April 10, 2003 - Maung Maung Than

Senator Kerry Nettle today, "Facist Resistance Day" in Burma, moved a motion in support of the Burmese National League for Democracy 's demands for democracy and human rights to be upheld in that country. The Government and Australian Labor Party opposed the motion.

"After listening to the Government's recent concerns for human rights and democracy in Iraq, their failure to support this motion reeks of hypocrisy," Senator Nettle said.

"The Burmese people have been under illegal military rule for decades. As a major player in this region Australia has a duty to exert as much pressure as possible to seek democracy upheld not just to provide Human rights training as the cover for human rights abuses in Burma.

"The Australian Greens are committed to pursuing peaceful means of addressing human rights, and oppression where ever they occur, but particularly in our own region."

NOTICE OF MOTION

27.03.03

That the Senate:

a) Notes that today marks what the Burmese regime calls 'Armed

Forces Day' but which the Burmese people still celebrate as 'Facist Resistance Day', in opposition to the illegitimate military rule still in force in that country.

b) On this day recalls the previous Senate resolution of June

2000 calling for the cancellation of Australian Government sponsored human rights training in Burma

c) Calls upon the Government to comply with this resolution,

cancelling the planned Human Rights training

d) Calls upon the Government to ensure that any future

projects, including the proposed three year humanitarian assistance & training programmes, be undertaken in full consultation and cooperation with National League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities parties

e) Recognises the Committee Representing People's Parliament as

the legitimate body to convene a democratic Parliament in Burma, according to the 1990 election result

f) Calls upon the Government to exert economic and diplomatic

pressure, including targeted sanctions, a tourism boycott, a downgrading of diplomatic relations, against Burma until the regime enters into official dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

g) Calls upon the Burmese regime to immediately release Min Ko Naing and all political prisoners and restore democracy.

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146

( For this Parliamentary Free Burma lobby, please contact Maung Maung Than 0411337816 www.absdo.org , www.jhburma.org )