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<title>AXWORTHY CONDEMNS BURMA ON10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MILITARY CRACKDOWN</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">August 8, 1998 No. 186</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY CONDEMNS BURMA ON</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">10th ANNIVERSARY OF MILITARY CRACKDOWN</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy voiced his concern today over the
deteriorating situation in Burma on the 10th anniversary of the military
crackdown.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Ten years after the brutal attack on peaceful demonstrators in Rangoon, there has
been no progress on democratic reform," said Minister Axworthy. "Canada calls on
the Burmese military regime to engage in an open and serious dialogue with
democracy leaders to bring about change in Burma."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Recent events in Burma, including the harsh treatment of Nobel Peace Prize winner
Aung San Suu Kyi, have prompted international condemnation and a call to action.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the National League for Democracy party, which
won the 1990 election.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The basic human rights of the Burmese people have been gravely abused by the
military regime," said Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan. "Canada
condemns the systematic violations of the human rights of the Burmese people,
including the freedoms of association and expression."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada has repeatedly condemned Burma's unacceptable record of human rights
violations and the military regime's refusal to abide by the results of the
democratic election in 1990. Canadian bilateral aid to Burma was suspended in
1988, following the army's massacre of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in
Rangoon. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In August 1997, Canada removed Burma's eligibility under the General Preferential
Tariff and placed it on the Area Controls List, which requires all exports from
Canada to Burma to have an export permit.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum this past
July, Minister Axworthy and six other Foreign Ministers raised their concerns
regarding human rights violations and democratic reforms with the Burmese Foreign
Minister. Minister Axworthy said that Canada, in consultation with its ASEAN
partners, will continue to press for reform in Burma.</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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