Human Rights Watch
Letter to the Foreign Ministers of the G8 on Initiating a Formal Discussion on Burma
March 25, 2010
Dear Foreign Ministers of the G8,
We write to you regarding the serious situation of human rights in Burma. We urge that you include Burma in this year's formal discussion at the forthcoming G8 Summit in Toronto in June 2010. The G8 has a unique and timely opportunity to exert pressure on Burma's military government ahead of the elections planned in 2010.
As you know, Burma remains one of the most repressive countries in the world. There are strict limits on the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. The intelligence and security services are omnipresent. Censorship is draconian. There is little freedom of the media, with an all-powerful Press Scrutiny Board censoring any impartial or independent analysis of the political system. The Burmese judiciary is not independent, and acts as an arm of government repression. More than 2,100 political prisoners suffer in Burma's squalid prisons. These prisoners include many members of the political opposition, monks, nuns, journalists, and activists who face torture and ill-treatment in prison. At the same time, military abuses connected to armed conflicts in ethnic minority areas continue.
Human Rights Watch believes that high-profile attention from the G8 will be an effective way to pressure the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to respect the rights of its citizens. We call on you to support stronger action on two important developments concerning Burma: the formation of a United Nations commission of inquiry into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, and increased international pressure on the SPDC to conduct open, free and fair elections in 2010.
We also call on the leaders of the G8 to pursue a more coordinated approach to the imposition and calibration of targeted financial sanctions against the military leadership and its close business associates, and to the pursuit at the UN Security Council of an arms embargo on Burma.
Commission of Inquiry
We call your attention to the report of the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, delivered to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 8. The report noted the "gross and systematic nature of human rights violations" and a "lack of accountability" to which "UN institutions may consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes."
This is an important new development that should be addressed by the G8. The G8 should support the United Nations in establishing this commission without delay as a vital first step towards justice for thousands of victims of serious crimes in violation of international law in Burma.
The United Nations has long documented patterns of systematic and widespread human rights abuses that are committed with impunity in Burma. These abuses amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes and are thus subject to universal jurisdiction. They include widespread forced relocation of the civilian population, sexual violence against women and girls, forcible recruitment and use of child soldiers, and the widespread use of torture and extrajudicial killings against persons in conflict zones. These crimes are especially directed against the ethnic Muslim Rohingya minority of western Burma, and against ethnic minorities living in conflict zones in eastern Burma.
The G8, as the governments of the world's leading industrialized countries, can play a crucial role in helping to bring an end to these abuses by supporting an impartial inquiry into violations of international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated by all parties to Burma's civil conflict: the Burmese army, or Tatmadaw, and the more than 30 non-state ethnic armed groups that have operated in Burma's hinterlands for decades. Such an inquiry will not only support and protect the victims of serious abuses in Burma and arrest the continuing cycle of impunity, but also generate support for peace-building and broader respect for human rights in Burma.
Targeted sanctions
Targeted sanctions, if properly imposed, are an important way to bring about improvements in human rights. Several G8 countries have targeted sanctions in place against Burma's military government. Targeted sanctions include arms embargoes and restrictions on military assistance, travel bans on individuals, financial sanctions on individuals and entities, and investment and trade sanctions that are specifically focused on companies or economic sectors of greatest concern. But for those punitive measures to be truly effective and effect change, they must be strengthened, fully implemented, and better coordinated among influential international actors. Slow implementation by sanctioning governments and poor coordination have undermined financial and other sanctions, and kept them from realizing their potential.
The G8 is the right place to start such a discussion and coordination of sanctions. G8 members should agree to target key individuals, both military and civilian, who bear responsibility for serious human rights abuses in Burma, including war crimes and crimes against humanity; their business interests; and the individuals and entities whose considerable financial support of the SPDC could undermine these sanctions. These individuals are at the apex of the system inside Burma and are susceptible to this kind of pressure. More effective coordination could also yield greater support from other key states that so far have failed to add their weight to these international efforts.
In particular, an arms embargo will limit the military government's access to the tools of oppression, and circumscribe Burma's growing military relationship with North Korea and other arms suppliers.
2010 Elections
The international community and the United Nations have made frequent and longstanding calls for Burma's first elections in 20 years to be conducted in a free and inclusive environment. However, without a drastic change of course, the polls planned for Burma in 2010 are likely to do nothing more than establish a parliamentary facade for continued military rule. The 2008 Constitution contains provisions designed to ensure military dominance in any civilian administration, with reserved seats for serving military officers, and reservation of key ministerial portfolios.
Electoral laws released in recent weeks are designed to limit the participation of longstanding opponents of military rule by forcing political parties, on pain of de-registration, to expel any members currently serving prison sentences. There are more than 2,100 activists currently behind bars in Burma on politically motivated charges. The main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, would have to expel party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and many other officials in order to participate in the elections. Many of these dissidents and political party members have long expressed aspirations to be a part of the political process, including engaging in negotiations with the military.
Continuing government repression throughout Burma is not conducive to a credible and inclusive electoral process. Under such conditions, it is difficult to conclude that elections in Burma will have any positive effect for the people. It may be premature to judge the elections themselves, but it is essential that the electoral process conducted in such conditions of repression not be endorsed in any way by the international community.
We believe that Burma's intransigent leadership thrives on divergent approaches among members of the international community, and that a strong and coordinated multilateral approach is the best way to exert real pressure on the SPDC. The G8 should lead by example, by reiterating the statements made by individual members that denounce the current electoral system and call for the release of all political prisoners and the implementation without delay of a credible, inclusive political process.
Humanitarian aid
G8 members should continue to forthrightly address Burma's alarming humanitarian situation. Although the humanitarian situation in Burma remains desperate, government-imposed obstacles to delivery of assistance mean that the country remains one of the lowest recipients of international humanitarian aid. Increasing international pressure is not at odds with increased international assistance-the considered strategy of strengthening Burmese communities through humanitarian aid while imposing targeted sanctions on the country's senior leadership is the best approach to support positive change in this long-suffering country.
We trust that you will all give due consideration to these issues and look forward to discussing them with your government's representatives.
Sincerely yours,
Kenneth Roth
Executive Director
Human Rights Watch
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/25/letter-foreign-ministers-g8-include-burma-formal-discussion
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Canadian Chair’s Statement
30 March 2010
G8 foreign ministers met in Gatineau, Quebec, March 29-30, to exchange views and coordinate action on situations and issues that affect global peace and security. In Gatineau, ministers discussed three broad themes: nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; terrorism; and security vulnerabilities. Ministers agreed that security and prosperity are best sustained by democratic states that respect human rights and the rule of law. The following reflects the sense of the discussions, as understood by the Chair.
Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
The threat to global security from nuclear proliferation is grave, and 2010 is a critical year for setting a course for the future. G8 foreign ministers applauded the conclusion of negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation to reduce further their nuclear arsenals, noting that this is an important step towards a world without nuclear weapons. These discussions also help create positive momentum for success in May at the Review Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, on which ministers issued a separate statement. Ministers also discussed the successes of the Global Partnership against the Spread of Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction, and asked for an assessment of its achievements, and of continuing challenges, in order to consider whether the Partnership should be extended beyond 2012. Ministers were of the view that the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April will be an important opportunity to promote the security of nuclear materials in order to prevent their falling into the hands of terrorists or other unauthorized persons or entities. In this respect, ministers stressed the need to implement, and to support developing countries in the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540, which requires states to take concrete measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Iran’s continued non-compliance with its obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as its IAEA obligations, regarding its nuclear program is of serious concern to G8 ministers. While ministers recognized Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program, Iran’s recent actions, including its lack of transparency on the construction of an uranium enrichment facility near Qom, as well as its recent decision to expand its uranium enrichment operations in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and its refusal to respond to efforts of the five Permanent members of the UNSC plus Germany to broker a diplomatic solution to the issue all deepen serious doubts about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Ministers urged in the strongest possible terms that Iran cooperate fully with the IAEA and comply with relevant UNSC resolutions. In the context of the dual track approach, ministers agreed to remain open to dialogue, and also reaffirmed the need to take appropriate and strong steps to demonstrate international resolve to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and persuade Iran to build greater international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.
