Contacts: Don Stewart 202-224-2979, Robert Steurer 202-224-8288

Republican Leader calls Burmese Junta’s announcement a ‘mockery of the democratic process’

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Friday on the announcement by the Burmese junta that their election will be on November 7, 2010:

“Although the Burmese junta will characterize the charade it announced today as an election–an exercise that only the junta considers meaningful–November 7, 2010 will be just another day in Burma, marked by continued government oppression and hardship for its people.  I urge President Obama to renew his support for Aung San Suu Kyi and pro-democracy forces within Burma and work to ensure that elements of the international community are not tempted to recognize this mockery of the democratic process.”

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) today led a bipartisan group of 30 other senators in urging the Obama Administration to support the creation of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate possible crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. Senator Feinstein is the co-chair of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma.

At a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, reported: “the possibility exists that some of [the regime’s] human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.” Further, he stated: “United Nations institutions may consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact-finding mandate to address the question of international crimes.”

Below is the text of the letter sent by the bipartisan group of 32 senators to Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton:

July 30, 2010

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Madame Secretary:

We write to urge you to support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate whether crimes against humanity and war crimes took place in Burma. While your administration continues along a path of sanctions and pragmatic engagement with Burma, we believe that such a commission will help convince Burma’s military regime that we are serious about our commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law for the people of Burma.

At the 13th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in March, UN Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Situation in Burma, Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana, released his latest report and urged the United Nations “to consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes” in Burma.

The Special Rapporteur argued that: “[g]iven the gross and systematic nature of human rights violations in Myanmar over a period of many years, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights violations are the result of a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military, and judiciary at all levels.” Mr. Quintana further stated that “[a]ccording to consistent reports, the possibility exists that some of these human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

We appreciate the comments made by Douglas Griffiths, US Charge d’Affaires at US Mission to the UN in Geneva, in response to the report that “[t]his recommendation serves to underscore the seriousness of the human rights problems in the country and the pressing need for the international community to find an effective way to address challenges there.”

Indeed, a number of reports have documented a consistent pattern of human rights abuses by the regime in Burma which must be addressed: the use of child soldiers, the destruction of villages and the displacement of ethnic minorities, the use of rape as a weapon of war, extrajudicial killings, forced relocation, and forced labor.

These abuses have been exacerbated by the regime’s intention to hold elections in 2010 based on a constitution which disallows the full participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy, political prisoners, religious clergy and ethnic nationalities.

As President Obama stated in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech: “When there is genocide in Darfur; systematic rape in Congo; or repression in Burma — there must be consequences. And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.” Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom have all stated their support for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry on Burma, and we must stand together with them and the people of Burma.

We appreciate your attention to this request and we look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator
Judd Gregg, United States Senator
Richard Durbin, United States Senator
Jeff Bingaman, United States Senator
Barbara Boxer, United States Senator
Ron Wyden, United States Senator
Mark Udall, United States Senator
Ben Cardin, United States Senator
Jeff Merkley, United States Senator
Frank Lautenberg, United States Senator
Sherrod Brown, United States Senator
Joseph Lieberman, United States Senator
Barbara Mikulski , United States Senator
Sam Brownback, United States Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator
Robert Casey, United States Senator
Michael Bennet, United States Senator
George Voinovich, United States Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator
Charles Schumer, United States Senator
Russ Feingold, United States Senator
Bernard Sanders, United States Senator
Susan Collins, United States Senator
Kay Hagan, United States Senator
Tom Harkin, United States Senator
Richard Burr, United States Senator
Patrick Leahy, United States Senator
Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator
Al Franken, United States Senator
Patty Murray, United States Senator
Roland Burris, United States Senator
Robert Menendez, United States Senator

For Immediate Release, Thursday, July 22, 2010
Contacts: Don Stewart 202-224-2979, Robert Steurer 202-224-8288,
Jonathan Samford 202-224-8285

‘The United States must deny this regime the legitimacy it so craves and await the day when the Burmese people will be permitted to govern their own affairs.’

Click here to listen to Senator McConnell’s speech on the renewal of economic sanctions on Burma.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding his legislation to renew sanction against the Burmese government:

“Later today, my colleagues and I will vote on H.J. Res. 83, which would extend sanctions on the Burmese regime for another year.  As in years past, I am joined in this effort by my good friend, Senator Dianne Feinstein.  Alongside the two of us are 66 other cosponsors, including Senators McCain, Durbin, Gregg and Lieberman.  This overwhelming bipartisan support for sanctioning the junta reflects the clear view of more than two thirds of the United States Senate that the generals currently ruling Burma should be denied the legitimacy they are pursuing through this year’s sham elections.

“Renewing sanctions against the military regime in Burma is as timely and important as ever.

“The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is continuing its efforts to try to stand up a farcical, new constitution by holding a bogus election.

“These elections—whenever they take place—will be dubious for a number of reasons.  First, the junta continues to imprison Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  The generals have made it clear that they will prevent her from participating in any government under the new constitution.

