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<title>AXWORTHY CONDEMNS TREATMENT OF BURMESE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER</title>
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<p><font size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">July 30, 1998 No. 182</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY CONDEMNS TREATMENT OF BURMESE </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER</font><font face="Courier"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the forced return of
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to her Rangoon home following her
attempt to travel outside the city to meet members of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) party. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I strongly condemn the Burmese military regime for what has become continuous
harassment of Aung San Suu Kyi and pro-democracy leaders," said Minister
Axworthy. "In addition to violating the basic human rights of freedom of movement
and association, Aung San Suu Kyi's forced return was an unacceptable threat to
her health and safety."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Earlier this month, Minister Axworthy issued a statement expressing Canada's
concern over travel restrictions imposed by the Burmese military authorities on
Aung San Suu Kyi. He also met informally with the Burmese Foreign Minister at the
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Manila from July 27 to 29, where he and six
other foreign ministers raised their concerns over human rights violations and
democratic reform in Burma.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Following the ARF meeting, Minister Axworthy suggested that Canada would be in
contact with these like-minded countries </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">and our ASEAN partners to explore means to maintain pressure on </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">the Burmese authorities and end the repression against </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Aung San Suu Kyi.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Canadian Embassy Chargé d'Affaires in Bangkok travelled to Rangoon two weeks
ago and met with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese authorities to convey Canada's
concern over increasing repression and harassment of pro-democracy partisans.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada strongly denounces the continuous human rights violations by the Burmese
regime and its refusal to abide by the results of the democratic election," said
Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan. "We call on the Burmese
authorities to engage in an open and meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi
and other pro-democracy supporters to bring about national reconciliation and
democratic reform to the people of Burma."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Burma's national elections on May 27, 1990, resulted in a landslide victory for
Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD party. Since then, the military
regime has refused to honour the election results and has become increasingly
restrictive of Aung San Suu Kyi's movements outside of Rangoon.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</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">Hilary Humphrey</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1852</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>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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