Several U.S. lawmakers say United Nations efforts to improve human rights conditions and achieve democracy in Burma have failed.
Congressman Joseph Crowley said (Wednesday) U.N. human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro has failed in his ongoing efforts to investigate alleged human rights violations in the Southeast Asian country.
Mr. Crowley, a Democrat from New York, said U.N. efforts have not succeeded because Burma's military government has not participated in talks. He also said the military is attacking and killing the people with whom it is supposed to be negotiating.
Another lawmaker, Pennsylvania Republican Joseph Pitts, said the United Nations has spent years trying to bring Burma's military government to the negotiating table, but to no avail.
Illinois Democrat Lane Evans called on the world body to strengthen the authority of the U.N. envoy in Burma, saying the current system does not work.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.