“Second, the military leadership effectively forced Suu Kyi’s party, which overwhelmingly won the last democratic election in 1990, to shutter its operation.

“Third, the Burmese electoral watchdog, which is essentially an arm of the SPDC, recently issued rules on campaigning that are ludicrous on their very face.  For instance, they prohibit a variety of electioneering activities, such as organizing marches, holding flags and chanting slogans.

“As if things in Burma on the election front were not alarming enough, the potential security threat posed by the regime has become increasingly worrisome.

“The last several months have continued to produce press reports of ties between Burma and North Korea, including particularly alarming indications of alleged weapons transfers from Pyongyang.

“I am hopeful that the time will soon come when sanctions against the Burmese government will no longer be needed.  That like South Africa in the early 1990s the people of Burma will be able to free themselves from their own government.  However, as recent events indicate, the Burmese junta maintains its iron grip on its people and continues to carry out a foreign policy that is inimical to U.S. objectives.

“For these reasons the United States must deny this regime the legitimacy it so craves and await the day when the Burmese people will be permitted to govern their own affairs.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is marking the 65^th birthday of Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi by renewing its call for the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry, to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. CSW is also calling for a universal arms embargo on the regime.

In March, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, recommended a Commission of Inquiry. The recommendation followed his report to the UN Human Rights Council which concluded that the human rights violations perpetrated by the military regime against Burma’s ethnic nationalities may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Australia and Slovakia have expressed support for the initiative. CSW urges other countries to publicly support the idea.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient who will celebrate her birthday on 19 June, has been held under house arrest for almost 15 years. The latest judgment by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is that her ongoing detention is in violation of international law. Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the election in 1990, but the regime rejected the results, imprisoned the victors and intensified its grip on power with a campaign of violence. The NLD is boycotting the regime’s upcoming elections, planned for later this year, following the introduction of new electoral laws.

CSW’s East Asia Team Leader, Benedict Rogers, author of Than Shwe: Unmasking Burma’s Tyrant, said: “CSW calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, an end to military offensives against civilians, and an end to violations of religious freedom. In addition to a commission of inquiry, CSW urges the UN Security Council to introduce a universal arms embargo on the regime. CSW calls on the international community to reject the regime’s sham elections, and to increase pressure on the regime to engage in a meaningful tripartite dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy movement and the ethnic nationalities.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8329 0045 / 078 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

Notes to Editors:

1. New election laws introduced in Burma by the regime this year effectively barred Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners from taking part in the elections, and as a result her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), refused to register as a political party and thus became a banned organization. The law, based on a constitution imposed after a sham referendum in 2008, introduced conditions that left the NLD little alternative but to boycott the elections.

1. The human rights situation in Burma is among the worst in the world. Over 2100 political prisoners remain in jail subjected to torture, denial of medical treatment, and dire living conditions. In eastern Burma, over 3,500 villages have been destroyed and at least half a million people internally displaced. Civilians in Karen, Karenni and Shan states are sometimes killed at point-blank range. Forced labour and rape as a weapon of war are widespread and systematic, and the use of child soldiers and human minesweepers is common. In western and northern Burma, the predominantly Christian Chin and Kachin peoples, and the Muslim Rohingyas, are subjected to severe religious discrimination and persecution. Christians and Muslims in urban areas also face serious restrictions and discrimination. Buddhist monks who led peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in 2007 have been beaten, tortured and sentenced to long prison terms.

1. CSW’s Change For Burma! Campaign, with Partners Relief and Development, is calling for a UN Commission of Inquiry into Burma’s crimes against humanity. Further details can be found on http://www.changeforburma.org

Benedict Rogers has written the first ever biography of Burma’s dictator, Senior General Than Shwe, titled Than Shwe: Unmasking Burma’s Tyrant, and published in 2010 by Silkworm Books. The book will be launched on 1July at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, and on 14 July at the House of Commons in London.

Date: 20^th June 2010

On the 65^th Birth anniversary of the Burmese democratic leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Indian Parliamentarian’s Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB) urged the Group of Friends on Myanmar and UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon to take effective action to secure the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and over 2,000 political prisoners in Burma.

IPFDB sent the letter to the Heads of the states of the UN Secretary General’s “Group of Friends on Myanmar” (Australia, China, European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, UK, US and Vietnam).

The letter strongly urged the group of Friends of Myanmar and UNSG to pressure on military junta of Burma/Myanmar to engage with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi before the elections that will be held in this year and appealed not to endorse and recognize the 2010 election result if the constitution announced in 2008 is not amended, if political prisoners are not released, and if the election procedures are not free, fair, inclusive and transparent.

The letter also recommended the UN to investigate the news on nuclear and missile technology and take strong actions to ensure that these programs are put the supervision of IAEA.

