FIDH_ITUC_BLC_ALTSEAN_Letter_UNHRC_2010
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Transcript of FIDH_ITUC_BLC_ALTSEAN_Letter_UNHRC_2010
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8/9/2019 FIDH_ITUC_BLC_ALTSEAN_Letter_UNHRC_2010
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Member States of the
United Nations Human Rights Council
Paris - Brussels -Bangkok, March 23, 2010
Re: The Human Rights Council should endorse the report and the recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar/Burma
Excellencies,
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Alternative Asean Network on Burma
(ALTSEAN), the Burma Lawyers' Council (BLC), and the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC) strongly urge the Human Rights Council to endorse the conclusions and recommendationsput forward by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar,
Professor Tomas Quintana, in his latest report to the Council on March 15, 2010.
Our Organisations strongly support the Special Rapporteur's findings that ' 'there is a pattern of
gross and systematic violation of human rights which has been in place for many years and still
continues.'' We further concur with his conclusion that the lack of accountability and the systematic
and widespread human rights violations indicate that they are ''the result of a state policy'' that
involves state actors at all levels.
FIDH, ALTSEAN-Burma and BLC have already drawn the attention to the fact that some of these
alleged violations may amount to international crimes and the Burmese government is thus obliged
to investigate and prosecute those responsible and provide redress to victims.1 The on-going lack of
accountability for these alleged violations at the national-level, warrants the consideration by the
UN of ''the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to
address the question of international crimes.'', as stated in Special Rapporteur's report .
The undersigning organisations have long been requesting for the establishment of a Commission of
Inquiry into allegations of international crimes committed in Burma. As stated in his latest and
previous reports as well as in those of other UN special procedures and mechanisms, consistent
1 See FIDH - BLC- ALTSEAN-Burma report entitled Burma: An International Commission of Inquiry more urgent
than ever, can be downloaded at http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/bu08.pdf
FIDH
17, passage de la Main dOr
Phone : +331 43 55 25 18, Fax : +331 43 55 18 80
[email protected]://www.fidh.org
http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/bu08.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fidh.org/http://www.fidh.org/http://www.fidh.org/http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/bu08.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.fidh.org/ -
8/9/2019 FIDH_ITUC_BLC_ALTSEAN_Letter_UNHRC_2010
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reports of crimes perpetrated by the Burmese military include the destruction of over 3,000 ethnic
minority villages, rampant use of forced labour in certain areas, the conscription of tens of
thousands of child soldiers, the forced displacement of over one million refugees and internally
displaced persons, and the widespread and systematic rape of women in the ethnic minority regions
of the country. These crimes have already been condemned repeatedly by the UN General
Assembly, the then UN Commission of Human Rights, the ILO, as well as the Human Rights
Council.
The ILO office in Rangoon has received a number of complaints against forced labour, but reprisals
against people associated with forced labour complaints to the ILO continue. We support the
Special Rapporteur's findings that this is in clear breach of the spirit and letter of the protections
provided in the Supplementary Understanding. We also support the Rapporteurs encouragement for
the strengthening of ILO presence in the country and the important link made between extractive
industries and forced labour violations in the report. Exaction of forced labour happens against a
backdrop of an increasing number of strikes in Burma. The ITUC and its affiliated organization, the
Federation of Trade Unions Burma, have long held that the situation with regards to freedom of
association and the right to organize in Burma is an integral part of the development of true
democracy in Burma.
As long as state-sponsored and -orchestrated violations continue unabated and have not been
addressed, the general elections planned for this year will bring neither true democracy nor genuine
national reconciliation in the country. The undemocratic election laws announced recently and the
Burmese government's inaction on key benchmarks established by the international community are
also clear indications of the government's recalcitrance on real political reform.
For our Organisations, it is time to act. It is not the time to stand by silently as the Burmese
government defiantly follows a road map to entrench military rule and further repression of political
opponents, ethnic nationalities and workers. The Council should endorse the Special Rapporteur's
report and send a clear signal to the Burmese authorities that a tremendous accountability gap
remains unfilled and its current approach to national reconciliation is deeply flawed. Doing so will
also reaffirm the international community's support for the four core human rights elements
proposed by the Special Rapporteur, which remain unrealised by the Burmese military regime up to
date.
We appreciate your serious consideration of our request.
Sincerely yours,
Souhayr Belhassen Guy Ryder Thein Oo Debbie Stothard
FIDH President ITUC Secretary General President BLC Coordinator ALTSEAN - Burma
FIDH
17, passage de la Main dOr
Phone : +331 43 55 25 18, Fax : +331 43 55 18 80
[email protected]://www.fidh.org
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fidh.org/http://www.fidh.org/http://www.fidh.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.fidh.org/