Statement
by His Excellency U Wunna Maung Lwin, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of
the Union of
Myanmar
under Item: Review, Rationalization and Improvement of Mandate of the Special
Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in
Myanmar
at the Seventh Session of Human Rights Council
(
Geneva
17 March 2008 )
Mr.
President,
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in
Myanmar
was introduced in 1992 at the 48th session of the Commission on
Human Rights.
Although
Myanmar
does not think it is appropriate to establish the mandate, the Government of
Myanmar
has shown its willingness to cooperate with the United Nations by extending
invitations to the Special Rapporteur to see the true situation on the ground.
Since the creation of this mandate, the
Government of
Myanmar
had invited the Special Rapporteurs for 11 times all together.
The fact that
Myanmar
had received the Special Rapporteurs for 11 times in total testifies of
Myanmar
's effort and readiness to cooperate with Human Rights mechanism.
Despite such cooperation,
Myanmar
continues to be subjected of unjust and unwarranted criticisms.
Besides, the Special Rapporteurs did not fully reflect the information
furnished by the Government in their reports.
Instead, the Special Rapporteurs' reports contained many unfounded
allegations based on the rumors and unreliable sources.
Moreover, they made unrealistic recommendations.
Mr.
President,
Myanmar
's genuine desire is that cooperation with the human rights forum and
invitation to the Special Rapporteur to
Myanmar
would convince the international
community to understand the real situation in
Myanmar
. However, it did not turn out as we expected and each and every report
submitted by the Special Rapporteurs stepped
into the internal affairs and the sovereignty of
Myanmar
and thereafter made a non exhausted list of
politicized recommendations to put more pressure on
Myanmar
. Therefore , the objectivity and
impartiality of this mandate becomes questionable.
Mr.
President,
In the Commission on Human Rights, discussions of
country-specific situations became convenient forum to publicly shame and
attack the fellow members of the United Nations .
It failed to apply the widely respected principles of non-selectivity,
objectivity and impartiality. The
Commission allowed itself to be obliged as a forum to humiliate certain
States, especially the developing countries.
Notably, these States were subjected to the injustice and double
standards. Countries were
selectively forced to comply with the standards many others rarely meet.
The Human Rights Council was established with a
view to eliminating the double standards and politicization.
The Human Rights Council introduced the Universal Periodic Review in
which all member States will be reviewed on the same footing.
Therefore, the Human Rights Council should not repeat the country
specific mandate .
Mr.
President,
As
Myanmar
will also be reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review, I strongly believe
that we should have equal footing with other member States and it is not
necessary to have a country specific mandate for
Myanmar
.
Let me refer to paragraph 54 of the
Institution-building text of the
United Nations Human Rights Council.
"The
review, rationalization and improvement of mandates, as well as the creation
of new ones, must be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality,
objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and
cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all
human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including right to development."
Mr. President,
Myanmar
is in the process of the political transition with a view to establishing a
peaceful and stable democratic country for 54 million people consisting over
100 national races. Currently, the
Government has been proceeding with a momentum to hold the National Referendum
for the approval of the draft State Constitution in two months time.
The draft State Constitution contains about 50 articles relating to the
rights of
Myanmar
people. These rights enshrined in
the Constitution will protect and promote the fundamental rights of
Myanmar
people.
In the light of
the important development achieved
in
Myanmar
, the Human Rights Council should protect
Myanmar
from any undue pressure exerted by the powerful countries under the pretext of
human rights obligations. As the
UPR process will soon begin and some country specific mandates have already
been terminated, the remaining country specific mandates including
Myanmar
should not be continued.
I thank you.
