UN envoy speaks out on Burma's lack of human rights progress (interview)
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma says there is a contradiction between the promises of reform being made by the government and the reality of the situation.
Presenter: Liam CochraneSpeaker: Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma
QUINTANA: The government has taken a number of steps that has in my opinion the potential for the improvement of human rights. The problem is that we need to see concrete actions from the government so that those steps are translated into reality.
COCHRANE: And one of the big outstanding issues is political prisoners. Do you believe that we're seeing constructive moves to free political prisoners?
QUINTANA: During my five day mission to the country I had several meetings with all authorities concerned; Home Minister first, Minister of Defence, Foreign Minister, even the presidential advisory board. With all of them I called for the release of prisoners trying to make them understand that the whole international community, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon, but also the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and even ASEAN members, neighbouring countries from Myanmar have been calling for the release. Now I do not have at the moment any concrete information or sign that the government is willing at this moment to proceed with this international obligation.
COCHRANE: You also visited the notorious Insein Prison where many of the political prisoners are held. What were your impressions there?
QUINTANA: Yes I met seven prisoners of conscience, all of them according to my opinion. persecuted for just expressing their own ideas. There is one for example who was just incarcerated because they sent a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, only for that reason he was put in prison. Let me also tell you about a girl who was also incarcerated just because of the political activities of her father. Her father was also in jail, her brother was also in jail and she was also in jail. These people deserved to be released according to their own human rights and the situation. There are many, many prisoners in Myanmar who deserve at this moment to be released, so this process towards democracy that the government is claiming they are facing, has (to be) real meaningful.
COCHRANE: It's been reported that some of the prisoners are used for forced labour for the military, mostly as porters. Was this something that you raised with government officials?
QUINTANA: I specifically raised the issue with the Minister of Defence. The government, and in this case the Minister of Defence categorically denied that the military used prisoners and even villagers as porters, and here there is a serious contradiction because my assessment according to information that I have been receiving, is that the government is still using widespread porters across the country.
COCHRANE: The Burmese government recently invited exiles to return home, those who had been advocating for democracy outside of the country. Do you believe that they would be at risk of being arrested if they did return?
QUINTANA: The situation is that those who at this moment may decide to express their opinions against authorities may face the risk to be arrested arbitrarily.
COCHRANE: You were also able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi this time around. Was she broadly optimistic about the changes that are occurring in the country?
QUINTANA: I won't speak on her behalf. My impression is that there is a window of opportunity in the country. The challenge is if this window of opportunity brings real change in the near future, there is not enough time while people are suffering human rights abuses. So this opportunity has to be translated immediately into action.
Listen the interview :click here
Tomas Ojea Quintana spent five days in Burma, the first time he's been given a visa since February last year.
He says there is currently a window of opportunity for change, but thinks there have been few concrete signs of meaningful reform.
Mr Quintana once again called for political prisoners to be released and warned any exiles who take up the invitation of the President's invitation to return to the country may face the risk of arbitrary arrest.
QUINTANA: The government has taken a number of steps that has in my opinion the potential for the improvement of human rights. The problem is that we need to see concrete actions from the government so that those steps are translated into reality.
COCHRANE: And one of the big outstanding issues is political prisoners. Do you believe that we're seeing constructive moves to free political prisoners?
QUINTANA: During my five day mission to the country I had several meetings with all authorities concerned; Home Minister first, Minister of Defence, Foreign Minister, even the presidential advisory board. With all of them I called for the release of prisoners trying to make them understand that the whole international community, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon, but also the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and even ASEAN members, neighbouring countries from Myanmar have been calling for the release. Now I do not have at the moment any concrete information or sign that the government is willing at this moment to proceed with this international obligation.
COCHRANE: You also visited the notorious Insein Prison where many of the political prisoners are held. What were your impressions there?
QUINTANA: Yes I met seven prisoners of conscience, all of them according to my opinion. persecuted for just expressing their own ideas. There is one for example who was just incarcerated because they sent a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, only for that reason he was put in prison. Let me also tell you about a girl who was also incarcerated just because of the political activities of her father. Her father was also in jail, her brother was also in jail and she was also in jail. These people deserved to be released according to their own human rights and the situation. There are many, many prisoners in Myanmar who deserve at this moment to be released, so this process towards democracy that the government is claiming they are facing, has (to be) real meaningful.
COCHRANE: It's been reported that some of the prisoners are used for forced labour for the military, mostly as porters. Was this something that you raised with government officials?
QUINTANA: I specifically raised the issue with the Minister of Defence. The government, and in this case the Minister of Defence categorically denied that the military used prisoners and even villagers as porters, and here there is a serious contradiction because my assessment according to information that I have been receiving, is that the government is still using widespread porters across the country.
COCHRANE: The Burmese government recently invited exiles to return home, those who had been advocating for democracy outside of the country. Do you believe that they would be at risk of being arrested if they did return?
QUINTANA: The situation is that those who at this moment may decide to express their opinions against authorities may face the risk to be arrested arbitrarily.
COCHRANE: You were also able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi this time around. Was she broadly optimistic about the changes that are occurring in the country?
QUINTANA: I won't speak on her behalf. My impression is that there is a window of opportunity in the country. The challenge is if this window of opportunity brings real change in the near future, there is not enough time while people are suffering human rights abuses. So this opportunity has to be translated immediately into action.
Listen the interview :click here
