Mr. Chairman.

The Union of Myanmar is cognizant of the fact that the promotion and protection of human rights is the concern of the international community. Myanmar is fully committed to the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The government of Myanmar has been striving to promote social progress and better standards of life of the people of Myanmar. It has achieved some measure of success in bringing prosperity to the people of Myanmar, and in the process was able to fulfill their fundamental rights to adequate food, shelter and clothing. In trying to bring economic and social rights to the people, other rights as well have not been ignored.

During the discussions under this agenda item, some delegations had made reference to the situation of human rights in Myanmar. The Charter of the United Nations has placed human rights firmly in the context of promotion. We are of the view that human rights should be promoted and its observance encouraged. I would therefore like to express my appreciation to those delegation who welcomed the positive developments in my country and to those who have expressed support to Myanmar’s efforts towards democratization and nation building. There were also some delegations that expressed concern in a number of areas and appealed to the government for a faster pace in the national reconciliation and democratization process.

Mr. Chairman,

I would therefore like to apprise this committee of the true evolving situation of human rights in Myanmar and the progress made in our national reconciliation process. Myanmar extends full cooperation to the United Nations in the areas of human rights by providing necessary information requested by UN bodies such as the Commission on Human Rights, thematic working groups, as well as the thematic rapporteurs. Moreover the government rendered all cooperation and assistance to Special Rapporteur Professor Pinheiro to facilitate his work in the course of his four visits to Myanmar so far. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello has also accepted an invitation from my government to visit Myanmar at a mutually convenient time to see first hand the continuing progress of human rights efforts in Myanmar.

My government continues its positive dialogue and cooperation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations through his Special Envoy, Mr. Razali Ismail. The Special Envoy is currently visiting Myanmar for the ninth time.

My government is also cooperating with the ILO to address the issue of forced labour. Under an agreement signed by Myanmar and the ILO in 2002, the Director General of the ILO appointed an ILO liaison officer in Myanmar. A High Level Technical Cooperation Mission from the ILO has also been invited to visit Myanmar in the near future.

Mr. Chairman,

Recently the government embarked on a human rights initiative. In April 2000, a Human Rights Committee was formed with the Minister for Home as Chairman. The Committee has been holding a series of workshops and seminars with the cooperation and assistance of the Australian government. The workshops and seminars disseminate information on human rights standards for public officials as well as a wide range of citizens. There also have been awareness workshop held in February 2002, to cite a few of the many human rights activities.

Mr.Chairman,

The government of Myanmar reiterates its firm commitment to the realization of a multiparty democracy with firm foundations. We also recall the bitter experience of instability and multicolored armed insurrections for over forty years under various political systems and an economy that failed under 25 years of central planning. Myanmar does not wish to go through the ordeal of riots, looting and social anarchy that it suffered in 1988. The government therefore views political stability seriously as the nation evolves to the aspired goal of a stable multiparty democratic system. Firm foundations are being laid down in orderly continuous measured steps. The transition process is steadily moving forward.

For the first time in half a century, the armed conflicts that had plagued Myanmar since independence have ceased in all parts of the country, excepting a few border areas. Special Rapporteur Professor Pinheiro has himself commended the achievement of ceasefire agreements by the government with 17 armed ethnic groups. He identified the first dividends as peace and development. The achievement of peace with the armed insurgent groups is in fact the most crucial phase of the national reconciliation process. Since the Union Spirit of Myanmar has at last been rekindled. The government has now embarked upon the next step. All restrictions on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the NLD party, one of 10 political parties legally registered in Myanmar, were lifted on May 6, 2002. Over 700 detainees and prisoners have been released and those who are considered to cause no harm to the community nor threaten the existing peace and stability of the nation shall continue to be released. The NLD party and its leader are freely interacting with the press, media and civil society, as well as the diplomatic community and the United Nations agencies. In effect, Mr. Chairman, the political climate in Myanmar is moving towards the direction that is conducive to national reconciliation.

Mr. Chairman,

In concluding, I wish to reiterate that the government of the Union of Myanmar is fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in Myanmar. The government is firmly committed to the realization of a multiparty democratic state. The homegrown process that Myanmar has embarked upon is evolving at a pace that is consistent with the best interests of the people of Myanmar. The international community can contribute to the process by encouragement and responding in a positive manner.

I Thank you Mr. Chairman.