UN rights officials call for release of democracy leaders in Myanmar

The United Nations Geneva-based Human Rights Office today joined one of the world body’s leading human rights investigators in urging the Government of Myanmar to renew its commitment to political reform and human rights, starting with the immediate and unconditional release of pro-democracy leaders currently being held in detention.

A press release issued by the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, expressed their shared concern at the recent, “worrying” political developments. Those include the reported detention, in “protective custody,” of Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy (NDL), while NDL headquarters in the capital, Yangon, are said to have been padlocked and offices throughout the county face closing.

Concerned that the Government has effectively shut off the limited political freedom that Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and her party have been allowed since her release last year, the Human Rights Office also joined the Special Rapporteur in urging the country’s leadership to lift all restrictions on the exercise of basic political rights and freedoms, and to initiate the reform of the system of administration of justice.

Both said they hoped the Government would give “serious consideration” to these initiatives to improve the country’s political climate and pave the way for a credible dialogue towards democratic transition.