TNAG-2808-FCO40-4053-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1994 — Page 100

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UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: 48TH SESSION

28 JANUARY TO 8 MARCH 1992.

ITEM 12

: BURMA

A

BACKGROUND

General

1.

Burma's human rights record is a source of major concern, attracting much public and Parliamentary interest in the UK. Amnesty International have particularly focussed on Burma since the violent suppression of the pro-democracy movement in 1988 and the subsequent assumption of power by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Victims include students, monks, and especially since the SLORC refused to respect the results of democratic elections in May 1990, members of opposition political parties.

2. The plight of 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner

KASSES

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest since July 1989, and whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party won over 85 per cent of votes in the 1990 election, has heightened international awareness of the situation.

3.

Western countries have been resolutely critical of the SLORC since 1988. Most donors including the EC Twelve suspended non-humanitarian aid. In 1991 the EC imposed an embargo on all defence sales. Some countries, notably China, still supply arms to Burma, and reports indicate that other suppliers use routes through neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Burma's Asian neighbours particularly ASEAN have resisted open criticism and their opposition contributed to the deferral of a resolution on Burma at the 1990 UNGA. But in 1991 after intense Western lobbying the UNGA Third Committee passed a resolution by consensus. were among cosponsors.

1503 Procedure

UK

4. The UNCHR initiated the 1503 Procedure on Burma in 1990. Professor Ogata (now UN High Commissioner for Refugees) visited Rangoon as 'special rapporteur' that year. Asian countries in particular resisted a public resolution when Ogata presented her report at last year's session in Geneva, but the 1503 Procedure was extended. Ogata's successor Professor Yokota visited Rangoon in October.

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