081023_third_myanmar - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

Statement delivered by Lara Nassau, First Secretary of the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Third Committee during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

23 October 2008

(As Delivered)

Australia would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his efforts and the contribution his Report makes to our understanding of the human rights situation in Myanmar.

Australia agrees with the conclusion of the Special Rapporteur that the ongoing detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, along with that of other political prisoners, is a major impediment to genuine political reform.

Australia shares the concerns of the Special Rapporteur about the flawed referendum process, and the implications this has for the elections scheduled for 2010.

We agree on the importance to human rights in Myanmar of:
 a review and amendment of domestic legislation
 the release of political prisoners
 a transition to civilian rule incorporating democratic values
 and reform of the judiciary.

We would like to ask the Special Rapporteur what he envisages as the next steps in working with the Myanmar authorities towards his “four core human rights elements”?