U-N / BURMA RIGHTS

[tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=2/22/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / BURMA RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=WAYNE COREY
DATELINE=GENEVA
VOICED AT:
 
INTRO:  A UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR says
government troops in Burma are committing atrocities on a wide
scale, especially against ethnic minorities.  But the
investigator welcomes the release of two thousand burmese
political prisoners since 1992.  V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY reports froM
Geneva.
 
TEXT:  U-N HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR YOZO YOKOTA says allegationS
of human rights abuses in BURMA are sometimes exaggerated.
 
But in a report to the U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, MR. YOKOTA
says he has confirmed so many allegations that it is clear they
are widespread.  He says burmese government troops are
systematically committing atrocities against innocent villagers,
especially members of ethnic minorities.
 
The government has publicly denied that its forces are killing,
raping, or torturing civilians.  BUT MR. YOKOTA says army
officers privately confirmed to him that these human rights
violations are occurring, but that they are rare.
 
The human rights investigator refers to one case in which
soldiers murdered 18 people in a village. The victims were
suspected of being sympathetic to the karen national liberation
front.  MR. YOKOTA says none of these people was involved in any
anti-government activity.  He adds that government forces are
believed to have murdered many other people in the village who
had disappeared.
 
MR. YOKOTA was disappointed that he was  not  allowed to meet
with burma's most famous DISSIDENT, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, When he
visited Burma in November.
 
But he found some reasons to be  not  entirely pessimistic about
the human rights situation in the country.
 
 
MR. YOKOTA welcomes the release of two thousand political
prisoners since early 1992.  And, although many burmese are
afraid of being arrested, he says there were visible signs of a
relaxation of tension in some places.  (signed)
 
NEB/WC/SKH/BG
 
22-Feb-94 3:10 PM EST (2010 UTC)