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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 21, 2005 <i>(1:00 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 191</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA DENOUNCES 10 YEARS OF DETENTION OF BURMESE
PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement
denouncing the 10 years of detention of Burmese Nobel Laureate and pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“For most of the past decade and a half, Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained under
house arrest by the Burmese authorities. When these periods of detention are viewed
cumulatively, October 24, 2005, marks the completion of her 10th year of detention.
She has been deprived of her liberty and other fundamental freedoms solely because
of her commitment to democracy and human rights. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada reiterates its call for Burma to immediately and unconditionally release Aung
San Suu Kyi and the members of her party. The Burmese authorities should also
abandon their ongoing efforts to entrench and legitimize military rule, and instead
recognize the 1990 national election results and take steps to initiate genuine
democratic reform. The people of Burma have languished far too long under
authoritarian rule, and continue to suffer human rights abuses. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Aung San Suu Kyi is a courageous person who, at great personal sacrifice, continues
to devote all her energies to the struggle for a better life for the people of Burma. Her
commitment has earned her respect and admiration in Canada and throughout the
international community. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“In consultation with concerned Canadians and our international partners, Canada will
continue to explore all appropriate means of support for democracy and human rights in
Burma, with a view to achieving a peaceful transition to freedom for the people of
Burma.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Additional information on Canada’s policy on Burma may be found at the following Web
site: </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004622/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/Burma-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/Burma-en.asp</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004622/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/Burma-en.asp/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004622/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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