Chronology of UN Visits to Burma
A duty to investigate arises as soon as a UN member state or a designated global monitor such as the ICRC receives verifiable information that heinous crimes are occurring. Since 1990, eight envoys have been appointed by the United Nations system to facilitate dialogue between the junta and the pro-democracy forces, and to carry out fact-finding missions in Burma. The timeline below, created by ALTSEAN, chronicles the visits and reports of UN envoys to Burma, all of which have been met with silence.
Download the full PDF version of the Chronology of UN Visits and Reports compiled by the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN)
In his February report to the UN Human Rights Committee (former Commission on Human Rights), UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Paulo Sergio Pinheiro concluded that the SPDC had decided to refuse to cooperate with the Human Rights Council. The human rights concerns enumerated in the report were the same as those highlighted in his previous reports since 2001. Pinheiro said that the willingness to address human rights problems, which the SPDC had shown six years earlier, had disappeared. Pinheiro said the SPDC had not demonstrated any willingness to concede space for a political opening, nor for the promised move towards democratization.
On 22 May, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon designated Ibrahim Gambari as his Special Advisor on Burma. In this capacity, Gambari continued the "good offices" role that he had performed as the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
On 5 October, both UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari addressed UN Security Council members on the situation in Burma. Ban Ki-moon said that the use of force to put down peaceful protests in Burma was "abhorrent and unacceptable." He also urged the SPDC to release detainees and start a dialogue with political opponents.
On 11 October, the UN Security Council issued a statement "strongly" deploring the SPDC's repression of pro-democracy demonstrators and called for the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees. It also called on the SPDC and all other parties concerned to work together towards a de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful solution.
On 2 November, the SPDC ordered the expulsion of UN humanitarian coordinator in Rangoon, Charles Petrie. In a 24 October statement, Petrie had criticized the junta for holding back Burma's development and for not addressing high levels of malnutrition and poverty. Petrie had also called on the junta to heed the voices of protesters.
On 3 November, UN Special Advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari visited Burma in an attempt to kick start dialogue between the SPDC and the NLD.
On 6 November, SPDC Information Minister Kyaw Hsan told Gambari that his proposal for UN-led tripartite dialogue between Gambari, the junta, and Daw Aung San Kyi "will not be possible." Kyaw San also lectured Gambari about the UN's ties with "big power bullies" and voiced the SPDC's dissatisfaction with the outcome of Ganabri's previous visit, which was followed by sanctions from the US, Australia, and the EU as well as condemnation from the UN Security Council.
On 11 November, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was allowed to visit the country for the first time in four years. Pinheiro's presence in Burma did not deter the SPDC from arresting numerous activists in Rangoon. The SPDC organized and controlled Pinheiro's agenda. Two of the five days of the mission were entirely devoted to meetings with SPDC officials. Pinheiro was granted limited access to monasteries, places of detention, and other locations where human rights violations occurred. Pinheiro's visits to Insein Prison took place in an atmosphere of allegations that the SPDC had transferred key political prisoners to other location to prevent Pinheiro from meeting with them.
HRC, 4th session, 12 February 2007, A/HRC/4/14
HRC, 6th session, 7 December 2007, A/HRC/6/14