Burma Forum Canada Press Release

Follow-up on Burma related activities in the Canadian Parliament

Press Release
Burma Forum Canada
Dec 5, 2004

In Ottawa, on Dec. 2, 2004, Burmese Prime Minister in exile, Dr. Sein Win, led delegates of Burmese democracy advocates from both Burma and Canada in lobbying Canada's Parliamentary Sub-committee for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights. The goal was for the Sub-committee to adopt a motion to table in Canada's House of Commons, emphasizing the need for Canada to impose a full trade embargo against Burma's continuing illegal dictatorship.

During the Sub-committee hearing Dr. Sein Win explained the political situation in Burma for Canadian MPs from various political parties. While generally supportive, MPs at first could not reach consensus over the wording of the motion, particularly the use of the term "economic embargo." Liberal and Conservative MPs tended to favor softening the phrasing in order to attract the broadest possible support during a House of Commons vote, while New Democratic and Bloc Quebecois MPs insisted on the need for a strongly worded motion to provide unambiguous support for the Burmese Democracy Movement.

The political deadlock was later broken when members of the Sub-committee agreed to adopt Recommendations presented in the Burma Forum Report, an analysis of Canada's foreign policy toward Burma, which was recently published by Burma Forum Canada, a coalition of Burmese-Canadian advocates in exile.

The adopted Recommendations from the report are as follows:
1) Review the effectiveness of the Export and Import Permits Act
2) Review the feasibility of invoking the Special Economic Measure Act
3) Impose a ban on further investment in Burma

If the Motion passes a House of Commons vote, it will be the first of its kind in the history of Canada's Parliament to so strongly oppose Burma's dictatorship; the Canadian Government will then be obligated to implement its Resolution.

At noon on Dec 2, Dr. Sein Win and other delegates also attended a reception on Parliament Hill, hosted by David Kilgour, Chair of the Sub-committee. MPs and Senators, mostly members of the group, `Parliamentary Friends of Burma', also attended along with various Burmese Democracy advocates from Burma and Canada.

Significantly, Dr. Sein Win later received a standing ovation at the House of Commons when he visited to the gallery of the House of Commons. He also gave a brief speech to more than 500 participants including MPs and Ministers. He remarked in his speech "even though I am a Buddhist, I enjoy taking part in this Christmas party." He also encouraged Canadian parliamentarians to visit Burma after democracy has been restored there.

Burma Forum Canada
www.burmaforum.org

For further info: Tin Maung Htoo at phone: (519) 686-4745 or mobile: (519) 860-4745, or Kyaw Moe at phone: (613) 231-5228; mobile: (519) 240-2370

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