Concern was expressed that legitimate dissent continues to be violently suppressed by the Iranian government. Ministers called upon the Government of Iran to observe the rule of law and universally recognized human rights.
North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are destabilizing for the region, and for global security. Ministers urged North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks without pre-condition, and to fulfill its commitments, including the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, they underscored the need for all states to fully implement UNSC resolutions 1718 and 1874. They called on North Korea to address the concerns of the international community about the humanitarian situation, including the abduction issue.
Terrorism
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, extensive international collaboration has weakened the ability of terrorists to train recruits and execute attacks. However, terrorists continue to seek new ways to pursue their goals. In a separate statement, ministers strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attacks on the Moscow subway on March 29, and called for the prosecution of those responsible.
Ministers also discussed their concerns about the upsurge in kidnappings perpetrated by terrorists, including for financial gain, and the links of some terrorist groups to illicit drug trafficking, piracy and organized crime. Ministers discussed the need to remain vigilant and agreed to continue to collaborate to thwart and constrain the actions of terrorists, including bringing terrorists to justice so that they can find no place to hide. They agreed that multifaceted and coordinated efforts are needed to counter violent extremism and radicalization, to curb the spread of terrorist ideology and to address local conditions that give rise to violent extremism. They affirmed their commitment to the principles of inclusion, tolerance, democracy and respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism. In the face of the global terrorist threat, the ministers emphasized the need for more systemic, proactive and comprehensive response to this challenge, building upon the universal counter-terrorism conventions, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, UNSC resolutions and other relevant mechanisms and instruments. They agreed to work out a robust action plan envisaging, inter alia the reinforcement and relevance of the activities of the Roma/Lyon group and Counter-Terrorism Action Group in order to enhance their contribution to the global effort to combat terrorism. This plan will be submitted to the leaders at the Muskoka Summit. Ministers also discussed the importance of continuing to strengthen the security of transportation, including aviation, worldwide.
Ministers discussed their military and civilian engagement in Afghanistan, to ensure that it will not again become a haven for terrorists. They discussed the need to help the Afghan Government assume responsibility for security, delivery of basic services and democratic governance within its borders, and for the Government of Afghanistan to do its part in delivering on the commitments made at the London Conference last January. The views of ministers are detailed in a separate statement.
Ministers also discussed the situation in Pakistan, and the government’s efforts to address its domestic economic and social challenges, including strengthening its democratic institutions. They also welcomed the Government of Pakistan’s actions to root out violent extremism, particularly in the border region with Afghanistan.
Ministers agreed to continue to support both the Afghan and Pakistani governments in their efforts in the border region. They also agreed that military-only responses are not sufficient, and that solutions must include support for development, sound governance and economic reform. In this respect, ministers agreed to undertake, in partnership with the Afghan and Pakistani governments, and the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, an Afghanistan Pakistan Border Region Prosperity Initiative aimed at building trade and border infrastructure to foster economic development and local employment. Ministers issued a separate background document on the Initiative.
Ministers discussed the increased terrorist activity in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Africa, in particular Yemen, Somalia and the Sahel. Internal conflict and areas beyond effective government control create fertile ground for terrorists to recruit and operate with impunity, and have led to other problems of piracy, kidnapping, illicit trafficking in drugs, arms and people, and illegal migration. Ministers discussed how the international community could support the Government of Yemen in its efforts to combat terrorism and implement an agenda of political and economic reform. The truce between the government and the northern rebels is welcome. The ongoing instability in Somalia was also of concern to ministers, who encouraged international support for the Transitional Federal Government. They were also deeply concerned by region-wide security threats across the Sahel posed by the expanding reach of criminal gangs and terrorist cells. Ministers discussed the inter-connectedness of these problems, and the need for broad regional approaches and engagement with local governments to reinforce their capacity to combat terrorism and strengthen security, as well as to address socio-economic challenges.
Security Vulnerabilities
Many countries lack effective and accountable institutions necessary to prevent and manage conflict, manage security in post-disaster situations, or fight terrorism, proliferation and transnational organized crime. Ministers discussed the need to help such countries and regional institutions to build the institutional capacity that underpins democratic governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights to enable them to effectively address their security vulnerabilities. Ministers welcomed Canada’s proposal to host a conference of senior officials to identify ways to make such capacity building efforts more effective and coherent.
Ministers shared the view that, while relief efforts in Haiti must continue, attention must also be directed to the longer-term infrastructure, governance and security needs of the country. They discussed their desire to help Haitians build a new and better future for Haiti, based on the principles of ownership, inclusiveness, accountability, effectiveness, coordination and sustainability. They urged all donors to be generous in their support for Haiti at the international conference which will take place in New York on March 31, 2010.
Ministers also spoke about the challenges faced by some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean from transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking in drugs, and the increasingly widespread implications not only for the Americas, but also for Africa (through which the drugs transit) and Europe. They reaffirmed their commitment to combat these security vulnerabilities through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, in particular with regional organizations, including the Organization of American States. They endorsed the statement on the Middle East issued by the Quartet on March 19, and emphasized the importance of the proximity talks as a step towards the resumption of bilateral negotiations. They urged both parties to adhere to the Road Map, and to promote an environment conducive to successful negotiations. They also reaffirmed their commitment to provide continued support to help the Palestinians build democratic institutions.
Ministers also discussed the need for national dialogue in Burma/Myanmar, and their concern about the recently adopted restrictive electoral law. They called for the elections planned for 2010 to be transparent, fully inclusive, free and fair. They also called on the Government of Burma/Myanmar to enable full democratic participation in the upcoming election and to release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose continued detention would undermine the credibility of the elections. They agreed that the elections to be held in Sudan in April could be an important step in Sudan’s democratic transformation as mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in advance of the January 2011 referendum on the future status of Southern Sudan. They underscored the need for progress in Darfur.Ministers agreed to meet next in New York in September, 2010, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly
G8 foreign ministers met in Gatineau, Quebec, March 29-30, to exchange views and coordinate action on situations and issues that affect global peace and security. In Gatineau, ministers discussed three broad themes: nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; terrorism; and security vulnerabilities. Ministers agreed that security and prosperity are best sustained by democratic states that respect human rights and the rule of law. The following reflects the sense of the discussions, as understood by the Chair.
Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
The threat to global security from nuclear proliferation is grave, and 2010 is a critical year for setting a course for the future. G8 foreign ministers applauded the conclusion of negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation to reduce further their nuclear arsenals, noting that this is an important step towards a world without nuclear weapons. These discussions also help create positive momentum for success in May at the Review Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, on which ministers issued a separate statement. Ministers also discussed the successes of the Global Partnership against the Spread of Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction, and asked for an assessment of its achievements, and of continuing challenges, in order to consider whether the Partnership should be extended beyond 2012. Ministers were of the view that the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April will be an important opportunity to promote the security of nuclear materials in order to prevent their falling into the hands of terrorists or other unauthorized persons or entities. In this respect, ministers stressed the need to implement, and to support developing countries in the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540, which requires states to take concrete measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Iran’s continued non-compliance with its obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as its IAEA obligations, regarding its nuclear program is of serious concern to G8 ministers. While ministers recognized Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program, Iran’s recent actions, including its lack of transparency on the construction of an uranium enrichment facility near Qom, as well as its recent decision to expand its uranium enrichment operations in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and its refusal to respond to efforts of the five Permanent members of the UNSC plus Germany to broker a diplomatic solution to the issue all deepen serious doubts about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Ministers urged in the strongest possible terms that Iran cooperate fully with the IAEA and comply with relevant UNSC resolutions. In the context of the dual track approach, ministers agreed to remain open to dialogue, and also reaffirmed the need to take appropriate and strong steps to demonstrate international resolve to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and persuade Iran to build greater international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.
Concern was expressed that legitimate dissent continues to be violently suppressed by the Iranian government. Ministers called upon the Government of Iran to observe the rule of law and universally recognized human rights.
