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UN:
MYANMAR: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CALLS FOR RELEASE OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS:
11/9/2007 (MaximsNews.com, U.N.)
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UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com@
U.N./
- 11 September 2007 – Voicing
mounting concern over the detention of peaceful demonstrators in Myanmar, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Government to
release them immediately.
In a
statement issued last Friday, Louise Arbour “urged the authorities to uphold
freedom of expression and association and engage with Myanmar’s civil society,
rather than suppress dissent.” She also noted that “there will be no
progress in Myanmar’s political transition unless people have space to express
their views openly and peacefully.”
Since 19
August when citizens started protesting against a surge in fuel prices, more
than 150 people have been arrested, she said, expressing dismay at the violence
utilized by “agents of the State” against some protestors, including monks.
Late
last month, the High Commissioner urged the authorities to “engage in
consultation and dialogue with the demonstrators on their concerns.”
Stressing
that freedoms of expression and association are “touchstones of human rights,”
Ms. Arbour said that allowing greater space for citizens to express their views
and discontent will be essential in fostering the way towards a democratic
transition and reconciliation in the South-East Asian nation.
Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, in a press
conference last week, characterized the Government’s response to the protests
as a “setback for Myanmar.”
He added
that Myanmar’s actions “are all the more disappointing as they not only have
the effect of calling into question the stated commitment to democratization and
national reconciliation by the authorities, but also make it more difficult to
maintain support, international support, for engagement with Myanmar at a time
when we believe strongly that the country needs international assistance in
addressing the many pressing challenges, from political and human rights issues
to humanitarian and socio-economic problems.”
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
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