Media Release from Burma Campaign Australia
Burma Campaign Australia congratulates the Australia Government for committing to support a global arms embargo against Burma for the first time today.
Defence Minister John Faulkner said in the Senate today “I can say that Australia supports these efforts to seek a UN Security Council mandated arms embargo on Burma. Australia agrees that arms should not be supplied to the Burmese regime, which of course has demonstrated its willingness to use force against the civilian population.”
Burma Campaign Australia spokesperson Dr Myint Cho said this is the first time Australia has committed to supporting a global arms embargo against Burma.
“The Australian Government today has taken a significant step in bringing around real change in Burma and helping the people of Burma realise their democratic aspirations,” Dr Cho said.
“The government is backing their strong statements with real action.”
“Today Australia has shown their commitment to cutting Burma’s access to military weapons which are used on a daily basis against the people of Burma – we now need Australia to commit to cutting the regime’s financial lifelines.”
Dr Cho said the Australian Government needs to introduce targeted investment and trade sanctions against Burma in line with the EU and the US.
Yesterday Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, was sentenced to 18 months under house arrest. She was charged with breaking the conditions of her illegal house arrest when John Yettaw, a US citizen, visited her compound without authorisation.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent off-and-on most of the past 20 years under house arrest.
The Australian Senate on June 18th 2009 unanimously passed a motion calling on the Australian Government to support a global arms embargo. Burma Campaign Australia has been running an online letter writing campaign calling on Australia’s Foreign Minister to publicly support a global arms embargo.