Our Campaign Actions in South Australia

The Hon.R.B. SUCH(Fisher):

I move:

"that this House urges the Federal Government to pursue all means at its disposal to help bring about democracy in Burma."

I am pleased to move this motion. I currently chair the parliamentary branch of Amnesty International but, apart from that, I have a strong commitment, as I am sure do my colleagues in this Ceagues in this Chamber, for the cause of democracy wherever it may be under threat. Members can appreciate that where democracy is denied to a group of people then that diminishes us all. Some people say, 'Well, why should we concern ourselves with Burma?'--or Myanmar, as other people call it. The fact is, as with the issue of Cyprus that was raised in this Chamber recently, we do live in a world where we cannot be isolated or insulated from other events.

Whilst we do belong in a Federal system for which the Commonwh the Commonwealth Government has responsibility for international relations overall, that does not deny us the opportunity and the right to raise an issue of concern and promote the cause of justice, I point out that, on behalf of the parliamentary group of Amnesty International, I did write to the Hon. Alexander Downer on this issue. I received a supportive letter in response, and I commend the Minister for that and what he is trying to do.

Burma has a population of 45 million people and a land mass approximately theroximately the same size as South Australia. As members would appreciate, Burma was once a British colony and gained its independence, along with many other countries, in 1948. However, unfortunately, since 1962 the country has been ruled by military dictatorship in one form or another. After the Burmese military government cracked down on a nationwide uprising in 1988, a multiparty general election was held on 27 May 1990.

The National League for Democracy(NLD), Burma's leading political Party, won over 80 per cent, or per cent, or 392 seats out of 485, in that general election. However, the military Government of Burma refused to hand over power to the winning Party, the NLD, and the elected representatives were not allowed to convene Parliament. Throughout the period after the general election of May 1990, the Government has continued to oppress elected members of Parliament, and since that time many of these people have been detained, some have been sent into exile and others have died in prison.

Members may be aware of the name De of the name Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the NLD and the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. She was the co-founder of the NLD in 1988. Suu was detained in 1989 by the Burmese military Government and released in 1995. Although she and other prominent members of the NLD were detained during the election period, their Party(NLD) won a landslide victory in the election of 1990. After many years of military Government oppression and intimidation, only about 300 MPs were active in 1998. Concerned at the lack of progressck of progress towards democratisation in Burma, the 251 MPs at the NLD Party general meeting in May 1998 decided to convene a Parliament before August that year. HOwever, the Burmese Government detained 160 MPs in so-called Government guest houses and arrested more than 1,000 NLD Party members and supporters.

During the general meeting of May 1998 the NLD leadership was given the mandate to act on behalf of the elected representatives. In September of that year the NLD leadership, with the support of four other ethnicr other ethnic political Parties, formed the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP). The CRPP therefore has the support of 251 surviving members of Parliament and is mandated to act on behalf of the Parliament elected in May 1990. Since the formation of the Committee Representing the People's Parliament, the military Government of Burma has renewed its crackdown on the Opposition. Thousands of NLD member supporters, including elected members of Parliament, have been detained.

The military Government stagedernment staged mass rallies across the country to denounce the NLD Party, and to deport Aung San Suu Kyi, to the consternation not only of people within Burma but also clearly of people outside the country. The military authorities summoned ordinary people to come to those public rallies and forced the people to sign statements withdrawing their support for the elected MPs. We know that the Burmese military intelligence also pressured and continue to pressure elected representatives under their detention, and only those who resignose who resign from the NLD or from their position as an MP have been released.

That brief outline puts the issue in context and should remind us all of the importance of democracy, something that too many in our society treat lightly and take for granted. We would regard it as an abomination if we were in that situation. Without labouring the point for too long, I commend this motion to the House and urge members to support it, and would encourage the Federal Government to pursue this matter. I believe it is a biparti it is a bipartisan issue and, as I said at the start, where other people are denied their democratic rights the totality of humanity is diminished. Accordingly, I invite support from members for this motion.

