NCGUB Press Release on Suu Kyi's ad

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NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

Press Release
April 2, 1998, Geneva

Contact: Delegation of the NCGUB Tel:/Fax: 41-22-797 1765

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) would like
to express thanks to all the friends who helped to bring  Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi´s message to the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights. Her voice is the reflection of the voice of the Burmese people,
silenced by severe restrictions of the right of freedom of expression by
our military rulers. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi´s message clearly states that
nothing has changed in Burma, and that the repressive character of the
military regime remains the same, even though it has changed its name from
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC).

The current session of the UNCHR is historically significant, as it
coincides with  the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and it is the occasion to review the achievements as well as the
failures of the United Nations in its effort to further the better
enjoyment of  human rights for all human beings. 

Within one year of Burma's independence from Britain, the elected civilian
government voted in favour of the UDHR when it was adopted in December 10,
1948, and expressed its commitment to adhere to the principles enshrined in
the Declaration. It is a sad fact that successive military regimes since
1962 have deviated from that commitment, and that Burma is known today as a
pariah State that has committed massive human rights violations.

The failure of the Burmese military regime to comply with the terms of
successive UN resolutions and its failure to allow the present Special
Rapporteur to visit the country are clear violations of articles 55 and 56
of the UN Charter in which member states "pledge themselves to take joint
and separate action" to "promote universal respect for, and observance of,
human rights and fundamental freedom for all". Its blanket denial of most
human rights and its closed door policy to UN human rights monitoring are
not the acts of a responsible member of the United Nations which adheres to
the principles of the rule of law.

The NCGUB appeals to the current session of the UN Commission on Human
Rights to condemn the continued human rights violations in Burma and take a
greater interest in implementing the terms of the UN resolutions on Burma.

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A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
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