North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are destabilizing for the region, and for global security. Ministers urged North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks without pre-condition, and to fulfill its commitments, including the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, they underscored the need for all states to fully implement UNSC resolutions 1718 and 1874. They called on North Korea to address the concerns of the international community about the humanitarian situation, including the abduction issue.
Terrorism
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, extensive international collaboration has weakened the ability of terrorists to train recruits and execute attacks. However, terrorists continue to seek new ways to pursue their goals. In a separate statement, ministers strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attacks on the Moscow subway on March 29, and called for the prosecution of those responsible.
Ministers also discussed their concerns about the upsurge in kidnappings perpetrated by terrorists, including for financial gain, and the links of some terrorist groups to illicit drug trafficking, piracy and organized crime. Ministers discussed the need to remain vigilant and agreed to continue to collaborate to thwart and constrain the actions of terrorists, including bringing terrorists to justice so that they can find no place to hide. They agreed that multifaceted and coordinated efforts are needed to counter violent extremism and radicalization, to curb the spread of terrorist ideology and to address local conditions that give rise to violent extremism. They affirmed their commitment to the principles of inclusion, tolerance, democracy and respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism. In the face of the global terrorist threat, the ministers emphasized the need for more systemic, proactive and comprehensive response to this challenge, building upon the universal counter-terrorism conventions, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, UNSC resolutions and other relevant mechanisms and instruments. They agreed to work out a robust action plan envisaging, inter alia the reinforcement and relevance of the activities of the Roma/Lyon group and Counter-Terrorism Action Group in order to enhance their contribution to the global effort to combat terrorism. This plan will be submitted to the leaders at the Muskoka Summit. Ministers also discussed the importance of continuing to strengthen the security of transportation, including aviation, worldwide.
Ministers discussed their military and civilian engagement in Afghanistan, to ensure that it will not again become a haven for terrorists. They discussed the need to help the Afghan Government assume responsibility for security, delivery of basic services and democratic governance within its borders, and for the Government of Afghanistan to do its part in delivering on the commitments made at the London Conference last January. The views of ministers are detailed in a separate statement.
Ministers also discussed the situation in Pakistan, and the government’s efforts to address its domestic economic and social challenges, including strengthening its democratic institutions. They also welcomed the Government of Pakistan’s actions to root out violent extremism, particularly in the border region with Afghanistan.
Ministers agreed to continue to support both the Afghan and Pakistani governments in their efforts in the border region. They also agreed that military-only responses are not sufficient, and that solutions must include support for development, sound governance and economic reform. In this respect, ministers agreed to undertake, in partnership with the Afghan and Pakistani governments, and the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, an Afghanistan Pakistan Border Region Prosperity Initiative aimed at building trade and border infrastructure to foster economic development and local employment. Ministers issued a separate background document on the Initiative.
Ministers discussed the increased terrorist activity in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Africa, in particular Yemen, Somalia and the Sahel. Internal conflict and areas beyond effective government control create fertile ground for terrorists to recruit and operate with impunity, and have led to other problems of piracy, kidnapping, illicit trafficking in drugs, arms and people, and illegal migration. Ministers discussed how the international community could support the Government of Yemen in its efforts to combat terrorism and implement an agenda of political and economic reform. The truce between the government and the northern rebels is welcome. The ongoing instability in Somalia was also of concern to ministers, who encouraged international support for the Transitional Federal Government. They were also deeply concerned by region-wide security threats across the Sahel posed by the expanding reach of criminal gangs and terrorist cells. Ministers discussed the inter-connectedness of these problems, and the need for broad regional approaches and engagement with local governments to reinforce their capacity to combat terrorism and strengthen security, as well as to address socio-economic challenges.
Security Vulnerabilities
Many countries lack effective and accountable institutions necessary to prevent and manage conflict, manage security in post-disaster situations, or fight terrorism, proliferation and transnational organized crime. Ministers discussed the need to help such countries and regional institutions to build the institutional capacity that underpins democratic governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights to enable them to effectively address their security vulnerabilities. Ministers welcomed Canada’s proposal to host a conference of senior officials to identify ways to make such capacity building efforts more effective and coherent.
Ministers shared the view that, while relief efforts in Haiti must continue, attention must also be directed to the longer-term infrastructure, governance and security needs of the country. They discussed their desire to help Haitians build a new and better future for Haiti, based on the principles of ownership, inclusiveness, accountability, effectiveness, coordination and sustainability. They urged all donors to be generous in their support for Haiti at the international conference which will take place in New York on March 31, 2010.
Ministers also spoke about the challenges faced by some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean from transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking in drugs, and the increasingly widespread implications not only for the Americas, but also for Africa (through which the drugs transit) and Europe. They reaffirmed their commitment to combat these security vulnerabilities through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, in particular with regional organizations, including the Organization of American States. They endorsed the statement on the Middle East issued by the Quartet on March 19, and emphasized the importance of the proximity talks as a step towards the resumption of bilateral negotiations. They urged both parties to adhere to the Road Map, and to promote an environment conducive to successful negotiations. They also reaffirmed their commitment to provide continued support to help the Palestinians build democratic institutions.
Ministers also discussed the need for national dialogue in Burma/Myanmar, and their concern about the recently adopted restrictive electoral law. They called for the elections planned for 2010 to be transparent, fully inclusive, free and fair. They also called on the Government of Burma/Myanmar to enable full democratic participation in the upcoming election and to release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose continued detention would undermine the credibility of the elections. They agreed that the elections to be held in Sudan in April could be an important step in Sudan’s democratic transformation as mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in advance of the January 2011 referendum on the future status of Southern Sudan. They underscored the need for progress in Darfur.Ministers agreed to meet next in New York in September, 2010, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Japanese Foreign Minister Okada said he'd like to discuss Burma issue with his counterparts during G8 foreign ministerial meeting to be held in Canada
Japan Today
Japan won't expand aid to Myanmar if Suu Kyi barred from election
Saturday 27th March, 02:33 AM JST
TOKYO —
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that Tokyo will not expand economic aid to Myanmar as earlier proposed unless the junta ensures the participation of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and anyone concerned in the country’s general election this year.
Okada conveyed the stance to Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Hla Myint the same day, and also said at a news conference he would like to discuss the situation in Myanmar during bilateral meetings with his counterparts expected to take place on the sidelines of a Group of Eight foreign ministerial meeting to be held in Canada next week.
Japan won't expand aid to Myanmar if Suu Kyi barred from election
Saturday 27th March, 02:33 AM JST
TOKYO —
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that Tokyo will not expand economic aid to Myanmar as earlier proposed unless the junta ensures the participation of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and anyone concerned in the country’s general election this year.
Okada conveyed the stance to Myanmar Ambassador to Japan U Hla Myint the same day, and also said at a news conference he would like to discuss the situation in Myanmar during bilateral meetings with his counterparts expected to take place on the sidelines of a Group of Eight foreign ministerial meeting to be held in Canada next week.
UN Human Rights Council's resolution on Burma's election laws
GENEVA - THE UN Human Rights Council on Friday passed a resolution expressing concern that election laws adopted by Myanmar failed to include the necessary elements to guarantee an inclusive political process.
The resolution, which was slammed by Myanmar for being 'politically motivated' and based on 'unfounded allegations' was adopted without a vote.
The resolution 'expresses concern that the newly adopted electoral laws do not meet the expectations of the international community regarding what is needed for an inclusive political process.' It also 'calls upon the government of Myanmar to ensure a free, transparent and fair electoral process which allows for the participation therein of all voters, all political parties, and all other relevant stakeholders in a manner of their choosing.'
To this end, the resolution strongly urged the ruling junta to release 'without delay and without conditions' the 2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and to allow them to participate in the upcoming elections. The resolution came on the heels of a call made Thursday by the so-called Group of Friends of Myanmar for Myanmar's military regime to free all political prisoners and to ensure that upcoming polls are inclusive and transparent.
The group comprises Australia, Britain, China, the European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. On Wednesday, the UN Security Council also held closed-door talks on Myanmar.
