Canada
Minister Baird Makes Statement on Burma’s By-elections
April 2, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the by-elections in Burma:
“I would like to extend my personal
congratulations to Aung San Suu Kyi for her party’s principled campaign
and strong showing in the by-elections.
“This honorary Canadian citizen continues to
make Canadians and all freedom-loving people around the world extremely
proud of her role in writing a new chapter in Burma’s history.
“I am pleased that early reports indicate voting was conducted without violence or overt intimidation.
“It is exciting to witness the road to
democracy that Burma appears to be taking and I strongly encourage its
officials to continue down this path.
“Canada
is ready and willing to play a leading role in helping to build a
better future for Burma, one that will provide greater respect for
freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law for all.”
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Aung San Suu Kyi elected in Burma
Statement by the Honourable Jim Karygiannis,
Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt
and Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism
On April 1, 2012, voters in Burma went
to the polls in by-elections to fill forty-five seats in Parliament
following the November 2010 election that formally ended military rule.
For the first time, Aung San Suu Kyi, Leader of the National League for
Democracy, was elected to the Parliament of Burma. The Party was
contesting its first election since 1990, after boycotting the 2010
vote.
The
National League for Democracy had pressed for political reforms in the
country for many years. Since the 2010 election, the government has
engaged Aung San Suu Kyi in dialogue about the future of Burma and it has released hundreds of political prisoners.
As
the Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Burma, I want to congratulate
Aung San Suu Kyi on her victory. I have worked with members of the
Canadian Burmese Diaspora on many issues of concern and know that they
watched the election campaign and results with interest.
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