December 8, 2010
STATEMENT FROM THE CANADIAN CAMPAIGN FOR FREE BURMA (CC4FB)
THE SITUATION IN BURMA
On November 13, 2010, Burma’s heroine of democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate, was released from house arrest. She endured with great dignity more than 15 of the past 21 years in prison or under house arrest. While the world was caught up in celebrating this wonderful event, on this Human Rights Day, 2010 we have to remind the world that Burma is still very much a prison.
The struggle continues and the next chapter will be crucial. The military’s rigged election one month ago guarantees this repressive regime has no intention of relinquishing power.
On her release, thousands of people gathered on University Avenue in Rangoon. The enthusiasm of the crowds was palpable. For the first time in years, Suu Kyi was permitted to do media interviews and meet officials from other countries. Ron Hoffmann, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand and also Ambassador designated to Burma, was unable to get a visa from the Burmese government. He was fortunate in being able to speak to her by phone. On November 16, 2010 we heard Daw Suu interviewed by Anna Maria Tremonti of CBC’s The Current.
Suu Kyi had to endure the personal agony of her husband not being allowed to visit her while he was dying of cancer because the regime refused him a visa. Finally, after ten years of being refused, her youngest son Kim Aris was granted a visa by the military government of Burma. The dramatic and touching reunion at the Rangoon airport on November 23rd was unforgettable. The whole world watched as mother and son embraced and Kim proudly showed her the tattoo of the Fighting Peacock on his arm. The Fighting Peacock is the emblem of the National League for Democracy.
Notwithstanding this moment of joy, now it is NOT a time to celebrate and it is NOT a time for the world to assume things are improving in Burma. Yes, Daw Suu is free and her son has been allowed a visit, but nothing else has changed. There are still 2200 political prisoners in jail, many serving sentences as long as 65 years for peaceful activities in support of democracy in Burma.
On November 7, 2010 the military dictators in Burma held a sham election. The United Nations and almost every Western country regard this election as a total sham. It was conducted on the basis of a Constitution that the military claimed had been approved by the people of Burma, a Constitution which guarantees 25% of the seats in Parliament for the Tatmadaw (the military). The Constitution vote was held while the people of Burma struggled in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, the worst natural disaster in their recorded history. An estimated 138,000 people died while a paranoid regime turned away shiploads of international aid.
A month after Daw Suu’s release, the news coming from Burma has diminished. The so-called democratically elected government, will, in coming days, announce their plans. History tells us they will continue to crush the will of the people of Burma and ignore their basic human rights. They will continue to deny them peace, freedom and democracy.
Vijay Nambiar, the Chief of Staff to the UN Secretary-General, who is also his temporary Special Adviser on Burma, visited Burma on November 27 and 28. Mr. Nambiar briefed the Security Council on December 6, 2010. After the briefing the Secretary General said “that the next two months will be a crucial period that could potentially determine the future course of Myanmar’s political development and its place in the international community.”
In our view, the Secretary General of the United Nations should appoint a new special envoy on Burma who should be instructed to focus specifically on applying the pressure to the ASEAN countries and on India and China. It is unlikely that China will do anything that might interfere with its access to oil and gas and to a seaport on the Burmese coast. It may, however, be possible to persuade the government of Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh to change its policies and help in the struggle for democracy in Burma, given that country’s efforts to improve its relations with the United States.
Now is the time for the United Nations, the Western democracies and Japan to INCREASE their work in support of democracy in Burma. The government of Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper, has led the world in calling for meaningful reform in Burma. We congratulate him. Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon has called for the release of all political prisoners.
We encourage them to continue to lead the world by example. We all remember the courageous steps Prime Minister Mulroney took in leading the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. In granting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi honorary Canadian citizenship the present Conservative government set another such an example. There is no more important time than now for Prime Minister Harper and his government to demonstrate continued support for the people of Burma by taking a strong advocacy role in the struggle for democracy in Burma. Canada must lead the way so that peace justice and freedom may soon prevail over the dark shadows of the present regime ruling that country.
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: DECEMBER 10, 2010
There are 2200 political prisoners in Burma. Two of those political prisoners have been awarded the John Humphrey Freedom Award, Min Ko Naing in 1999 and Su Su Nway in 2006.
The Canadian government has called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. Please remember Su Su Nway and Min Ko Naing on Human Rights Day.
Contact information
Zaw Kyaw zaw.w.kyaw@gmail.com 416 358 2318
Paul Copeland paulcope9@yahoo.com 416 964 8126 ext 142
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