Myanmar accused the EU of tabling a 'politically motivated draft resolution which totally disregards and disrespects the principles we adhere to.' Myanmar ambassador Wunna Maung Lwin added that there was 'clear intention to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar' and that the resolution 'does not reflect the true situation in the country.' -- AFP
The resolution, which was slammed by Myanmar for being 'politically motivated' and based on 'unfounded allegations' was adopted without a vote.
The resolution 'expresses concern that the newly adopted electoral laws do not meet the expectations of the international community regarding what is needed for an inclusive political process.' It also 'calls upon the government of Myanmar to ensure a free, transparent and fair electoral process which allows for the participation therein of all voters, all political parties, and all other relevant stakeholders in a manner of their choosing.'
To this end, the resolution strongly urged the ruling junta to release 'without delay and without conditions' the 2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and to allow them to participate in the upcoming elections. The resolution came on the heels of a call made Thursday by the so-called Group of Friends of Myanmar for Myanmar's military regime to free all political prisoners and to ensure that upcoming polls are inclusive and transparent.
The group comprises Australia, Britain, China, the European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. On Wednesday, the UN Security Council also held closed-door talks on Myanmar.
Myanmar accused the EU of tabling a 'politically motivated draft resolution which totally disregards and disrespects the principles we adhere to.' Myanmar ambassador Wunna Maung Lwin added that there was 'clear intention to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar' and that the resolution 'does not reflect the true situation in the country.' -- AFP
Slogans
1) Sham 2010 Election (Boycott) (Boycott)
၂၀၁၀ အတုအေယာင္ ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲ ( အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
2) Sham 2008 Constitution (Boycott) (Boycott)
၂၀၀၈ အတုအေယာင္ အေျခခံဥပေဒ ( အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
3) Junta’s Unjust Electoral Law (Void) (Void)
စစ္အစုိးရ ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲဥပေဒ (အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
4) 1990 Election result (Implement) (Implement)
၉၀ ခုႏွစ္ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲ ရလဒ္ အေကာင္အထည္ေဖၚေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
5) Shwe Gone Daing Declaration (Implement) (Implement)
ေရြဂုံတုိင္ေၾကညာခ်က္အေကာင္အထည္ေဖၚေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
6) United Nations Security Council (Take Action On Burma Now) (Take Action On Burma Now)
စစ္အစုိးရကုိ ကုလသမဂၢလုံၿခဳံေရးေကာင္စီမွ ခ်က္ခ်င္းအေရးယူေပးေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
7) CRPP Interim Government (Right Now) (Right Now)
စီအာပီပီ ၾကားျဖတ္အစုိးရ (ခ်က္ခ်င္းဖြဲ႔- ခ်က္ခ်င္းဖြဲ႔)
8) Our Leader (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)2
ဒုိ႔ေခါင္းေဆာင္သည္ (ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ - ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္)
9) Military Regime (out – out)
စစ္အစုိးရ (အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
10) Down with ( Dictatorship -Dictatorship)
အာဏာရွင္စနစ္ (က်ဆုံးပါေစ - က်ဆုံးပါေစ)
၂၀၁၀ အတုအေယာင္ ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲ ( အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
2) Sham 2008 Constitution (Boycott) (Boycott)
၂၀၀၈ အတုအေယာင္ အေျခခံဥပေဒ ( အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
3) Junta’s Unjust Electoral Law (Void) (Void)
စစ္အစုိးရ ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲဥပေဒ (အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
4) 1990 Election result (Implement) (Implement)
၉၀ ခုႏွစ္ေရြးေကာက္ပြဲ ရလဒ္ အေကာင္အထည္ေဖၚေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
5) Shwe Gone Daing Declaration (Implement) (Implement)
ေရြဂုံတုိင္ေၾကညာခ်က္အေကာင္အထည္ေဖၚေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
6) United Nations Security Council (Take Action On Burma Now) (Take Action On Burma Now)
စစ္အစုိးရကုိ ကုလသမဂၢလုံၿခဳံေရးေကာင္စီမွ ခ်က္ခ်င္းအေရးယူေပးေရး ( ဒုိ႔အေရး - ဒုိ႔အေရး)
7) CRPP Interim Government (Right Now) (Right Now)
စီအာပီပီ ၾကားျဖတ္အစုိးရ (ခ်က္ခ်င္းဖြဲ႔- ခ်က္ခ်င္းဖြဲ႔)
8) Our Leader (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)2
ဒုိ႔ေခါင္းေဆာင္သည္ (ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္ - ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္)
9) Military Regime (out – out)
စစ္အစုိးရ (အလုိမရွိ - အလုိမရွိ)
10) Down with ( Dictatorship -Dictatorship)
အာဏာရွင္စနစ္ (က်ဆုံးပါေစ - က်ဆုံးပါေစ)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
စိန္ေခၚမႈေတြကို ရင္ဆိုင္ဖို႔ ... “အခုဒီဥပေဒေတြဟာ NLD အတြက္ ႀကီး မားတဲ့ စိန္ေခၚမႈေတြ အမ်ားႀကီးပါေနပါ တယ္။ ဒီလို စိန္ေခၚမႈေတြကို က်မအေနနဲ႔ စိတ္မပ်က္ပါဘူး။ ဒီလုိ ႀကီးမားတဲ့ စိန္ေခၚမႈ ေတြကို ရင္ဆိုင္ဖို႔ အင္အားတရပ္ကိုေတာင္ မွ ျပန္လည္ေမြးျမဴရာေရာက္ပါတယ္။ ျပည္ သူလူထုကလည္း အဲသလို သေဘာထားၿပီး ဒီစိန္ေခၚမႈေတြကို ရင္ဆိုင္ဖို႔ အထူးသျဖင့္ အဖြဲ႔ခ်ဳပ္ဒီမိုကေရစီလိုလားသူမ်ားနဲ႔ တသား တည္း ရင္ဆုိင္ဖို႔ လိုအပ္ပါတယ္” - ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္
Moe Thiha Aung
ေဒၚေအာင္ဆန္းစုၾကည္္နဲ႔ တကြ အနစ္နာခံရတဲ့ သူေတြ အားလုံး က်ေနာ္ တုိ႔ အသည္းႏွလုံးထဲမွာ ထာ၀ရ ရွိေနပါတယ္။
အင္အယ္္ဒီ ေျမေအာက္မသြားပါနဲ႔။
ဦးတင္ဦးတုိ႔ ၊ဦး၀င္းတင္တုိ႔ ေခါင္းေပါင္းစ တလူလူနဲ႔ လႊတ္ေတာ္တက္ေနတာ ျမင္ခ်င္တယ္။
ဦးလြင္တုိ႔ ၊ဦးေအာင္ေရႊတုိ႔လဲ ၀ွီးခ်ဲနဲ႔ လႊတ္ေတာ္ထက္လုိ႔ ရမယ္ဆုိရင္ အေရြးခံပါ။
အေျခခံဥပေဒ ေရးဆြဲတဲ့ ညီလာခံမွာလဲ ၀ွီးခ်ဲနဲ႔ တက္သူရွိခဲ့တာပဲ။
ဒူးေထာက္ တယ္လုိ႔ မယူဆပါ။
Daw Suu
အင္အယ္္ဒီ ေျမေအာက္မသြားပါနဲ႔။
ဦးတင္ဦးတုိ႔ ၊ဦး၀င္းတင္တုိ႔ ေခါင္းေပါင္းစ တလူလူနဲ႔ လႊတ္ေတာ္တက္ေနတာ ျမင္ခ်င္တယ္။
ဦးလြင္တုိ႔ ၊ဦးေအာင္ေရႊတုိ႔လဲ ၀ွီးခ်ဲနဲ႔ လႊတ္ေတာ္ထက္လုိ႔ ရမယ္ဆုိရင္ အေရြးခံပါ။
အေျခခံဥပေဒ ေရးဆြဲတဲ့ ညီလာခံမွာလဲ ၀ွီးခ်ဲနဲ႔ တက္သူရွိခဲ့တာပဲ။
ဒူးေထာက္ တယ္လုိ႔ မယူဆပါ။
Daw Suu
Monday, March 22, 2010
Statement on Burmese Regime’s 2010 Election Laws
March 27, 2010
Today marks the 63rd anniversary of Burma’s Armed Forces Day which is known as the Fascist Revolutionary Day: the day the people of Burma united under General Aung San to fight against the fascist Japanese army; which ended the Japanese occupation of the country.
