Dear Friends
You may have heard that the situation in Burma has worsened dramatically. Thugs organised by the military dictatorship have attacked the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi, along with members and supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD). Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi is back under the custody, while perhaps 70 persons have been killed and hundreds of others are missing, including the NLD Deputy Chairman, U Tin Oo. NLD offices, schools and universities have been closed to prevent an uprising. Meanwhile, across the country people continue to face massive hardships: farmers are tortured for failing to provide rice to the authorities, villagers are ordered build roads without pay, and over 1500 political prisoners languish in life-threatening conditions.
The Australian government has condemned recent events in Burma, but its official policy towards the regime continues to be one of soft engagement. In recent years, Australia has sent “experts” to train Burmese officials about human rights. This programme has merely helped to legitimise a group of men who should be in the dock for crimes against humanity, rather than being treated as partners for dialogue in the international community. The recent violent incident is but the latest in an unceasing string of abuses that render the Australian human rights programme a sheer absurdity.
Please write to the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer. Demand that the Australian government end this programme immediately, and in its stead initiate and support strong action in the international community — especially by the UN Security Council — to get the military out of power in Burma. Write your own letter or send the sample letter below to Mr. Downer at A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au (his fax is 662 6273 4112). Please cc the letter to the Shadow Minister (ALP) Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au, the Green’s spokesperson, Bob Brown, senator.brown@aph.gov.au , and the Democrats’ Natasha Stott-Despoja (who has already made a statement demanding a change in policy), senator.stottdespoja@aph.gov.au
Thanks for your action. We helped the Timorese free their country, now let’s work together to bring down the dictators in Burma.
Tim Gill
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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The Honourable Alexander Downer MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
June 14, 2003
Dear Minister Downer
I write to you regarding the current situation in Burma. You will be aware of the ongoing attack on the National League for Democracy there since gangs of government-organized thugs, backed by the police and military, assaulted a convoy carrying Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo this May 30, killing perhaps 70 persons. Latest reports suggest that offices of the democracy party all over the country are being shut down, and arrests of its members are said to be widespread.
One year ago to the month, you were quick to attribute the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest to-in part-the human rights and legal reforms training programmes for Burmese officials initiated by your government. In light of the latest massive violations of fundamental human rights and systemic denial of due process there, are you now prepared to recognize that your initiative has been futile and misguided? The apparent burgeoning enthusiasm of the military government in Burma for human rights has been exposed as a fraud. To pretend otherwise, and continue with these programmes, will make a mockery of everything that human rights stand for, and be a scourge on Australia’s international reputation.
In November 2000 you wrote that, “Effectiveness is the litmus test for everything the government does in the field of human rights,” and with regards to Burma, continued, “They know that they will have to follow through with concrete action if Australia is to take our initiative forward. After 10 years of disappointment, the world is not disposed to give Burma the benefit of the doubt.”
By your own criterion, the initiative has failed. I put it to you that in this case the world is not disposed to give Australia the benefit of the doubt. I urge you to review the policies of your government towards the military regime in Burma, which are at best profitless and at worst give valuable legitimacy to a government that has proved itself time and again to be irredeemable. I exhort you to immediately halt all programmes on human rights and legal reforms for government officials in Burma. I also call upon the Australian government to push for the UN Security Council to address the situation there as a matter of the utmost urgency, with a view to active intervention in the country. To date, despite rhetoric to the contrary, sustained and heavy international pressure has never been applied to its military government. Surely now is the time.
I trust that you will seriously consider these proposals, and await your favourable response.
Yours sincerely
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cc: Hon. K. Rudd, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Labor Party
Sen. N. Stott-Despoja, Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Australian Democrats
Sen. B. Brown, Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Australian Green Party
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
