A/HRC/7/24 page 4 I. INTRODUCTION 1. On 15 August 2007, the Government of Myanmar raised the retail price of fuel by 500 per cent, thereby affecting the livelihood of the population, which responded to that decision by demonstrating peacefully in August and early September. From 18 to 26 September, large, peaceful demonstrations were held across the country, in Yangon, Mandalay, Pakokku and Sittwe. The Government’s crackdown on the demonstrators, mostly monks, took place from 26 to 29 September. During the crackdown, the security forces, comprising police and army or riot police (Lone Htein), as well as members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and the Swan Ah Shin militia, used excessive force against civilians, including unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force. Following the crackdowns, several reports were received, among others, of killings, severe beatings, arrests, torture and deaths in custody. 2. In accordance with Council resolution S-5/1, the Special Rapporteur, at the invitation of the Government, conducted a visit to Myanmar, from 11 to 15 November 2007. The Special Rapporteur stressed that his mission could not be considered a fully fledged fact-finding mission, since the conditions for an independent and confidential investigation would have required a different framework. The Special Rapporteur therefore informed the Council that his mission should be seen as an initial step in a process, and that the authorities had expressed willingness for his follow-up missions. 3. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur found that, during the period from 26 to 29 September, the security forces, including the army and the riot police, had used excessive force against civilians. The Special Rapporteur concluded, after seriously considering a number of testimonies, reports and video and photo material provided, that there were solid grounds to believe that at least 31 persons had died as a result of the crackdown on the demonstrations in September and October, including the 15 individuals accounted for in the information provided by the Government on casualties. The Special Rapporteur believed that the participation of Union Solidarity Development Association members and the Swan Ah Shin militia largely contributed to the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators. According to reliable reports and accounts, it was estimated that some 3,000 to 4,000 people were arrested in September and October, and between 500 and 1,000 were still being detained in December. In his report, the Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of Government at least 74 cases of enforced disappearance that had been reported to him. 4. Subsequent to the Special Rapporteur’s report (A/HRC/6/14), on 14 December 2007, the Council adopted resolution 6/33 in which it requested the Special Rapporteur to conduct a follow-up mission and to report to the Council at its seventh session. The Special Rapporteur transmitted a letter to the Government on 30 January 2008 in which he expressed his wish to conduct a follow-up mission prior to the seventh session of the Council in March 2008. At the time of the finalization of the present report, the Special Rapporteur had not been granted a visa by the Myanmar authorities. 5. In accordance with resolution 6/33, the Special Rapporteur presents a follow-up overview and assessment of the information collected in relation to the human rights implications of the crackdown on the demonstrations in September 2007 and the developments regarding the thematic areas addressed in his previous report to the Council. He deeply regrets not having been permitted to travel to Myanmar to asses the situation in situ.