August 1988: millions of people marched and demanded the restoration of democracy in Burma and an end of the military dictatorship since 1962. However, the fascist Burmese military brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators and killed over 3000 people, including monks and students.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burma’s independence leader General Aung San, emerged as the leader of the democracy movement and her organization, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the national election held in 1990. But the military dictators ignored the people's wishes and refused to transfer power to Burma’s democratically elected leaders.
March 2010: the military authorities in Burma, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), announced unjust new electoral laws in preparation for the elections planned for this year.
We are deeply concerned that the SPDC’s electoral laws which, contrary to the wishes of the people of Burma and the international community, exclude Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation, fail to convene an all inclusive, credible election which would create a democratic Burma.
The SPDC’s election law may also prohibit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being members in political parties. This is clearly another step in the wrong direction taken by the military authorities. The political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures that the upcoming elections will be devoid of credibility.
On this remarkable day we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:
1) that the Burmese military regime release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders.
2) that the Burmese military stop attacking the ethnic communities in Burma.
3) that the State Peace and Development Council immediately overturn the shameful electoral laws that bars the political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from participating in the political process.
4) that Senior General Than Shwe and the Burmese military authorities engage in an inclusive political process; a tripartite dialogue leading to a national reconciliation; and fair, transparent and credible elections in which all citizens of Burma / Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate.
5) that the State Peace and Development Council start a process to amend the 2008 constitution to ensure a genuine all inclusive democratic political process in Burma.
We believe that a tripartite dialogue remains the best viable means towards achieving national reconciliation, long-lasting peace and prosperity in Burma.
The Burmese regime, the State Peace and Development Council, has ignored numerous demands from the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General, world leaders, neighbours, and ASEAN that the SPDC release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi; work towards a national reconciliation; and hold an all inclusive, credible election. The international community is increasingly concerned that the SPDC continues to ignore calls to show commitment to political reform towards a national reconciliation.
Therefore, we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:
1. that Canada, the international community and other relevant partners, should absolutely make it clear ahead of time of what is expected of the military regime with regards to its planned elections, and be prepared to denounce any results short of international expectations or failure to meet international standards of all inclusive, credible, free and fair elections.
2. that Canada to take a strong stance in making it clear to the military junta that Canada is ready to support the United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Crime against Humanity in Burma should the Burmese generals fail to live up to the expectations of Canada and the international community.
3. that Canada to support a global arms embargo against Burma, as there have been clearly demonstrated connections to the supplies of arms and the repression of the people of Burma at the hands of the military junta
Signed
International Burmese Monks Organization (Canada)
National League for Democracy (LA) Canada Branch
Burmese Students Democratic Organization
Canadian Campaign for Free Burma
Burmese Muslim Association (Canada)
Free Burma Federation
United Democratic Youth League (Canada Branch)
Contact Persons: 2010 Election
.
March 27, 2010
Today marks the 63rd anniversary of Burma’s Armed Forces Day which is known as the Fascist Revolutionary Day: the day the people of Burma united under General Aung San to fight against the fascist Japanese army; which ended the Japanese occupation of the country.
August 1988: millions of people marched and demanded the restoration of democracy in Burma and an end of the military dictatorship since 1962. However, the fascist Burmese military brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators and killed over 3000 people, including monks and students.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burma’s independence leader General Aung San, emerged as the leader of the democracy movement and her organization, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the national election held in 1990. But the military dictators ignored the people's wishes and refused to transfer power to Burma’s democratically elected leaders.
March 2010: the military authorities in Burma, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), announced unjust new electoral laws in preparation for the elections planned for this year.
We are deeply concerned that the SPDC’s electoral laws which, contrary to the wishes of the people of Burma and the international community, exclude Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation, fail to convene an all inclusive, credible election which would create a democratic Burma.
The SPDC’s election law may also prohibit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being members in political parties. This is clearly another step in the wrong direction taken by the military authorities. The political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures that the upcoming elections will be devoid of credibility.
On this remarkable day we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:
1) that the Burmese military regime release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders.
2) that the Burmese military stop attacking the ethnic communities in Burma.
3) that the State Peace and Development Council immediately overturn the shameful electoral laws that bars the political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from participating in the political process.
4) that Senior General Than Shwe and the Burmese military authorities engage in an inclusive political process; a tripartite dialogue leading to a national reconciliation; and fair, transparent and credible elections in which all citizens of Burma / Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate.
5) that the State Peace and Development Council start a process to amend the 2008 constitution to ensure a genuine all inclusive democratic political process in Burma.
We believe that a tripartite dialogue remains the best viable means towards achieving national reconciliation, long-lasting peace and prosperity in Burma.
The Burmese regime, the State Peace and Development Council, has ignored numerous demands from the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General, world leaders, neighbours, and ASEAN that the SPDC release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi; work towards a national reconciliation; and hold an all inclusive, credible election. The international community is increasingly concerned that the SPDC continues to ignore calls to show commitment to political reform towards a national reconciliation.
Therefore, we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:
1. that Canada, the international community and other relevant partners, should absolutely make it clear ahead of time of what is expected of the military regime with regards to its planned elections, and be prepared to denounce any results short of international expectations or failure to meet international standards of all inclusive, credible, free and fair elections.
2. that Canada to take a strong stance in making it clear to the military junta that Canada is ready to support the United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Crime against Humanity in Burma should the Burmese generals fail to live up to the expectations of Canada and the international community.
3. that Canada to support a global arms embargo against Burma, as there have been clearly demonstrated connections to the supplies of arms and the repression of the people of Burma at the hands of the military junta
Signed
International Burmese Monks Organization (Canada)
National League for Democracy (LA) Canada Branch
Burmese Students Democratic Organization
Canadian Campaign for Free Burma
Burmese Muslim Association (Canada)
Free Burma Federation
United Democratic Youth League (Canada Branch)
Contact Persons: 2010 Election
.
Protest against Burmese Junta’s Sham Electoral Laws
Call for Action
Please join us for the Protest against Burmese Military Regime’s ‘Sham’ Electoral Laws.
Where: Burmese (Myanmar) Embassy
85 Range Road, Ottawa K1N 8J6
Time: Noon
Date: Saturday, March 27 2010.
The military junta’s 2010 new election laws in Burma exclude 1990 Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation. The law also prohibits Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being a member in political parties.
We will stage a protest against the regime’s electoral laws and ask the junta to overturn the unjust laws.
Election must be inclusive, free and fair!
For those who are joining us from the Toronto area, we are arranging the transportation leaving from the Burmese Python Soccer Club, 430 St. Clarens Ave, Toronto (Lansdowne & Bloor West) at 5:30 am on Saturday, March 27. We request you to be there on time.
For transportation registering, and information, please contact:
Ko Kyaw Si Thu 416 230 0901 (drivingforburma@gmail.com), Ko Aung Tin (Little Burma) 647 343 7871, Ko Tony (Soccer Club) 416 533 1906.
Burmese Democratic Forces, Canada
Call for Action
Please join us for the Protest against Burmese Military Regime’s ‘Sham’ Electoral Laws.
Where: Burmese (Myanmar) Embassy
85 Range Road, Ottawa K1N 8J6
Time: Noon
Date: Saturday, March 27 2010.
The military junta’s 2010 new election laws in Burma exclude 1990 Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation. The law also prohibits Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being a member in political parties.
We will stage a protest against the regime’s electoral laws and ask the junta to overturn the unjust laws.
Election must be inclusive, free and fair!
For those who are joining us from the Toronto area, we are arranging the transportation leaving from the Burmese Python Soccer Club, 430 St. Clarens Ave, Toronto (Lansdowne & Bloor West) at 5:30 am on Saturday, March 27. We request you to be there on time.
