UN rights official expresses concern over Myanmar situation

By Staff
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United Nations, Sep 11 (UNI) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has expressed concern on the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and urged the Government to engage in dialogue with demonstrators on their concerns.

She voiced her concern through a statement made available here about the deteriorating situation in that Southeast Asian nation and asked the government to release detained people who had been demonstrating peacefully.

Mrs Arbour ''urged the authorities to uphold freedom of expression and association and engage with Myanmar's civil society, rather than suppress dissent.'' ''There will be no progress in Myanmar's political transition unless people have space to express their views openly and peacefully,''she noted.

Since August 19, citizens have been protesting the surge in fuel prices and more than 150 people have been arrested, she said, expressing dismay at the violence utilised by ''agents of the State'' against some protestors, including monks.

Last month, the High Commissioner, a Canadian national, urged authorities to ''engage in consultation and dialogue with the demonstrators on their concerns.'' Stressing that freedom of expression and association are the ''touchstones of human rights'', Mrs Arbour said allowing greater space for citizens to express their views and discontent was essential for fostering the way towards a democratic transition and reconciliation in the Southeast Asian nation.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari had at a press conference last week, characterised the government's response to the protests as a ''setback for Myanmar''.

He said Myanmar's actions ''are all the more disappointing as they not only have the effect of calling into question the stated commitment to democratisation 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''.

UNI

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