The Thailand based 'Human Rights Education Institute of Burma' (HREIB) gave its views on the UN Human Rights Council's demands made on Friday to the junta on freedom of expression, freedom of organization, guaranteeing fundamental human rights and to engage in all inclusive dialogue for national reconciliation.

The UN Human Right Council represents 46 countries and passed the Burma resolution after thorough discussion which included releasing political prisoners, to make all inclusive the current constitution drafting process in accordance with international norms and to extend the tenure of the current UN Human Right investigator for another year.

U Aung Myo Min, the director of HREIB, is optimistic on Burmese human rights issues being discussed extensively by the UN body.

"Though the current stage doesn't match our wishes, there is more awareness and interest in the UN body than before. So we don't need to be discouraged and upset. The UN's role is still needed on international issues", U Aung Myo Min said.

EU presented its position in this meeting encouraging the regional countries to mount more pressure on the Burmese regime but it will be effective only if ASEAN and China implement the resolution.

"If the governments change their current position and mind from non-intervention in internal affairs of other countries to a more active role and pay more attention to Burma's human right issues, the UN human right body's efforts will be more effective, otherwise it will be a paper tiger without teeth", he added.

In the draft resolution presented by Slovenia on behalf of EU in the meeting, strong words were used on human rights violations in Burma but it was later replaced with milder words after ASEAN, China, India and some countries in UN body opposed the draft resolution.

"This Council is better than the previous Human Right Commission. The HR Commission can only issue statements. Now this Council can impose emergency sanctions and can make demands for cooperation by the concerned government in terms of investigation. In Sudan's case, the investigators recommended for small arms embargo and strong demands to be implemented by the government without fail. The resolution is stronger than before," U Aung Myo Min said on the practical functions of the new UN Human Rights body.

But he added that the internal movement is decisive and the UN body cannot do anything if all these internal movements peter off.