September 7, 2000 (4:50 p.m. EDT) No. 215

CANADA CONDEMNS RECENT ACTIONS BY BURMESE REGIME

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today condemned recent actions taken by Burma's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League of Democracy (NLD) members. On Saturday, September 2, the Nobel laureate was forced back to Rangoon, under house arrest, from a military roadblock where she had been detained since August 24. She and other NLD members are currently being held incommunicado by the SPDC, which has alleged that members of Aung San Suu Kyi's party are involved in terrorist activities.

"Canada demands that Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her party be released and permitted to meet with diplomatic representatives," said Mr. Axworthy. "We continue to insist that the SPDC respect this leader's rights of freedom of movement and association, and we also hold the regime responsible for the health and safety of all detainees."

"We categorically reject allegations that the NLD has been engaging in terrorist activity," said Mr. Chan. "Aung San Suu Kyi and her party have consistently demonstrated a willingness to engage in a substantive dialogue with SPDC officials, and there is no evidence to link them to armed opposition groups operating outside the country."

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