28/9/2007
Myanmar: UN Human Rights Council to Hold Special Session Next Week

The United Nations Human Rights Council has announced it will hold a special meeting on 2 October to discuss the situation in Burma/Myanmar, amid growing calls for the authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with ongoing protests.  The Geneva-based Council decided to hold the emergency meeting following a request by a number of countries.

Earlier this week the deteriorating situation in the country prompted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to dispatch his Special Envoy to the region, Ibrahim Gambari, who is expected to arrive in Myanmar this weekend.

Mr. Ban’s call for restraint by Myanmar authorities in responding to the demonstrations has been echoed by a number of UN agencies.

The head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) condemned the killing of Japanese photojournalist Kenji Nagai, who was shot dead on 27 September while covering a demonstration in Rangoon. Decrying the use of violence against journalists and protesters in Myanmar, Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura called on the authorities to respect the professional work of reporters regardless of their country of origin.

“Freedom of expression and press freedom are basic human rights and allowing the media to express different views can only help achieve the national reconciliation we all wish for Myanmar,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also said that it is deeply concerned about the situation in the country, especially the effects of the violence on women and children.

UNICEF’s Veronique Taveau told reporters in Geneva that with much of the Myanmar’s population already struggling to survive – with a significant number of children malnourished – the current violence could only lead to a further deterioration and restrictions on UNICEF’s ability to reach the most vulnerable.

Also expressing concern about the well-being of the demonstrators, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has urged the authorities to allow the peaceful expression of dissent in their country and to abide by international human rights law in their response.

“The use of excessive force and all forms of arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters are strictly prohibited under international law,” she said.

Ms. Arbour also expressed her continuing concern for those who have been detained during recent weeks, and for the welfare of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.