my talks with government authorities I have repeatedly requested to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately from her house arrest,” Quintana further told the press.

“Despite anticipation of landmark elections this year, I have not received any indication that the military government is willing to release all prisoners of conscience. The military government does not accept that there are any prisoners of conscience in Burma,” Quintana continued to explain to the press.

Continuing, Quintana said in the coming elections Burma people should be able to cast their votes without fear.

“Without full participation of the people including the 2200 prisoners of conscience and the environment that allows the parties to engage in the range of electoral activities, the elections to be held will not be credible,” Quintana announced his opinion at the press conference.

The UN envoy said during his five day mission in Burma, he has met and held talks with 15 prisoners of conscience including activists, journalists, community figures of Shan State and members of Muslim minority. Deploring that some prisoners he met had been given 65 years imprisonment, Quintana said some prisoners had been found to have been placed at prisons in remote areas.

Explaining that he had for two days made a study tour of Rakhine State and visited prisons there Quintana said: “I am deeply concerned about the systematic and indiscrimination faced by the Muslim community.”

Quintana also mentioned that in his visit to Nay Pyi Taw he had met with Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Labour, Chief Justice and Attorney General. In conclusion, Quintana expressed his gratitude to military government for allowing him to visit Burma.

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Burma Update: Disappointed and Regret – UN Humand Rights Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana

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