Friday, 28 October 2011 19:37 Ko Pauk
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Two Burmese activists who met with Cannadian government officials recently said they “promised” not to change its economic sanctions policy until three key conditions were met by the new government.
Mi Aie Son of the Mon Youth Progressive Organization told Mizzima that Canada has no plans to review its current economic sanctions against Burma. She was accompanied by Aung Naing Soe of the Nationalities Youth Forum.
“The sanctions will still exist as before. [It] will review its sanctions against Burma when [the Burmese government] releases political prisoners, stop fighting in ethnic areas and holds a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic representatives. Otherwise, sanctions would not be lifted – they promised,” said Mi Aie Son.
During their visit, they met the director, deputy director and political officials in the Southeast Asia relations department. As special guests of the Parliament’s deputy speaker, they observed the Canadian parliament proceedings. The trip started on October 22.
“We told the Canadian government and the Canadian people that the current [Burmese] government is not on the road to democracy, and there are serious violations of human rights in ethnic areas,” said Mi Aie Son.
“Granting amnesty for political prisoners is essential for national reconciliation, and we believe that international pressure is important.”
The visit was sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). They will also attend a national level CUPE conference as the Burmese representatives.
Tin Maung Htoo, an official with the Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), said two thousand people are expected to attend the conference, where they will talk about Burma’s current politics.
On Tuesday, the two representatives took part in a public meeting at the Ottawa Central Library, Tin Maung Htoo said.
Talking about Canada’s strong policy towards Burma, Mi Aie Son said, “Canada’s foreign policy on Burma is very good to promote the development of democracy in Burma. We told them to maintain it. We told them to urge the Burmese government to release political prisoners and to stop launching military offensives in ethnic areas. And we told the person in charge of the financial department that the Kachin war refugees badly need emergency aid. They didn’t know about Kachin and Shan affairs.”
They said they also told officials that women and children had suffered greatly in the war, and they also planned to meet with NGOs and social organizations.
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Two Burmese activists who met with Cannadian government officials recently said they “promised” not to change its economic sanctions policy until three key conditions were met by the new government.
Mi Aie Son of the Mon Youth Progressive Organization told Mizzima that Canada has no plans to review its current economic sanctions against Burma. She was accompanied by Aung Naing Soe of the Nationalities Youth Forum.
“The sanctions will still exist as before. [It] will review its sanctions against Burma when [the Burmese government] releases political prisoners, stop fighting in ethnic areas and holds a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic representatives. Otherwise, sanctions would not be lifted – they promised,” said Mi Aie Son.
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| Meeting with the Honorable Jim Karygiannis, interim chair of Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB), on Parliament Hill in Ottawa are, left to right: Tin Maung Htoo(CFOB), Keltie Cameron (CUPE), Mi Aie Son (MYPO), Karygiannis and Aung Naing Soe (NY-Forum). Photo: Tin Maung Htoo Facebook |
During their visit, they met the director, deputy director and political officials in the Southeast Asia relations department. As special guests of the Parliament’s deputy speaker, they observed the Canadian parliament proceedings. The trip started on October 22.
“We told the Canadian government and the Canadian people that the current [Burmese] government is not on the road to democracy, and there are serious violations of human rights in ethnic areas,” said Mi Aie Son.
“Granting amnesty for political prisoners is essential for national reconciliation, and we believe that international pressure is important.”
The visit was sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). They will also attend a national level CUPE conference as the Burmese representatives.
Tin Maung Htoo, an official with the Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), said two thousand people are expected to attend the conference, where they will talk about Burma’s current politics.
On Tuesday, the two representatives took part in a public meeting at the Ottawa Central Library, Tin Maung Htoo said.
Talking about Canada’s strong policy towards Burma, Mi Aie Son said, “Canada’s foreign policy on Burma is very good to promote the development of democracy in Burma. We told them to maintain it. We told them to urge the Burmese government to release political prisoners and to stop launching military offensives in ethnic areas. And we told the person in charge of the financial department that the Kachin war refugees badly need emergency aid. They didn’t know about Kachin and Shan affairs.”
They said they also told officials that women and children had suffered greatly in the war, and they also planned to meet with NGOs and social organizations.
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