[Greens-Media] Senate support Greens call for UN action on Burma

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

02.12.04

Senate support Greens call for UN action on Burma

Senator Kerry Nettle today won Senate support for a Greens motion
calling on the government to support the Burmese National League for
Democracy's call for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the
Burmese problem.

"The Greens are concerned at news that Aung San Suu Kyi has had her
detention extended by the military regime in Burma,

"Today's motion calls on the Australian Government do more to advance
democracy in Burma.

"It's time that the UN Security Council dealt more decisively with the
fourteen year refusal of the military regime in Burma to recognise the
result of the 1990 election.

"The Prime Minister said last week that there is little he can do to
secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but he can and should instruct
Australia's representative at the UN to make a request that the Security
Council consider the Burmese situation as a matter of urgency."

Today's motion
	*31	Senator Nettle: To move-That the Senate-
(a)	notes 

	(i)	ongoing concern about the political situation in Burma,
	(ii)	the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
reports that this detention has been extended by the 		military
regime in Burma
	(iii)	the recent release for student leader Minko Naing and
his call for urgent action to pursue democratic 		reform
and national reconciliation

(b) 	calls on the government
	
	(i)	to urge the Burmese junta to fully engage with the
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the 		United
Nations Special Envoy Tan Sri Razali Ismail in their work to find a
political solution to Burma's 		problems. 
	(ii)	to reiterate Australian demands for the release the
National League for Democracy's Vice-Chairman, U Tin 		Oo, and
all the remaining political prisoners, and for the immediate and
unconditional release of Daw Aung 		San Suu Kyi.
	(iii)	to support the Committee Representing People's
Parliament mandate as the legitimate body to convene a
democratic Parliament in Burma, according to the 1990 election result
	(iv)	support the Burmese National League for Democracy's call
for the UN Security Council to convene a special 		session
to consider what further measures the UN can take to encourage
democratic reform and respect for 		human rights in Burma.

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146