Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - The United Nations Human Rights Council has expressed serious concern for the situation of respect for human rights in Myanmar, particularly because of major military operations in the Kayin region. The Council urged the Yangon government to allow humanitarian organisations access to the area. According to a report by UN special observer for human rights in Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, in the districts of Toungoo and east Bago, villagers repeatedly displaced and forced to leave their homes are living in situations of emergency. Due to intense military operations in the region the number of needy communities lacking the food necessary for survival increased all through 2006 and will continue to grow in 2007.
The UN special observer stressed the urgent need to assist women, children and the elderly in this precarious situation. He said humanitarian assistance should not respond to political logic or be “a hostage of politics. It must be guided solely by the principle of assisting civilian communities in difficulty. It would be a serious mistake - he said - to expect the complete normalisation of Myanmar before giving access to humanitarian workers”.
The UN Human Rights Council said it is willing to send personnel to supervise the work of NGOs.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro has recently underlined the need to start a serious process of democratic reforms in Myanmar, a path which “the country’s leaders have said they intend to take”, he said.
However the more recent reports drafted by independent organisations on the situation in Myanmar have not been good: according to “Christian Solidarity Worldwide”, the government’s campaign of restrictions and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities continues. A recent CSW statement on the situation of women of Karen ethnic origin in Myanmar denounced a vast campaign of abuse and violence against women by the military. (PA) (agenzia Fides 27/2/2007 righe 25 parole 258)