I fully support the motion moved by the member for Fisher. I am pleased to see members of this Chamber taking an interest in international affairs and matters of social justice in other countries. The important thing befant thing before I get onto Burma specifically is to bear in mind that issues of social justice and democracy, which the honourable member raises in relation to Burma, are really some of the problems that we face in our own backyard, albeit very large and in a much more tragic way in Burma as it is in many other countries.

When we talk about human rights being infringed, about freedom of association being crushed and so on, there is legislation of this very Government that purports to go a step down that road. I do not road. I do not mean to belittle the terrible situation under the SLORC dictatorship in Burma, but every time this Government tries to break down the rights of workers here in this country, tries to take away rights of workers' compensation, tries to diminish the rights of unions, it is taking a step towards the kind lifestyle to which people are subjected at the hands of a narrowly confined military Government in Burma.

There is no doubt about the injustice of the situation in Burma. It is one of the most clear-cut casst clear-cut cases of democracy being subverted in the world today. As the member for Fisher rightly pointed out, there was duly held election at which one particular democratic Party won 80 per cent or so of the votes, and that Party was then kicked out and trampled on by the military. The members o that Government, the one who hold the guns and the power in that country, are raping and looting it. It is a good example of power being concentrated too much in the hands of a few. It is absolute power. The way that the Burmese militarurmese military are soaking up the capital both within that country and from other countries is unashamedly greedy and I could even say evil, because in the course of amassing their own personal fortunes they are happy to be involved in perpetuating slavery and torture. It goes as far as that.

I know that the member for Fisher is very involved in Amnesty and he would have plenty of details about those sort of activities in that country. I have seen photographs, for example, of young children being forced to work in hea to work in heavy labour, clearing roads and so on, for industrial and commercial purposes, for projects which are purely going to benefit the members of the military Government. Children in these situations are sometimes forced to live apart from their parents and are given little more than a bowl of rice a day to eat. It is a disgraceful regime. It is an affront to democracy, and it offends our sense of social justice.

In closing, I would like to refer back to some of the comments I made about the situation in Cyprus jun in Cyprus just a short time ago in this place. Cyprus is another example where similar sorts of injustices have been perpetrated over last 20 or 30 years, certainly since the turkish invasion of cyprus in 1974. There are many other trouble spots, and I am very glad that the member for fisher has brought to our attention today the problems in an Asian country. Sometimes I feel that there is an element of hidden racism in the way we think about these international problems.

BURMA ACTION GROUP(SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

The Burma Action Group in South Australia:

1. Express our support to National League for Democracy and its Parliamentary its Parliamentary Committee, the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP);

2. Express our solidarity with all Burma's ethnic minority refugees and all pro-democracy groups;

3. Urge Federal Government of Australia to give measure of recognition to CRPP;

4. Urge United Nations and its organs to help solve problems of Burma's refugees;

5. Express outrage at the Burmese mit the Burmese military junta's inhuman behavior and oppression on the opposition party, NLD;

6. Express concern at junta's leaders direct involvement in production and sales of heroine and Amphetamine-Type-Stimulents to neighbouring countries and to the world;

7. Urge international community and especially Federal Government of Australia to help implement the results of May 1990 General Election;

8. Express our sincExpress our sincere thanks to Australian people for their continuing support to democracy and human rights movements for Burma.

NO: 99/001

UPDATED: AUGUST 11, 1999

OVERVIEW:

The Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) was announced on 1 September 1998 in response to the Burmese military junta's failure to meet a legal demand to convene parliamen convene parliament. The demand was initiated by the National League for Democracy (NLD) following a party congress held on 27 May 1998. While the junta's backlash against the CRPP has been harsh and swift, the CRPP has gained much support from many ethnic nationality groups and from international bodies, including the European Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In calling for parliament to be convened, the NLD acted in accordance with the currently valid 1989 Pyitthu Hluttaw (People's Parliament) Election Lawt) Election Law. Tow hundred fifty-one (or 54.6%) of the elected MPs empowered the NLD to act on their behalf, thus enabling the party to requisition a session of Parliament. This exceeds the legally required number.

