Media Release from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma
289 MPs call for UN action on Burma
A Commons Early Day Motion (EDM) supporting Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and calling on the British government to put Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, has gained more support than almost any other motion in the current Parliamentary session.
EDM 273 was tabled by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma. The support of almost 300 MPs has made it the second most supported Early Day Motion in the current Parliamentary session out of more than 1,000 EDMs.
Iain Luke, Labour MP for Dundee East and Secretary of the All-Party Group, said: “Over the last two years the All-Party Group for Democracy in Burma has sponsored some of the best subscribed EDMs. We have drawn attention to the unacceptable situation in Burma and given testimony to the depth of opposition there is amongst back bench MPs to the continued oppressive dictatorship that exists and their unacceptable treatment of the rightful leader of a free democratic Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi.”
John Bercow, Conservative MP for Buckingham and Joint Chair of the All-Party Group, said: “This motion shows the huge support from all Parties for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s democracy movement. It reflects too the hostility of freedom lovers to the brutal military dictatorship in Burma which has a record of bestial oppression of its own people. It is blindingly obvious that the Government of Burma will do nothing to mend its ways unless it is forced to do so by unremitting pressure from the international community. British MPs want the UN Security Council to stop ducking the issue of Burmese tyranny and to start confronting the regime with explicit demands for democratic change and the timetable for that change to be delivered.”
Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar and Joint Chair of the All-Party Group, said: “It is time the Burmese Government understood what concern British parliamentarians have about the ill treatment they mete out to their citizens. To have this many MPs signing the EDM is remarkable, and a sign of the strength of feeling about this issue.”
Burma held elections in 1990 and Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won 82 percent of the seats. The regime refused to hand over power and instead imprisoned and tortured many MPs. Today 12 MPs still languish in jail. There are more than 1,300 political prisoners, and the regime is one of the most repressive in the world. Burma’s democracy movement has called on the United Nations for help but have so far been ignored. Burma has not even been a formal agenda item at the United Nations Security Council. There are no UN sanctions against Burma, not even an arms embargo.
The EDM has attracted the support of many high profile MPs and former ministers, including Michael Howard MP, Menzies Campbell MP QC, Clare Short MP, Vincent Cable MP, Liam Fox MP, John Hume MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Tony Banks MP, Alex Salmond MP, Chris Smith MP, Oliver Letwin MP, and Ann Widdecombe MP.
This release is distributed by the Burma Campaign UK.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The EDM has attracted significant cross-party support:
Signatures by party with approximate percentage of MPs from each party:
135 Labour MPs (45% – of those who can sign)
96 Conservative MPs (60%)
39 Liberal Democrat MPs (69%)
5 Scottish Nationalist MP (100%)
4 Ulster Unionist MP (80%)
3 Independent Conservative MPs
2 Democratic Unionist MPs (29%)
2 Plaid Cymru MPs (50%)
1 Independent MP
1 Social Democratic & Labour Party MP (30%)
Background on Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest following a brutal crackdown and massacre of up to 100 of her supporters in May 2003. Today, April 5th, she will have spent a total of 9 years, 5 months and 11 days under house arrest. More than half the population of Burma lives in extreme poverty, while at the same time the regime spends around half of its budget on the military.
Text of the EDM
EDM 273 AUNG SAN SUU KYI
That this House expresses its deep concern that the leader of Burma’s democracy movement, Nobel Prize winner Aung Sun Suu Kyi, has now spent more than nine years under house arrest; notes that there are currently serious questions about her personal security; observes that, despite Burma’s military dictatorship announcing several initiatives to move towards democracy, prospects for democracy in Burma are as distant as ever; further notes that there has not been a single democratic political reform in the past 15 years; calls for the immediate release of Aung Sun Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma; and calls on the Government immediately to put Burma on the agenda of the United National Security Council.