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UN rights body condemns Myanmar for violations, extends investigation

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday passed a resolution condemning Myanmar for human rights violations and calling on the military junta to desist from politically motivated arrests and release nearly 2,100 political prisoners, which include Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The resolution was condemned by countries in Asia and Russia as ineffective and unnecessary due to improved conditions for human rights. Under the resolution, the council reappointed Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana for one year to continue monitoring the human rights situation in the country. Last week, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi violates Myanmar's 1975 State Protection Law and pressed for her immediate release. In February, the military government of Myanmar granted amnesty to 23 political detainees and more than 6,300 other prisoners, said Thailand-based human rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). These grants were in response to increasing international pressure on the military junta to end its persecution of political dissidents. In January, Amnesty International (AI) sent an open letter to the government, urging it to cease targeting its Rohingya Muslim minority. In December, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution denouncing the nation's alleged human rights violations. In June, the UNHRC criticized the government of Myanmar for its continued human rights abuses and refusal to cooperate with humanitarian groups.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 27, 2009 (boomark / email).