HRW calls for more pressure on Myanmar

Nov. 22, 2010 at 4:48 PM

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The United Nations should establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights record in Myanmar, Human Rights Watch said.

Myanmar released pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest Nov. 13, days after the country had its first general election in nearly two decades.

The international community said the election was a sham, telling Myanmar it could do more to address concerns about the 2,000 political prisoners behind bars in the country.

The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday that called on the military junta to "release all other prisoners."

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the U.N. General Assembly could have done more to pressure Myanmar.

She said the world body should have included in the Myanmar resolution a recommendation for a international panel to look into human rights violations by the military junta.

"The U.N. system should act without delay to establish an international commission of inquiry," she said.
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