For transportation registering, and information, please contact:
Ko Kyaw Si Thu 416 230 0901 (drivingforburma@gmail.com), Ko Aung Tin (Little Burma) 647 343 7871, Ko Tony (Soccer Club) 416 533 1906.
Burmese Democratic Forces, Canada
"Myanmar/Burma – Domestic Developments and International Responses."
Harn Yawnghwe, executive director of Brussels-based Euro-Burma Office, said there was nothing much the outsiders could do - Asean and China strictly hold on to the non-interference principle while the US seemed to be obsessed with Afghanistan, Iran and other concerns. But it did not mean that these countries were not involved.
“Asean will eventually accept the election, no matter what the results will be, hopefully not blatantly,” said Mr Harn, of Shan ethnic, at Chulalongkorn University’s public forum Monday on "Myanmar/Burma – Domestic Developments and International Responses."
Mr Harn argued that there was no ideal situation available, “Sixty years of armed struggle could not overthrow the junta either, so we have to make most use of the opportunity.”
But Western diplomats still encouraged Burma’s neighbours, particularly Thailand, Asean, China, and India to “do something”.
Canadian ambassador Ron Hoffmann said international community’s strategies regarding Burma have remained divided, yet Burma issue was still part of the G 8 political security concern.
Canada, where the majority of the 5,000 refugee population is from Burma, is now the president of the Group of heavyweight countries (G8).
Mr Hoffmann conceded that while sanctions would still continue, the international community needed to recognise there were wide views on the ground.
“Canada’s civil society against the regime is quite strong but we are still hesitant to close the space completely,” the Canadian ambassador to Thailand said. The election might not be free and fair but there’s a painful decision to make by the people there — whether to endorse the poll or risk the status quo.
Despite the disunity in the approach to Burma, the ambassador said, there should be common space or issue. All the neighbouring countries including Thailand, Asean, China, and India should communicate with the Burmese government and greater dialogue needed to be forged and a commitment on human rights and free and fair elections was a necessity.
“Asean and China have a non-interference policy but it is time they made a tough decision. Asean, in particular, has been in real dilemma but it is increasingly emerged as a grouping with its own human rights mechanism, therefore they have a legitimate role to play on Burma,” said Mr Hoffmann.
While he urged Burma’s neighbours to “do something”, he felt the G8 and Canada needed to be agile and evaluating —“a policy stance that is changeable to the situation”.
George Kent, the US embassy political counselor, said Washington's stance has been similar to other regional players here who would like to see a dialogue between key stakeholders including opposition and ethnic groups, but since last November's visit by US senior officials to the country, there did not seem to be any positive signals.
“The election laws show unwillingness toward that ends. It’s also disappointing to see the election commission was handpicked by the regime,” said Mr Kent.
Like other Western diplomats, Mr Kent observed that Asean after expressing blunt concerns on Burma’s development at the Asean meetings in Phuket, had become silent.
Its earlier hope— a tripartite core group, a coordinating mechanism on Post-Nargis Humanitarian Assistance, which was regarded as Asean window of opportunity to work with the military regime, has been wrapped up. So the Asean hope was also dashed, said the American diplomat.
Yet, he urged Thailand, Asean and all other players in the region that it was now more critical in expressing and sharing concerns privately and publicly with Burma that there must be some positive change and inclusive process within the country.
“Asean will eventually accept the election, no matter what the results will be, hopefully not blatantly,” said Mr Harn, of Shan ethnic, at Chulalongkorn University’s public forum Monday on "Myanmar/Burma – Domestic Developments and International Responses."
Mr Harn argued that there was no ideal situation available, “Sixty years of armed struggle could not overthrow the junta either, so we have to make most use of the opportunity.”
But Western diplomats still encouraged Burma’s neighbours, particularly Thailand, Asean, China, and India to “do something”.
Canadian ambassador Ron Hoffmann said international community’s strategies regarding Burma have remained divided, yet Burma issue was still part of the G 8 political security concern.
Canada, where the majority of the 5,000 refugee population is from Burma, is now the president of the Group of heavyweight countries (G8).
Mr Hoffmann conceded that while sanctions would still continue, the international community needed to recognise there were wide views on the ground.
“Canada’s civil society against the regime is quite strong but we are still hesitant to close the space completely,” the Canadian ambassador to Thailand said. The election might not be free and fair but there’s a painful decision to make by the people there — whether to endorse the poll or risk the status quo.
Despite the disunity in the approach to Burma, the ambassador said, there should be common space or issue. All the neighbouring countries including Thailand, Asean, China, and India should communicate with the Burmese government and greater dialogue needed to be forged and a commitment on human rights and free and fair elections was a necessity.
“Asean and China have a non-interference policy but it is time they made a tough decision. Asean, in particular, has been in real dilemma but it is increasingly emerged as a grouping with its own human rights mechanism, therefore they have a legitimate role to play on Burma,” said Mr Hoffmann.
While he urged Burma’s neighbours to “do something”, he felt the G8 and Canada needed to be agile and evaluating —“a policy stance that is changeable to the situation”.
George Kent, the US embassy political counselor, said Washington's stance has been similar to other regional players here who would like to see a dialogue between key stakeholders including opposition and ethnic groups, but since last November's visit by US senior officials to the country, there did not seem to be any positive signals.
“The election laws show unwillingness toward that ends. It’s also disappointing to see the election commission was handpicked by the regime,” said Mr Kent.
Like other Western diplomats, Mr Kent observed that Asean after expressing blunt concerns on Burma’s development at the Asean meetings in Phuket, had become silent.
Its earlier hope— a tripartite core group, a coordinating mechanism on Post-Nargis Humanitarian Assistance, which was regarded as Asean window of opportunity to work with the military regime, has been wrapped up. So the Asean hope was also dashed, said the American diplomat.
Yet, he urged Thailand, Asean and all other players in the region that it was now more critical in expressing and sharing concerns privately and publicly with Burma that there must be some positive change and inclusive process within the country.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Parliamentary Friends of Burma's Canada Letter to Gen Than Shwe
March 15, 2010
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council
Nay Pyi Taw
Myanmar
U Nyan Win
Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Union of Myanmar
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
Sandringham Bldg
85 Range Rd, SUITE 902-903
Ottawa, ON
KIN 8J6
KIN 8J6
Dear Senior General Than Shwe,
The Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) has noticed the announcement by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of new electoral laws in preparation for the planned elections this year.
We are very disappointed with the electoral laws, which exclude Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation. The law may also prohibit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being a member in political parties. This is clearly another step in the wrong direction taken by the SPDC. It leads us to believe that the political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process, and ensures that the upcoming elections will be devoid of credibility.
PFOB is increasingly concerned that the SPDC continues to ignore calls by Canada and the international community, including members of ASEAN, to show concrete commitments to political reforms. We reiterate our call for SPDC to engage an inclusive political process leading to fair, transparent, and credible elections in which all citizens of Burma / Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate. We believe that a tripartite dialogue remains the best viable means towards achieving national reconciliation, long-lasting peace, and prosperity in Burma.
The Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) calls on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to overturn the law that bars political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from participating in the political process. PFOB also calls on the authorities in Naypyidaw, Burma (Myanmar) to amend the 2008 constitution to ensure a genuine, all inclusive, democratic, political process in Burma.
Sincerely,
Hon. Larry Bagnell M.P.
Chair Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB)
md
Thursday, March 18, 2010
We will opposed to it !
It is pleased to see most our comrades and monks in Canada are united hands in hands fighting forces against SPDC military government in Burma.
I believe that it is time to post you ( Indivisual) and your party organization policy about 2010 election.
Yes; we all opposed to it. It is not just simply enough.
We have to tell detail to our people inside Burma whether to go to vote , or strike.
If you are in a Party organization , your responsibility is a big time.
BUT DON'T FORGET, OUR DRIVING FORCE IS INSIDE BURMA. NOT FROM OVERSEA.
