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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>CANADA ANNOUNCES FURTHER ACTIONS ON BURMA</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> August 7, 1997 No. 130 CANADA ANNOUNCES FURTHER ACTIONS ON BURMA Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced further actions on Burma, including selective economic measures and humanitarian assistance. These measures underscore Canada's concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Burma and are intended to encourage the military regime to enter into meaningful political dialogue with the leaders of the democracy movement. The Canadian government is withdrawing Burma's General Preferential Tariff eligibility and placing Burma on the Area Control List, which requires all exports from Canada to Burma to have an export permit. With these actions, Canada joins the United States and European Union in imposing selective economic measures against Burma. "Burma's military leaders have made no effort to improve the current situation and have repeatedly failed to respond to the international community's attempts to open channels of communication," said Mr. Axworthy. "The actions we have taken today are intended to convey the seriousness of our concerns over the suppression of political freedoms and our frustration with Burma's failure to curb the production and trafficking of illegal drugs." Mr. Axworthy will be reviewing Canada's contribution to the UN International Drug Control Program to determine how best to assist anti-drug projects in the region. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation Diane Marleau also announced that the Canadian International Development Agency will be providing $350 000 in additional humanitarian assistance for Burmese refugees in Thailand. These funds will be used for emergency food aid to refugee camps and to support refugee assistance projects run by local and international non-governmental organizations. Canada suspended bilateral aid to Burma following the 1988 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Rangoon. "Since last year's ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] meetings when Canada sought to develop consensus on an approach to Burma, we have been engaged in ongoing consultations with a number of countries and international organizations," said Mr. Axworthy. "We call on the international community, and particularly Burma's ASEAN neighbours, to use their influence to encourage national reconciliation and a return to democracy in Burma. We also urge the Canadian business community to refrain from entering into further investment agreements or commercial ventures in Burma until improvements are evident." Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1997 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - A backgrounder on Burma is attached. For further information, media representatives may contact: Catherine Lappe Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851 Media Relations Office Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (613) 995-1874 This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca Backgrounder BURMA The situation in Burma is deteriorating as human rights violations continue. The renewed humanitarian crisis on the Thai-Burma border caused by fleeing Burmese refugees, coupled with repressive measures being taken by Burma's ruling military regime against the pro-democracy movement, continue to threaten regional security. Illicit drug production and trafficking is a growing problem in the region, with Burma remaining the largest source for illegal heroin entering North America. Canada deplores the human rights violations in Burma and has sought to encourage national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy. Canada's policy is designed to support democratic reform, alleviate the suffering of refugees and curb the production and trafficking of drugs. To this end, Canada supports United Nations initiatives, enforces selective economic measures against Burma, maintains dialogue with all parties involved and provides humanitarian assistance to victims fleeing the conflict. Why Burma? Canada's promotion of international human rights is founded on our long-standing principle of effective influence, as outlined by Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy at the Department's annual human rights consultations with non-governmental organizations on February 5, 1997. Dialogue and engagement generally offer the best vehicle to effect change. We have established bilateral dialogue with countries such as China, Cuba and Indonesia. Dialogue is, however, impossible without a willing partner. Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) has consistently rebuffed efforts by Canada and other countries to engage in dialogue. This intransigence was most recently reconfirmed on July 29 in Kuala Lumpur. Foreign Affairs Minister Axworthy presented Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw with a list of eight actions that Canada suggested the military regime take to improve the human rights situation in Burma. Foreign Minister Gyaw failed to respond to any of Canada's proposals. These proposals included: the commencement of a serious dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi about the political and constitutional evolution of Burma; the release of political prisoners as a prerequisite for a free and open political dialogue; a clear timetable for the constitutional process; the return to Burma of the International Committee of the Red Cross; agreement to a visit by the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights with the full co-operation he needs to facilitate his work; significant progress in the dialogue with the UN Secretary-General (as conducted through his Special Representative); concrete action by the SLORC to reduce the production and trafficking of illicit drugs and a commitment to participate actively in international and regional drug control efforts; development of a package of Canada-Burma bilateral human rights activities including the establishment of a joint committee on human rights. Canadian Efforts at Change: Multilateral Measures Canada has consistently worked to effect change in Burma. The meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Axworthy and Foreign Minister Gyaw is only the most recent in a series of Canadian actions to encourage the SLORC to respect the human rights of Burmese citizens. In multilateral forums, Canada has supported tough resolutions adopted by consensus at both the UN Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly deploring the human rights violations in Burma. As well, Canada has supported the suspension of multilateral aid to Burma through international financial institutions. Canada is engaging in ongoing consultations with a number of countries and international organizations on ways to establish channels of communication between the SLORC and the international community. In June 1997, at the Denver Summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy led other foreign ministers in calling for the SLORC to enter into meaningful dialogue with leaders of the democracy movement and ethnic minorities aimed at national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy. Foreign Affairs Minister Axworthy has discussed the Burma issue with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on a regular basis, most recently during the just-completed ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Prime Minister raised concerns about Burma during his Team Canada visit to Southeast Asia in January 1997. Canada has adopted a regional approach to the problem of illicit drug production in the Golden Triangle through the UN International Drug Control Program, which provides countries in the region, including Burma, with assistance in developing drug control plans. Bilateral Measures Canada has previously undertaken several bilateral measures including: the suspension of bilateral aid in 1988; the termination of military sales; the suspension of diplomatic and commercial presence in Burma; and the suspension of support for Canadian firms doing business in Burma, including export programs and commercial promotion. Canada maintains a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi through Canada's Ambassador to Burma, who is resident in Thailand. Canadian Assistance to Burma and Burmese Refugees Canada's bilateral aid program in Burma, operated through the Canadian International Development Agency, was suspended in 1988 after the massacre of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in Rangoon. Although Canada does not support multilateral assistance to Burma through international financial institutions, it has provided relief through multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations to assist Burmese refugees who fled to Thailand or Bangladesh. From 1992 to the present, Canada has provided $660 000 (which includes the most recent commitment of $350 000) to assist Burmese refugees in Thailand. From 1994 to the present, Canada has, in addition, provided $8.4 million in relief to Burmese refugees in Bangladesh. This sum was administered through the UN High Commission for Refugees, the World Food Program and Médecins sans frontières. </body> </html>

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