H.E. Dr. Sein Win
Prime Minister
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Firstly, I wish to express my deep appreciation to the Human Rights Documentation Unit (HRDU) staff and human rights activists who have worked hard with devotion in the difficult frontline areas to ensure that injustices in Burma are kept on record. Thanks to their diligence and the generosity of donors who see the benefit in continuing this publication, this will be the 12th Yearbook published by the HRDU.
In a closed society like Burma where freedom of information is strictly curtailed and human rights organizations are banned, uncovering news about human rights abuses has been a risky venture. In that context, I would like to commend the courage of the victims of human rights abuses who dared to recount their tragic tales and the human rights defenders who worked hard to inform the international community about the violations.
Regrettably, the Human Rights Yearbook for 2005, like the previous issues, shows that human rights violations are continuing unabated. These abuses include politically motivated arrests, torture, deprivation of the fundamental rights of the people, forced labor, forced relocation, burning of villages, rape, recruitment of children as soldiers, trafficking of women and children, confiscation of land and property, extortion, religious persecution and discrimination against ethnic minorities.
During 2005, the military regime in Burma furthered a trend of self-isolation and an increasingly hostile attitude towards democratic and ethnic forces. Throughout the year, the regime continued to arrest and detain individuals suspected of expressing political dissent, regardless of the fact that these activities were usually peaceful.
The situation of political prisoners, who rely on their families to acquire proper food and medicines, has worsened as more restrictions have been placed on the amount of food and medicines that family members can provide during prison visits. In addition, we are gravely concerned that the International Committee of the Red Cross has been compelled to suspend its visits to political prisoners as the regime has continued to insist that the visits be accompanied by members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, an organization patronized by the regime.
Meanwhile, in non-Burman ethnic nationality areas, in particular Karen, Karenni, and Shan States, fighting has flared again which has led to increased numbers of internally displaced persons and new exoduses of refugees into Thailand.
The SPDC also continues to deny an entry visa to UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma Prof. Pinheiro. Mr. Razali, the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General, also resigned from his position after his efforts to revive the UN-facilitated political dialogue in Burma were ignored by the regime.
Against the background of continued repression and mismanagement of the economy, the people of Burma, unlike other people in the region, continue to be deprived of their right to development. The humanitarian crisis in Burma has also alarmed international humanitarian agencies. Burma has the third highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Asia, with a sentinel survey in 2003 showing a prevalence rate of 1.25 percent. HIV/AIDS is spreading from high-risk groups to the general population, fueled by a high rate of migration within and out of the country. Burma also has the highest rate of tuberculosis in the world, with nearly 100,000 new cases being detected each year, and tuberculosis resistance to multi-drugs is rising rapidly. Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity in the country, with 600,000 cases reported each year.
At the UN Security Council briefing on Burma on 16 December 2005, UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan noted, “many issues did have cross-border implications; give cause for significant concern and could pose a threat to human security”.
In the midst of growing concern over the volatile situation in Burma, the leading pro-democracy political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), offered the military regime a proposal for national reconciliation in line with its firm policy of finding a solution through negotiation and compromise in the beginning of 2006. While the NLD's offer was seen as the best solution to the country's problems and was strongly supported by the general public, the regime rejected the proposal in late April. Meanwhile, the SPDC continues to suppress political opposition and has yet to make any concrete steps towards a genuine democratic transition.
The UN Security Council should consider taking effective action to resolve the crisis in Burma as the SPDC has failed to embrace the olive branch extended by the NLD. The United Nations has already granted the regime a 15-year timeframe to implement the terms of the consecutive resolutions adopted at the UN General Assembly every year since 1991.
Enough is enough. The United Nations should help end the misery of the people of Burma now.
H.E. Dr. Sein Win
Prime Minister
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
P.O Box 14536 , Ben Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044, USA
Tel: (202) 639 0639, Fax: (202) 639 0638
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ncgub.net/
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