Talk to NLD. form the united frond. Not new Party. Oppose all propose politics.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
‘We’ve fallen for the generals’ tricks’
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
‘We’ve fallen for the generals’ tricks’
Than Shwe has snubbed new US policy to Burma (Reuters)
By ZOYA PHAN
Published: 17 March 2010
So far, March has been a bad month for those countries and so-called Burma experts who advocate for a softer line with Burma’s generals. First were the admissions by the US that its engagement policy was going nowhere; then came the publication of election laws in Burma that don’t give the slightest concession to calls that elections this year be free and fair; and finally the recommendations by the UN special rapporteur on Burma that there be a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship. The true nature of Than Shwe and the general’s around him has been revealed again.
The argument over what the international community should do about the situation in our country has grown in recent years. What has surprised me is how badly informed that debate has been, and how willing some people and countries are to turn a blind eye to the reality of what is going in my country. Some people are even worse, playing down the human rights abuses and trying to put a positive spin on the actions of the generals.
What governments and the UN have consistently failed to do is to look at the true nature of the people ruling Burma. Only when you understand them and what they do can you work out how to deal with them.
As a Karen woman growing up in eastern Burma I know this true nature first-hand. I have seen the bodies of villagers and farmers, met the women who have been raped and the orphans whose parents were killed. Like thousands of others I have had to flee for my life as mortar bombs exploded in my village, fired at civilians without warning. Now, finally, the UN’s own Burma expert has described these as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The international community, especially the UN, prefers to ignore what is happening to ethnic people in eastern Burma. Instead they focus on Rangoon and Naypyidaw, and on topics like who gets to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, or can someone repair the roof of her house; but what political significance does that have? When decisions on what to do about the crisis in Burma descend to such ridiculous things, I sometimes feel despair.
And even when the abuses happen right in front of them, how short their memories are. The massacre of thousands in 1988, the crushing of student protests in the mid-1990s, and the firing on monks in 2007, all seem forgotten. The generals defy the UN, draft a constitution that legalises dictatorship, and still the UN and others tell us to wait and see: perhaps they’ll change their mind so let’s wait for election laws, they say.
Now the election laws have been published and of course they are not fair. Did they forget that these are the generals who refused to accept the results of elections in 1990? Have the generals given any indication that they are genuinely interested in reform of the welfare of the people? None at all. It is less than two years since they were prepared to let thousands die in the delta after cyclone Nargis, rather than accept international aid. It is only three weeks since they fired a mortar bomb at a school in Karen state, killing one child and injuring two more.
They still have more than 2,100 political prisoners in jail, and arrest more daily. How clear do the generals have to make it before the international community understands that they are not interested in reform? The nature of these generals is to stay in power. They were brought up under the Tatmadaw [Burmese army] slogan: One Blood, One Voice, One Command. They gained their rank fighting ethnic people, and using the Four Cuts policy where civilians are deliberately targeted, where babies were put in rice pounders and crushed to death, and where women and children were raped as part of official government policy. Even girls as young as five have been raped.
When diplomats and so-called experts sit down with those generals in Rangoon and Naypyidaw and think that somehow they will be the one who will negotiate a breakthrough, remember the true nature of the people you are dealing with. Don’t be fooled by the smiles and plush buildings. The generals you shake hands with are brutal killers. Even the UN’s own expert says responsibility for the abuses in Burma go right to the top. They are not diplomats or politicians, they are soldiers. The generals will never, ever, negotiate themselves out of power unless they are forced to do so.
They are, however, good at playing games with an international community that seems desperate to believe their lies. So within the next few days or weeks we can expect some new so-called concessions from the generals, perhaps letting opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party leaders meet Aung San Suu Kyi, or the release of a high profile political prisoner. Once again we will see governments and others attach imaginary significance to this, still ignoring the true nature of the people they are dealing with.
Zoya Phan is international coordinator at Burma Campaign UK. Her autobiography, ‘Undaunted’, will be published in hardback in the US in May, and published as ‘Little Daughter’ in paperback in the UK in May.
‘We’ve fallen for the generals’ tricks’
Than Shwe has snubbed new US policy to Burma (Reuters)
By ZOYA PHAN
Published: 17 March 2010
So far, March has been a bad month for those countries and so-called Burma experts who advocate for a softer line with Burma’s generals. First were the admissions by the US that its engagement policy was going nowhere; then came the publication of election laws in Burma that don’t give the slightest concession to calls that elections this year be free and fair; and finally the recommendations by the UN special rapporteur on Burma that there be a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship. The true nature of Than Shwe and the general’s around him has been revealed again.
The argument over what the international community should do about the situation in our country has grown in recent years. What has surprised me is how badly informed that debate has been, and how willing some people and countries are to turn a blind eye to the reality of what is going in my country. Some people are even worse, playing down the human rights abuses and trying to put a positive spin on the actions of the generals.
What governments and the UN have consistently failed to do is to look at the true nature of the people ruling Burma. Only when you understand them and what they do can you work out how to deal with them.
As a Karen woman growing up in eastern Burma I know this true nature first-hand. I have seen the bodies of villagers and farmers, met the women who have been raped and the orphans whose parents were killed. Like thousands of others I have had to flee for my life as mortar bombs exploded in my village, fired at civilians without warning. Now, finally, the UN’s own Burma expert has described these as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The international community, especially the UN, prefers to ignore what is happening to ethnic people in eastern Burma. Instead they focus on Rangoon and Naypyidaw, and on topics like who gets to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, or can someone repair the roof of her house; but what political significance does that have? When decisions on what to do about the crisis in Burma descend to such ridiculous things, I sometimes feel despair.
And even when the abuses happen right in front of them, how short their memories are. The massacre of thousands in 1988, the crushing of student protests in the mid-1990s, and the firing on monks in 2007, all seem forgotten. The generals defy the UN, draft a constitution that legalises dictatorship, and still the UN and others tell us to wait and see: perhaps they’ll change their mind so let’s wait for election laws, they say.
Now the election laws have been published and of course they are not fair. Did they forget that these are the generals who refused to accept the results of elections in 1990? Have the generals given any indication that they are genuinely interested in reform of the welfare of the people? None at all. It is less than two years since they were prepared to let thousands die in the delta after cyclone Nargis, rather than accept international aid. It is only three weeks since they fired a mortar bomb at a school in Karen state, killing one child and injuring two more.
They still have more than 2,100 political prisoners in jail, and arrest more daily. How clear do the generals have to make it before the international community understands that they are not interested in reform? The nature of these generals is to stay in power. They were brought up under the Tatmadaw [Burmese army] slogan: One Blood, One Voice, One Command. They gained their rank fighting ethnic people, and using the Four Cuts policy where civilians are deliberately targeted, where babies were put in rice pounders and crushed to death, and where women and children were raped as part of official government policy. Even girls as young as five have been raped.
When diplomats and so-called experts sit down with those generals in Rangoon and Naypyidaw and think that somehow they will be the one who will negotiate a breakthrough, remember the true nature of the people you are dealing with. Don’t be fooled by the smiles and plush buildings. The generals you shake hands with are brutal killers. Even the UN’s own expert says responsibility for the abuses in Burma go right to the top. They are not diplomats or politicians, they are soldiers. The generals will never, ever, negotiate themselves out of power unless they are forced to do so.
They are, however, good at playing games with an international community that seems desperate to believe their lies. So within the next few days or weeks we can expect some new so-called concessions from the generals, perhaps letting opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party leaders meet Aung San Suu Kyi, or the release of a high profile political prisoner. Once again we will see governments and others attach imaginary significance to this, still ignoring the true nature of the people they are dealing with.
Zoya Phan is international coordinator at Burma Campaign UK. Her autobiography, ‘Undaunted’, will be published in hardback in the US in May, and published as ‘Little Daughter’ in paperback in the UK in May.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
"For the Sanitary purpose, No Burmese Allowed" Fort Wayne, Indiana
1) Channel 15 (Video)
2) Indiana News Center (Video)
3)News Seninel (Newspaper)
4) Journal Gazette Article (Newspaper)
5) Ricker's apology video: (Video/YouTube)
6) Indiana News Center
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/87512467.html?corder=regular
7) Journal Gazette
http://www.jg.net/article/20100312/EDIT07/303129972/1021/EDIT
Friday, March 12, 2010
Where is the UN
US won't accept legitimacy of Burma's elections
Washington - The United States will not recognize the outcome of Burma's elections scheduled for later this year because of new laws that ban political prisoners and the country's leading democratic activist from participating, the US State Department said Wednesday.