And also appeal to the UN Security Council to pass a binding resolution on Burma/Myanmar in accordance with the united Nations General Assembly resolutions on gross human rights violations in Burma to exercise the Responsibility to protect (R2p) policy against the authorities of Burma/Myanmar and to refer the military leaders to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity they committed on the Burmese peoples for decades.

IPFDB issued this statement on the occasion of Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday program in New Delhi on June 19^th organized by the India based Burmese democracy activists. The program included the songs by the Burmese activists, cake cutting session, short video film on Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese art show and Burmese food.

Indian Parliamentarians, Political party leaders, senior journalists, diplomats, civil society groups and individuals who respect and support Aung San Suu Kyi attended the program and the leaders from the BJP, SP, CPI (M) sent the solidarity message for her and struggle for the restoration of democracy and demand for her immediate release.

For more information: Thin Thin Aung +91-9891252316, Kim +91-8800414483

In solidarity,

India based Burmese democratic activists

–^^–^^–
Office
Burma Centre Delhi (BCD)
New Delhi, India
Email: bcd.information@gmail.com
Visit: www.burmacentredelhi.org (Under Construction)
—–~~——~~~~—-~
Burma Centre Delhi is a non-profit and non-partisan organization formed in August 2008 with Burmese & Indian activists, our “Aim & Objective” is to restore peace, justice, democracy and human rights in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi: a fragile heroine and a great symbol

Prague, 19th June 2010 – On Friday 18^th June 2010 several dozens of supporters of the Burmese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi gathered in the center of Prague to commemorate her birthday and to condemn her house arrest lasting for the past fifteen years. The organizers of the event, People in Need organization, created a graffiti picture of Suu Kyi on a wall in the city center and invited the public to come and leave a birthday message on the wall. Photos and a short video from the event will be sent to Czech, European and Burmese exile media and to the independent civil society organizations as an expression of the Czech support.

Several important public figures came to hold a short speech at the event. „Aung San Suu Kyi is a fragile woman but for me she is an extraordinary heroine, bigger heroine than many of people that are trying to get into people’s memory in today’s world. I wish her all the best on her birthday and with God’s help she will live to see freedom not only for herself but for all the Burmese people“, stated Karel Schwarzenberg, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Currently the only detained Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Suu Kyi is a leading figure of fight for democracy in Burma for already several decades. She won a landslide victory in Burmese elections in 1990 as a leader of a political party National League for Demcoracy (NLD). But the results of these elections were never recognized by the Burmese junta and the members of NLD and the democratic opposition are since then persecuted and even imprisoned.

Member of the Czech Parliament Marek Benda and a member of a Czech Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Burma has shortly mentioned the upcoming elections in Burma. „The elections which are now being prepared in Burma, have so little in common with elections like those held in our country before 1989.“ He also wished to all the people in Burma to become free soon. The legal framework of Burma – new constitution issued by the junta in 2008 and the election laws issued in March 2010 – discriminate the opposition political representatives. For example they do not allow running for the elections of those who are under prosecution or imprisoned which is a tool against Suu Kyi and other imprisoned opposition members. They also do not allow the candidacy of more then 400 000 of Buddhist monks and other members of religious groups.

“What Suu Kyi is doing is a great example and it is a victory of the spirit over the totalitarian power of the regime. I think the Czech Republic is one of the countries which has lived its history, has learnt its lesson and rightly is  among those who are trying to help where it is needed…in those places where democracy has not set its roots yet.“ This was the message of Petr Bratský, former Member of Parliament and member of a Czech Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Burma. Cyril Svoboda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs came to express his congratulations: „Knowing that somewhere in the world there is someone thinking of those who suffer – that is a strong signal of solidarity and it is very important to them.“

A greeting to Suu Kyi was also said by Anna Šabatová, former dissident and chairwoman of the Czech Helsinki Committee. „I admire her for her bravery, patience and persistance… I also admire her as a woman because she has dedicated her personal family life for the struggle for free Burma.“ Ji?í Šitler, director of the Department of Asia and Pacific from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs brought a message from the other side. „About a month ago I met with the Executive Committee of the NLD and through them a message from Suu Kyi to the Czech Republic was passed. She knows what our country is doing for her and she would like to express her gratitude to the Czech public, the civil society and also to the Czech diplomacy.“ The series of speeches was closed by a greeting by youn Burmese activist Aung Htun, member of the NLD who is visiting the Czech Republic. „Thank you for what the Czech Republic is doing for Burma.“

Photos from the event can be found here http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=409&id_gallery=131 or attached.

Similar public gatherings are being held recently in many places around the world such as London, Dublin, New York, Washington, New Delhi, Bangkok, Johannedburg, Makati (Philipines) and others. Even inside Burma small events are organized. An interesting expression of solidarity is a blood donation by young Burmese activists, about 60 of them have donated blood to commemorate Suu Kyi’s birthday.

For more information please contact: Kristina Prunerová, coordinator of Burmese projects, People in need. cell: 420 777 787 917, mail: kristina.prunerova@clovekvtisni.cz