The Burmese junta, now calling itself the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), ignored the call for parliament and detained many parliamentarians. It also issued restraning orders against others, effectively preventing them from participating in any centrally organized political activity. These action. These actions led the NLD to establish the CRPP and convene its first meeting on 16 September 1998. The Committee's key role is to function on behalf of Parliament only until Parliament is actually convened.

Despite the severe backlash from the junta, the CRPP enjoy wide support, gaining endorsement from ethnic nationality groups. MPs in exile have shown their support, and the Committee has also received significant backing from international bodies. The SPDC is not pleased with this turn of events, and is now holding s now holding arrested MPs hostage to the CRPP, claiming they will be released if the CRPP is dissolved. In addition, the military regime has begun orchestrating no-confidence motions against pro-democracy MPs.

The backlash is significant for two reasons. It indicates that the junta sees the CRPP as a serious threat because it is a constant reminder of the junta's illegitimacy. The orchestrated no-confidence motions also provide inadvertent recognition by the SPDC that the MPs elected in 1990 were indeed elected as MPs.elected as MPs. The regime has often denied this fact, stating instead that the democratic elections were only to establish a national convention to draft a new constitution.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CRPP:

• In calling for parliament to be convened, the NLD acted in accordance with the currently valid 1989 Pyitthu Hluttaw (People's Parliament) Election Law. The SPDC ignored this call, thus violating the law.
• According to a precedent set by the 1974 Pyitthu Hluttaw Law, the State Council is State Council is required to convene parliament if 34% of the elected representatives call for one.
• The NLD is empowered by 251 parliamentarians, comprising 54.6% of the parliament elected in 1990.
• As the call to convene parliament was ignored, the NLD and cooperating parties formed the Committee Representing the People's Parliament which the stated purpose of functioning on behalf of Parliament only until Parliament is actually convened. It held its first meeting on 16 September 1998.

• Dr. U Saw Mra Aung, the Chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, became the Speaker of the People's Parliament 2/. The selection of an ethnic nationality group representative as Speaker is significant. It shows NLD's commitment to working together with ethnic groups, and it is also a strong indication of support for the CRPP from other parties representing ethnic nationality groups.
• Among the first steps taken by the CRPP was to revoke the proposed amendments to the jundments to the junta's laws which violate basic democratic principles 3/.
• The CRPP worked in close cooperation with several ethnic nationality parties to draft a new parliamentary law. This law stipulates that the State Council must convene parliament if 30% or more of elected representatives call for one.
• The CRPP established Parliamentary Committees as follows:

I. Committee for Ethnic Nationalities Affairs: U Aye Thar Aung (Chairperson), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Secretary)

II.tary)

II. Committee for Finance/Economy/Commerce: U Nyunt Wei (Chairperson)

III. Committee for Legal Affairs: U Tin Oo(Chairperson)

IV. Committee for Education: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Chairperson)

V. Committee for Health and Social Affairs: U Lwin (Chairperson)

VI. Committee for Foreign Affairs: U Aung Shwe (Chairperson)

VII. Committee for Cultivators and Peasants Affairs: U Soe Myint(Chairperson)

VIII. Committee for Workers Affairs: U Than Tun(Chairperson), U Lun Tinn), U Lun Tin(Secretary)

IX. Committee for Parliamentary Affairs: U Hla Pe (Chairperson)

X. Committee for Defence: U Tin Oo (chairperson).


• The CRPP has demanded the release of detained MPs and political prisoners in Burma 4/.
• When a high-ranking official of the SPDC's military intelligence was invited to Japan by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CRPP communicated its disapproval of the invitation to the Japanese government.

