[Greens-Media] Greens call for targeted sanctions against Burmese military regime

[John Kaye]

Greens NSW call for targeted sanctions against Burmese military regime
 
Media release: 18 October 2010
 
The Greens NSW state delegates conference this weekend unanimously
called on the Australian government to impose targeted trade and
investment sanctions against the Burmese military dictatorship and the
oil and gas industry they control, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
(Copy of the resolution below)
 
Dr Kaye said: "Australian companies trading and investing in the oil
and gas industry in Burma are directly contributing to the systematic
abuse of human rights.
 
"Sanctions would have no economic impact on the Burmese people. The
military keeps all the profits from the industry for themselves and
their families and there is almost no benefit for the civilian
community.
 
"The resolution follows a similar motion passing the Upper House of the
NSW parliament last month calling on the Australian government to
consider imposing sanctions. (http://bit.ly/bu100912)
 
"The Greens want to send a strong message to Foreign Minister Kevin
Rudd who is yet to tell the Australian people how he will help resolve
the appalling situation in Burma. 
 
"We believe he cannot ignore the 2,100 political prisoners who are
being regularly beaten, tortured, sexually abused and denied medical
treatment. 
 
"He must act against a constitution that means that next month's sham
election will lock the military into power for decades to come.
 
"He must immediately stop Australian companies like Twinza Oil propping
up a dictatorship that has condemned the Burmese people to poverty and a
life of terror.
 
"Australia has a profound obligation to stop the flow of money into the
coffers of the dictatorship that prolongs its ability to oppress the
people of Burma.
 
"The Greens are calling on the Gillard government to play their part in
the struggle for freedom and human rights," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
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Calling for Sanctions against the Burmese Oil and Gas Industry
NSW State Delegates Conference
Sunday 17 October 2010
Agreed by consensus
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1. That the Greens NSW notes that:
 
Burma has one of the worst human rights records in the world.  The most
basic human rights, including the right to food, water, shelter,
education and health care, as denied to millions of people in Burma
every day.  The main perpetrator of human rights violations is the
Burmese military dictatorship.
 
The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other
groups call for an end to the gross human rights violations including
murder, torture, rape, detention without trial, massive forced
relocations, forced conscriptions of men and child soldiers, and forced
labour.  
 
Burma’s military leaders have consistently showed no regard for
international or their own domestic laws, subjecting the country’s
population to systematic human rights violations.
  
2.  That  the Greens NSW are deeply concerned that:
 
* The Burmese military dictatorship controls all major sectors of
Burma’s economy such as mining, logging, oil and gas, transport,
manufacturing, apparel and electricity.  It also controls the export of
many key commodities and also must approve all financial investments.  
 
* All foreign investment, such as oil and gas, must be done in
partnership with a military-owned enterprise.  This means these
companies are doing business directly with the military.  
 
* Foreign investments in Burma directly contributes to the long term
financial viability and stability of the Burmese military dictatorship
because it provides an economic lifeline to the dictatorship through
revenues gained from partnership agreements, tax and royalties; and
 
* As a consequence Australian companies that invest and operate in
Burma are helping fund the country’s brutal military dictatorship and
their actions including systemat
ic human rights violations.
 
3.  The Greens NSW call on the Australian Government to:
 
* Impose targeted trade and investment sanctions against Burma’s oil
and gas industry.
 
 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000