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 January report to the Commission on Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma Yozo Yokota said that given the composition of the delegates (only one out of seven delegates was elected in the May 1990 elections), the restrictions imposed upon the delegates, and the general guidelines to be strictly followed, the National Convention did not constitute the necessary "steps towards the restoration to democracy."
In February, the SLORC informed Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Alvaro de Soto that although no meetings had been held with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since the end of October, it was the junta's intention to meet again with the pro-democracy leader.
On 10 July, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. The following day, she told reporters she was dedicated to the restoration in Burma and called for a dialogue between the military junta, the democracy movement and non-Burma ethnic nationality groups. She also urged a rethinking of foreign investment in Burma.
In August, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Alvaro de Soto tried to encourage the SLORC to open a substantive political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected political leaders. In reply, SLORC pointed out that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was an ordinary citizen, that in 1990 there were as many as 230 political parties with which it would be impossible to establish a dialogue, and that it would not be fair to single out only one of them. The SLORC also said that nothing should be done to detract attention from the National Convention, which was the designated forum for political dialogue.
On 16 October, SLORC Secretary-1, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, assured the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma Yozo Yokota that the junta had direct contact with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but it had so many important tasks to achieve in terms of economic and social development that at that time it was not a priority to resume its dialogue with her.
CHR, 51st session, 12 January 1995, E/CN.4/1995/65
CHR, 51st session, 21 February 1995, E/CN.4/1995/150
UNGA, 50th session, 16 October 1995, A/50/568
UNGA, 50th session, 24 November 1995, A/50/782