• The CRPP began with the endorsement of four non-Burman ethnic parties, three having already signed ceasefire agreements with the junta. These groups are the Shan Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SNPLO), Karenni Nationalities People's Liberation Front (KNPLF), New Mon State Party (NMSP), and Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) 5/.
• Other ethnic organizations known to have expressed support for the CRPP include; the Chin National Front(CNF), Pnal Front(CNF), Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Lahu Democratic Front (LDF), Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma, Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), and the Wa National Organization(WNO). Some of these organizations were later forced by the military authorities to retract their support.
• On 27 May 1999, a joint "Election Anniversary Statement" was released to reaffirm support for the NLD and the CRPP. The signatories were the Arakan League for Democracy, the Chin Naitonal League for Democracy and the Zoracy and the Zomi National Congress. All of these parties were dissolved by the junta, and must therefore conduct most of their activities in exile.

• At a news briefing held by the junta, Lt Col Hla Min announced that 200 NLD MPs and 651 party members had been detained on 6 September 1998. The NLD has indicated that over 800 party members were actually detained. The junta claimed that detention was necessary in order to prevent "misguided activities, forestall violent confall violent confrontations and to maintain law and order"6/. Later, 61 MPs and 321 NLD members were released after they promised to refrain from participating in politics 7/.
• Numerous NLD offices were closed. The junta claims the offices were closed by the volition of the former NLD members 8/, while the NLD asserts the offices were forcibly closed 9/.
• The SPDC detained Dr. Saw Mra Aung almost immediately after he was chosen as Speaker of the People's Parliament.
• Since CRPP's formation, thRPP's formation, the SPDC has orchestrated no-confidence motions against at least 13 MPs, including at least one CRPP member 10/. This was done by coercing MPs' constituents into signing petitions withdrawing support for their representatives. People may be coerced with fines 11/, prison terms 12/, threats of forced labor 13/, and forced resignation from jots 14/. Deception regarding the content of the petitions also been practiced 15/.
• The SPDC predictably applied strong pressure upon the ethnic nationality groups which ty groups which issued statements in support of the CRPP. As a result, many groups were forced to retract their support and submit letters supporting the junta.

• On 22 September 1998, the Free Burma Coalition, an umbrella organization of more than 100 university and community groups worldwide, released a statement in support of the CRPP 16/.
• Parliamentary leaders of all political parties represented in the Norwegian NationalNorwegian National Assembly gave their support to the CRPP on 19 October 1998 17/.
• In December f1998, five Danish political parties in Danish National Assembly declared their support for the establishment of the CRPP 18/.
• In February 1999, the Belgian National Assembly passed a resolution on Burma in which it announced support for the CRPP 19/.
• The U.N. General Assembly noted the establishment of the CRPP in the context of urging the junta to "take all necessary steps towards the restoration of de restoration of democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990 and to ensure that political parties and non-governmental organizations can function freely" 20/.
• The Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia passed a motion in March 1999 which urged the Canadian Government to recognize the CRPP as "the legitimate instrument of the will of the Burmese people" 21/.
• In April 1999, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) endorsed the CRPP. It st the CRPP. It stated that, "in demanding that Parliament be convened and in setting up the 'Committee Representing the People's Parliament', the MPs-elect are merely defending the rights of their constituents to take part in the conduct of public affairs through representatives of their choice, as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and exercising their right to discharge the mandate entrusted to them in 1990" 22/.
• In a European Union resolution on Burma in April 1999, the EU urged tthe EU urged the SPDC to recognize the CRPP and begin genuine dialogue 23/.
• The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union declared its support for the CRPP in May 1999 . 24/.
• Members of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, comprised of elected MPs in exile, have been active in lobbying for international support for the NLD's call for parliament and the CRPP since its establishment.

1. Statement No.1. the Coment No.1. the Committee Constituted to Act for and on Behalf of the 1990 Multi-Party General Elections People's Parliament (CCEPP). 1 September 1998.

2. CRPP Statement No.1(17 September 1998). The direct translation in the Notification says "President of the People's Parliament." It has since been clarified that the correct title is "Speaker".

