[Greens-Media] NSW Upper House condemns ongoing threats to Burmese democracy

[John Kaye]

NSW Upper House condemns ongoing threats to Burmese democracy 
 
Media release: 31 May 2011
 
The Greens have welcomed the unanimous passage of a motion in the NSW
Upper House last Friday recognising that the road to genuine democracy
in Burma still has a long way to go (See below for motion).
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "The Greens motion recognised that the
100 day anniversary of the new parliament is no cause for celebration
for all those who know the real political situation in Burma.
 
"If the Burmese government were serious about delivering true democracy
to their people, it would release the more than 2,000 political
prisoners that are still held captive.
 
"The November elections took place amidst widespread reports of voter
fraud, harassment and intimidation.
 
"Apart from the discredited election and the anti-democratic
constitution, the parliament remains largely a puppet of the military.
 
"True freedom of speech cannot occur whilst parliamentarians are
effectively gagged by the armed forces.
 
"Members of the NSW Upper House join Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in calling on
all Australian members of parliament to maintain a close watch on the
progress of democracy in Burma.
 
"The NSW Upper House remains committed to a free Burma without the fear
of repression, torture and arbitrary imprisonment," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
Dr Kaye moved*
 
1. That this House:
 
(a) notes the video message sent to all members of the Australian
Federal Parliament by Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
earlier this month marking 100 days of the new Burmese parliament,
 
(b) joins with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in expressing gratitude towards
Australian members of parliament for their concerns and interest in
Burma's current situation,
 
(c) reiterates Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's message that the election of this
parliament after decades of military rule has not delivered true
"democracy" to Burma,
 
(d) notes that there are still over 2000 political prisoners in Burma,
 
(e) notes that the elections held in Burma on 7 November 2010 did not
meet international democratic standards, there were widespread reports
of voter fraud, harassment and intimidation, and foreign media and
election monitors were not allowed into observe the election,
 
(f) notes that the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development
Party won nearly 77 per cent of seats in the November 2010 election, and
the military-linked National Unity Party won over 5 per cent of seats,
while the democratic opposition parties won 18 per cent of seats,
 
(g) notes that the 2008 Constitution does not uphold democratic
principles, and
 
(h) notes that severe restrictions have been imposed on
parliamentarians including:
(i) they face two years imprisonment if they write, print or distribute
by any means parliament-related documents, information, statistics,
drawings, charts or other references, bring a mobile phone, recording
device or camera into parliament, or if they make a protest in
parliament,
(ii) their speeches, motions and questions must be approved by the
Speaker of the House before they can be entered into the parliament, and
they must be submitted 10 working days in advance for approval,
(iii) they cannot ask questions on, or speak about, national security,
international relations or national unity related issues,
(iv) the parliament is not open to the public and unauthorised
individuals who enter the parliament face one year in prison.
 
2. That this House:
 
(a) does not recognise the Parliament of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar as the Parliament of Burma,
 
(b) condemns the 2008 Constitution as undemocratic,
 
(c) pledges its continued support for genuine democracy and human
rights in Burma, and
 
(d) calls for the release of all political prisoners in Burma.
 
(Notice given 26 May 2011, passed the House 27 May 2011)