Myanmar invites new UN Human Rights Commissioner ( AFP ) July 26, 2002


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Myanmar invites new UN Human Rights Commissioner

WASHINGTON, July 26 (AFP) - Myanmar on Friday invited new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello to visit Yangon to inspect its human rights performance, despite widespread perceptions that it is appalling.

In a statement issued through its Washington based lobbying firm, the Yangon junta extended "its warmest congratulations" to de Mello, a Brazilian, who was confirmed on Tuesday by the UN General Assembly as successor to Mary Robinson.

"The government of Myanmar also extended an invitation to Mr de Mello to travel to Myanmar at his earliest convenience after assuming the new post on September 12," the statement said.The visit would allow de Mello "to witness the ongoing progress with regard to human rights efforts on behalf of all of Myanmar's citizens," the statement said.

Myanmar is ostracized by world powers for what critical governments and pressure groups describe as a terrible human rights record, and its suppression of the pro-democracy movement of Aung San Suu Kyi.But in recent months, in line with a tentative dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the government has released from jail groups some activists of her National League for Democracy which won a 1990 election never recognised by the military.It has also hit out at what is says is a smear campaign by two ethnic Shan rights groups, who accused junta troops of raping women and girls.

UN special envoy for Myanmar Razali Ismail, is due to make another visit to Yangon at the beginning of August and rights groups have called on him to press the junta for more concessions.

De Mello's fellow Brazilian, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, serves as UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar and has made several trips to the country, most recently in February.

Myanmar issued its statement on Friday as Secretary of State Colin Powell left Washington for Asia, to attend regional security meetings.The junta had earlier mounted a bid to hush up European and US criticism of its record at meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partners, which Powell will attend next week in Brunei.

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