3. CRPP Notification No.2 (28 September 1998), Notification No. 3(2 October 1998); Notification No. 5 (16 tion No. 5 (16 October 1998).

4. CRPP Notification No. 7(8 December 1998); Notification No.6(February 1999); Notification No 7(15 February 1999); Notification No.21 (12 April 1999); CRPP Resolution No.16 (27 May 1999).

5. CRPP Statement No.1. 17 September 1998.

6. "Current situation on NLD's taking of confrontational course and its attempts to forcibly convene Hluttaw clarified." The New Lights of Myanmar, 23 Novemyanmar, 23 November 1998.

7. Ibid. SPDC Lt-Col Hla Min stated that they were released after they "undertook not to participate in such illegal activities," i.e. refraining from pro-democratic political activity.

8. Ibid.

9. NLD Statement # 115. 1 December 1998.

10. CRPP Notification 26, 5 May 1999.

11. CRPP Notification 12, 24 February 112, 24 February 1999.

12. CRPP Notification 17, 30 March 1999.

13. CRPP Notification 13, 25 February 1999.

14. CRPP Notification 10, 18 February 1999.

15. CRPP Notification 8, 16 February 1999.

16. Free Burma Coalition, statement released 22 September 1998.

17. "Norwegian parliamentarians give theirtarians give their support to Burmese 10 Member Committee" Press release 19 October 1998. International Network of Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma.

18. Danish Parliamentarians Give Support to CRPP. Announcement 17 December 1998.

19. Birma Groep/Groupe Birmanie(Belgium). "Belgium Resolution in Support of CRPP."

20. UN General Assembly Resolution 53/162. "Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar', 25 Februaryar', 25 February 1999.

21. The Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, Notion No. 61.

22. Resolution adopted by Inter-Parliamentary Council at 163rd Session (Moscow, 12 September 1998).

23. European Parliament-Human Rights Commission Resolution on Burma. 14 April 1999.

24. Letter from Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, NSW State Secretary to the Generalry to the General Secretary of All Burma Student's Democratic Organisation.

Mr. Hartley moved--

Be it resolved that this Assembly deplores the continuing violations of human rights in Burma, including extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, mass arrests, forced labour, forced relocation and denial of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement, as reported by the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur;

Be it further resolv further resolved that in the opinion of this Assembly these human rights abuses in Burma are the result of policy at the highest level and that the regime's officials bear political and legal responsibility for them;

Be it further resolved that this Assembly urges the military regime in Burma to:

(a) --- immediately and unconditionally release all detained political leaders and all political prisoners, to ensure their physical integrity and to permit them to participate in the process of national reconciliatonal reconciliation;

(b) --- repeal all regressive laws;

(c) --- stop all the violations of human rights and in particular the unlawful coercion against the National League for Democracy (NLD) members leading to surrendering of their membership and the closure of NLD offices; and

(d) --- immediately initiate a substantive political dialogue with the Committee Representing the People's Parliament before there is further violent upheaval in Burma.

Be it further resolved that tresolved that the Legislature condemns the State Peace and Development Council (formerly named the State Law and Order Restoration Council) for:

(a) --- openly encouraging the production, trade and export of opium and heroin into North America;and

(b) --- racially-motivated genocide against the ethnic peoples in Burma, especially those in Karen, Karenni and Shan States;

Be it further resolved that the Legislature urges the Government of Canada to:

(a) --- recognise as thp; recognise as the legitimate instrument of the will of the Burmese people the Committee Representing the People's Parliament formed by the National League for Democracy on 16 September 1998 as acquiring the legal authority of 251 MP's and support of the four non-Burman ethnic political parties;

(b) --- take all necessary action to achieve coordinated international action in support of the restoration of human rights in Burma;

(c) --- direct the federal drug enforcement agency to increase counter narce counter narcotics efforts specific to the flow of heroin into Vancouver from Burma; and

(d) --- appeal to the UN Secretary-General to send a special envoy to Burma to continue discussions with the leaders of the military regime as well as with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders in order to make significant advances towards the democratization of Burma.

