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Press Release:

Burma: Shock but Not Suprise - Statement of Green Party of Canada

Burma: Shock but Not Surprise
May 27th, 2009

OTTAWA -- The Green Party of Canada expresses its shock and outrage with the re-arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese leader and Nobel Peace Laureate.  Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party urges the Government of Canada to use all diplomatic avenues – both bilateral and international – to obtain the immediate release of Aung and other political detainees.

Ms. May stated, “The world recognizes this as another outrageous action of the Burmese dictatorship in Burma and asks that pressure be put on the military regime to release Aung immediately.”

Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested, accused of breaching her house arrest and locked up on May 14, just days before her 13 years of detention was due to expire. She is the greatest threat to the Junta's hold on power. Her moral leadership of the democracy movement and the legacy of her landslide victory in 1990 elections means that she is the only figure who could face down the military in elections. Joe Foster, Human Rights critic noted, “It is well understood by everyone that this is a pretext to keep her detained until after elections which are set for 2010.”

The successive military dominated regimes, including the ruling SPDC, see Burma as an existing unified nation.  As such, Burmese minorities such as the Shan, Kachin, Chin, Mon, Karen and Karenni are seen as groups that must be controlled and suppressed rather than building a country as a federation of states that embraces these differences. Thousands are in jail in inhumane conditions and denied any medical care, there are ongoing abuses of human rights, there is violent repression of ethnic groups, and over a million have been forced into refuge across the border.

Mr. Foster urges Burma to live up to its obligations as a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Charter which emphasizes the promotion of democracy, human rights and its UN obligations. ASEAN has called for the expediting of both its political reform efforts and its release of political detainees.

The Green Party calls on Canada to use its influence with ASEAN leaders and the UN Secretary General to secure Aung’s and all political prisoners' release immediately. It is believed that Aung is seriously ill and needs medical attention which is being denied.

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca

Statement of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
In the House of Common, May 27, 2009

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the final day in the year-long extension of Burmese Nobel Laureate, honourary Canadian citizen and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's five-year prison sentence.

Today should have marked the first day of her renewed freedom. However, Burma's ruling junta has manufactured new charges on the eve of her release. Canada renews its calls upon General Than Shwe to unconditionally release Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese junta's repressive policies have led to untold death and misery and created a refugee crisis in the neighbouring countries.

Canada strongly condemns the Burmese junta on the violation of basic human rights of the Burmese people.