The military junta that runs Burma, published a law on Wednesday that stated 2,000 imprisoned dissidents cannot participate, effectively sidelining jailed activist Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy.
"We made clear that, given the tenor of the election laws that they've put forward, there's no hope that this election will be credible," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said, adding the laws make the election a "mockery of the democratic process."
The regime has yet to announce a date for the election, the last of which took place 20 years ago before the military junta seized power and began rounding up democratic activists. Suu Kyi has been in prison or under house arrest for years.
The United States has applied sanctions to Burma to keep pressure on the regime for democratic reforms, and the Obama administration had reached out to Myanmar hoping to encourage change. But those efforts do not appear to be working.
"Our engagement with Burma will have to continue until we can make clear that the results thus far are not what we had expected and that they're going to have to do better," Crowley said.//DPA
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Statement on Burma March 11, 2010
Canada Deeply Concerned by Burmese Election Laws
(No. 102 – March 11, 2010 - 6:30 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement expressing Canada’s concern about the new electoral laws promulgated by the Burmese regime:
“Canada is deeply concerned by the new election laws unveiled by the Burmese regime this week. While Canada continues to study the new laws carefully as they are promulgated, what we have seen to date suggests that the Burmese regime is resolutely failing to deliver on its promise of free and fair elections this year.
“Notably, elements of the laws point to a deliberate effort by Burmese military leaders to prevent legitimate democratic actors from participating in the promised elections. Reports suggest that the new laws may bar Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners from the democratic process by virtue of their current prison sentences, which Canada believes are unwarranted and politically motivated.
“Canada urges the Burmese regime to move forward with electoral laws that support a genuine democratic process, based on principles of transparency, fairness and inclusion.
“Canada again calls upon the regime to free all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and to engage in a genuine dialogue with members of the democratic opposition and different ethnic groups in Burma.
“Canada has imposed the toughest sanctions of any country against the Burmese regime to protest its treatment of the Burmese people, and will continue to engage with all stakeholders working toward a democratic Burma.”
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Ban Writes Junta Leader over Lack of Reconciliation and News about Burma Forum Canada
Ban Writes Junta Leader over Lack of Reconciliation
| By LALIT K. JHA | Tuesday, March 9, 2010 |
WASHINGTON — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has written a letter to Burmese Snr-Gen Than Shwe expressing concern over the lack of progress in restoration of democracy in Burma and emphasizing the need for a credible and transparent election later this year.
“I have sent, about ten days ago, a letter to Snr-Gen Than Shwe, first of all expressing my concern about the lack of progress and also emphasizing the importance of the election which will held this year to be in a most credible, inclusive and transparent manner,” Ban told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
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Ban said he had noted recent news report in the official Burmese media of the enactment of election laws.
“That is what I had been urging the Myanmar [Burma] authorities to do as soon as possible. First of all, I have been following up on that, and I will continue to follow this matter,” he said.
He also called for the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, the popular Burmese democracy leader, which he said is essential for a successful election.
Most importantly, all political prisoners should be released as soon as possible, he said, so that all of them can take part in elections.
“That would make the elections inclusive and credible,” Ban said.
“I repeatedly emphasized that, without the participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive,” Ban said.
He said he is still looking for a replacement for Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy on Burma who has been moved to a new position on Darfur. Ban's chief de cabinet, Vijay Nambiar, is temporarily handling Burma affairs, Ban said.
Meanwhile, more than 50 Burmese organizations have expressed concern over the lack of national reconciliation and the credibility of the upcoming election.
“The 2010 election is not a solution and will not bring democracy to Burma,” according to a declaration issued by the Third Burma Forum Canada.
More than 50 organizations including ethnic nationalities recently met in Canada, including representatives of the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma, the Burmese government in exile; Ethnic Nationalities Council and Euro-Burma Office.
The declaration said that deteriorating political and human rights conditions in Burma are not favorable to hold a multi-party election.
“This is the time to work to resolve existing problems through a proper consultation with all the stake-holders in the nation,” it said.
“If the regime forcibly continues to go ahead without having a meaningful and inclusive dialogue with democratic and ethnic leaders inside the country, the election will not be internationally acceptable and credible,” the declaration said. “All Burmese citizens must be able to freely participate in the political process so that the elections can be considered credible, free and fair.”
Meanwhile, the Canadian government announced its continued support for Burmese refugees and displaced persons living in Burma's border areas by renewing funding of $15.9 million over five years.
Canada's support builds on significant funding over the past five years, in which health initiatives have treated nearly one million cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, severe malnutrition, provided food aid to approximately 145,000 refugees, and health care services to about 500,000 refugees, according to the government.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Canada Renews funding amounts to $15.9 million for Burmese Refugees and Displaced People
March 6, 2010
Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) ― On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, today announced the Government of Canada will continue support for Burmese refugees and displaced persons living in Burma's border areas.
"Canada's renewed support builds on the significant results being achieved in Burma's border areas. Over the past five years, CIDA-funded health care initiatives have treated nearly one million cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and severe malnutrition, provided food aid to approximately 145,000 refugees, and health care services to approximately 500,000 refugees," said Minister Oda. "These results, along with support for community-based organizations working on human rights and environmental issues, demonstrate how Canada's assistance is helping those in need."
"Canada, through this support, is focusing on meeting the needs of people in the border areas," said Ms. Block. "This funding will contribute to building capacity within the Burmese population, while ensuring that basic services, such as health care and food are provided to both refugees and surrounding communities."
The renewed funding amounts to $15.9 million over five years, and builds on CIDA's $12.4 million contribution for assistance in the region provided over the previous five years. CIDA is continuing to provide assistance in the region through Inter Pares Canada, a Canadian humanitarian organization, which supports numerous organizations, including the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium and the Mae Tao Clinic.
Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) ― On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, today announced the Government of Canada will continue support for Burmese refugees and displaced persons living in Burma's border areas.
"Canada's renewed support builds on the significant results being achieved in Burma's border areas. Over the past five years, CIDA-funded health care initiatives have treated nearly one million cases of malaria, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and severe malnutrition, provided food aid to approximately 145,000 refugees, and health care services to approximately 500,000 refugees," said Minister Oda. "These results, along with support for community-based organizations working on human rights and environmental issues, demonstrate how Canada's assistance is helping those in need."
"Canada, through this support, is focusing on meeting the needs of people in the border areas," said Ms. Block. "This funding will contribute to building capacity within the Burmese population, while ensuring that basic services, such as health care and food are provided to both refugees and surrounding communities."
The renewed funding amounts to $15.9 million over five years, and builds on CIDA's $12.4 million contribution for assistance in the region provided over the previous five years. CIDA is continuing to provide assistance in the region through Inter Pares Canada, a Canadian humanitarian organization, which supports numerous organizations, including the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium and the Mae Tao Clinic.
- 30 -
Information:
Jessica Fletcher
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Saturday, March 6, 2010
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WILL ANNOUNCE RENEWED ASSISTANCE FOR BURMESE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
Media Advisory
March 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WILL ANNOUNCE RENEWED ASSISTANCE FOR BURMESE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) – Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, will meet with representatives from Canadian-Burmese communities at the 3rd Burma Forum Canada and make an announcement on international assistance to support Burmese refugees and displaced persons.
Date: March 6, 2010
Time: 10:00am (CST)
Location: Royal Conference Room
Sandman Hotel
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 30 -
Information:
Jessica Fletcher
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Jessica Fletcher
Press Secretary / Attachée de presse
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation |
Cabinet de la ministre de la Coopération internationale
Tel: (819) 953-6238 | Fax: (819) 997-6918
Email: jessica.fletcher@acdi-cida.gc.
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, QC K1A 0G4
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