Geneva: Gross and systematic human rights
violations by Myanmar may constitute crimes against humanity,
the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the
country said.
"My assessment is that some of these human rights
violations may entail crimes against humanity," Tomas Ojea
Quintana told reporters yesterday following the presentation
of his interim report to the UN Human Rights Council.
"This possibility imposes the duty to the government of
Myanmar and the international community to address the
question of accountability," he said.
In his report, Quintana highlighted specific issues that
need to be addressed by Myanmar, where he wrote "there is a
pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights
which has been in place for many years and still continues."
Voicing his concern over the new electoral law, which
bars the country's 2,100 or so prisoners to vote conscience in
the planned next year polls he said "... these conditions
elections in Myanmar cannot be considered credible."
The elections are part of a seven-step plan, agreed by
Myanmar, toward a transition to democracy.
Quintana said, "This is now the time for them (Myanmar
government) to take action" on investigating possible crimes
against humanity or it will be "too late".
Myanmar has been ruled by the military in various forms
since 1962. The last elections were held in 1990, but the
junta never honoured the result.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 14:44