A/RES/52/137 Page 2 Government and with the people of Myanmar, including political leaders deprived of their liberty, their families and their lawyers, with a view to examining the situation of human rights in Myanmar and following any progress made towards the transfer of power to a civilian Government and the drafting of a new constitution, the lifting of restrictions on personal freedoms and the restoration of human rights in Myanmar, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/64 of 16 April 1997,4 in which the Commission decided to extend for one year the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Noting with concern that the Government of Myanmar has not yet agreed to a visit by the Special Rapporteur, Gravely concerned that the Government of Myanmar still has not implemented its commitment to take all necessary steps towards democracy in the light of the results of the elections held in 1990, Gravely concerned also about the travel and other restrictions placed on Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, the continued arrests and harassment of members and supporters of the National League for Democracy, trade unionists and students for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association, the forced resignations of elected representatives and the long closure of all universities and colleges following the student demonstrations in December 1996, Recalling the withdrawal and subsequent exclusion from the National Convention of members of the National League for Democracy, late in 1995, Welcoming the contact between the Government of Myanmar and political parties, in particular the National League for Democracy, but regretting the failure of the Government of Myanmar to engage in a substantive political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives of ethnic groups, Gravely concerned at the continuing violations of human rights in Myanmar, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, killings of civilians, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, deaths in custody, absence of due process of law, including trial of detainees in secrecy without proper legal representation, severe restrictions on freedom of opinion, expression, assembly and association, violations of freedom of movement, forced relocation, forced labour of children as well as adults, including portering for the military, abuse of women and children by government agents and the imposition of oppressive measures directed, in particular, at ethnic and religious minorities, Recalling the observation made by the Special Rapporteur that the absence of respect for the rights pertaining to democratic governance is at the root of all the major violations of human rights in Myanmar, Recalling also the conclusion of ceasefire agreements between the Government of Myanmar and several ethnic groups, 4 Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. /...