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<title>AXWORTHY CALLS FOR RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS BY MYANMAR</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 23, 1996 No. 96</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY CALLS FOR RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS BY
MYANMAR</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today called on the Government of the
Union of Myanmar to release all detained members of the National League for
Democracy (NLD).</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"This is an opportunity for Myanmar to show that it is prepared to begin the
process of real democratization," said Mr. Axworthy. "The detention of members of
the National League for Democracy sends quite the opposite message."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Minister said that Canada had expressed its concerns directly to the Myanmar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that it had called upon the State Law and Order
Restoration Council of the Union of Myanmar to allow the NLD full freedom to
pursue its activities. The first step in this regard would be to release
immediately all detainees and political prisoners so that they can attend the
planned NLD conference on May 25-26.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan commented: "By this latest action,
the Myanmar regime is continuing to show its complete intolerance for democratic
freedoms."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada, through its Ambassador who is now in Rangoon, has directly reaffirmed its
support to Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi and the leadership of the
NLD.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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