The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed the press statement on Burma issued by the United Nations Security Council on 22nd May, but called for concrete action if the dictatorship continues to defy the Council and keep Aung San Suu Kyi detained.
The Security Council has issued a press statement calling on the dictatorship to enter into dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups. It is the third statement on the situation in Burma from the Security Council.
“This is the third time the Security Council has called on the dictatorship to enter into genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic representatives,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. ‘’If Aung San Suu Kyi is convicted, or kept under detention under any circumstances, then the dictatorship with be directly defy the Council. That cannot be allowed to stand. Discussions should start now on implementing a UN arms embargo on Burma.”
China and Russia have continued to strongly oppose the Security Council discussing Burma. They are believed to have blocked the Council from issuing a Presidential Statement as it has in the past.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 07941239640.
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON MYANMAR
22nd May 2009
The members of the Security Council express their concern about the political impact of recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The members of the Security Council reaffirm, in this context, their statements of 11 October 2007 and 2 May 2008 and, in this regard, reiterate the importance of the release of all political prisoners. The members of the Security Council reiterate the need for the Government of Myanmar to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the support of the United Nations.
The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and, in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 0207 324 4710