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 Commission on Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur, 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."
On 4 April, SLORC Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw told Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Alvaro de Soto that the National Convention continued to be the only forum for a dialogue with political leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Ohn Gyaw also said that the SLORC's priority was "national reconsolidation" and the eradication of national insurgencies.
In his April report to the Commission on Human Rights, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed regret that the SLORC did not follow up on the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other prominent political leaders with the opening of a substantive dialogue as called for by the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights.
On 12 May, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma Yozo Yokota resigned, claiming he did not have the resources to carry out his work. In June, the Commission on Human Rights appointed Rajsoomer Lallah as the new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma.
In his November report to the General Assembly, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed disappointment that it had not been possible for his envoys to visit Burma since the adoption of resolution 50/194 in December 1995. Annan also expressed "regret" that no progress could be reported in the areas on which the General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission had repeatedly expressed concern.
CHR, 52nd session, 5 February 1996, E/CN.4/1996/65
CHR, 52nd session, 17 April 1996, E/CN.4/1996/157
UNGA, 51st session, 8 October 1996, A/51/466
UNGA, 51st session, 8 November 1996, A/51/660