Motion agreed to nemine contradicente on the following division:

YEAS -- 66

[Names included in original.]

AdOCKQUOTE>Added Note: Similar motion regarding Burma has also been introduced in the Legislative Council of the Parliament of New South Wales in Australia by Hon. Janelle Saffin on Wednesday May 26, 1999.

Pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure by the following Members:

- Colajanni, on behalf of the PSE Group

- Maij-Weggen and Jarzembowski, on behalf of the PPE Group

- Pasty and Van Bladel, on behalf of the UPE Group

- Bertens, on behalf of the ELDR Group

- Ripa dl Meana, Mohamed Alf and Sierra Gonzalez, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

- Telkaemper and McKenna, on behalf of the V Group

- Dupuis, Dell'Alba, Leperre-Vorrier and Scarbonchi, on behalf of the ARE Group

A. saddened by the death of Dr. Michael Aris, Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi's husband, in the United Kingdom,

B. deploring the decision of the Burmese government not to grant an entry visa for humanitarian reasons to Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi's husband in order to allow him to visit his wife while he was seriously ill,

C. noting the Council declaration expressing the condemnation of such an inhumane attitude displaying blantant disregard for fundamental human rights by the Sights by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),

D. deploring that political parties are prevented from functioning freely, and that the Secretary-General of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Nobel Peace and Sakharov Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, effectively remains under house arrest,

E. deeply concerned at the continuing and extremely serious human rights abuses committed by the military authorities in Burma, especially the violation of humanitarian law by the Burmese army inrmese army in ethnic minority areas,

F. whereas the SPDC Army units and local authorities have recently ordered the forced relocation of KAREN villages, and the use of the villagers as forced labour,

G. condemning the recent arrests and forced resignations of hundreds of elected representatives and NLD members,

H. whereas on 16 September 1998, 250 members of the People's Parliament (54.6% of the 485 parliamentarians mandated the NLD and representatives of four parties to form the Committem the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) to act on behalf of the entire parliament, which has never been permitted to convene,

I. stressing that Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly called on all democratically elected Parliamentarians world-wide to give due recognition to the Committee and to support its work,

J. whereas the Danish Parliament and the Belgian Senate have already given their support to the CRPP,

K. noting that the ASEAN-EU Joint Cooperation Coooperation Committee (JCC) has not met for over a year as a result of disagreement over the inclusion of Burma,

1. Expresses its sincerest sympathy for Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi;

2. Denounces the refusal by the Burmese authorities to grant an entry visa to Dr. Michael Aris as further proof of the attitude of the Burmese government regarding fundamental human rights;

3. Reiterates its condemnation of the military dictatorship in Burma and all human rights violations by the SPDC;

4. ;

4. Condemns the continued human rights abuses against ethnic groups within Burma, the current forced relocation of KAREN villages and the use of the villagers as forced labour;

5. Calls again on the Burmese Government to gurantee the fundamental rights of the Burmese people, to release all political prisoners and to allow freedom of movement for Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi;

6. Reaffirms its opinion that the path leading Burma back to recognition as part of the international community and to nity and to a solution of the deep crisis in the country has to start with a meaningful political dialogue between the Burmese authorities, the democratic opposition leaders and representatives of ethnic minorities;

7. Expresses its recognition and support for the CRPP and urges its relevant committees to enter into a constructive dialogue with Burma's elected parliamentarians;

8. Reiterates its support of the Council decision not to accept the participation of Burma at EU-ASEAN and ASU-ASEAN and ASEM meetings until there are significant improvements in human rights and democracy in Burma;

9. Calls on the Council to ensure that the current CFSP common position on Burma is strictly enforced, in particular with regard to the ban on entry visas and moreover strongly calls on the EU member states to refrain from giving transit visas to SPDC and military personnel;

10. Instructs its President to forward the present resolution to the Commission, the Council, the ASEANhe ASEAN, the CRPP and the government of Burma.