The motion states that the MPs are ‘appalled’ by the fact that Thailand started to deport the refugees, who have fled human rights abuses that the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma has recently said deserve to be investigated as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It also calls on the Thai government to halt harassment of refugees, pressuring them to agree to return, which has continued since the deportations were halted following international criticism.

The motion also calls on the British government: ‘To examine whether the actions of the government of Thailand in forcing refugees to return could break international humanitarian and human rights law.’

“If the Thai government has been hoping that international attention will move on and they can quietly start deporting refugees again, this motion should let them know they are mistaken,” said Mary Thandar Tun, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “Thailand should find a solution to help the refugees that does not involve forcing them back to Burma to face landmines and human rights abuses.”

The motion was put down by Lembit Opik MP.

“The deportation of Karen civilians back to Burma is not only immoral but potentially illegal under international law.  If the Thai government sends these people over the border they will literally be sending them to their deaths.  The support of thirty-eight MPs from six political parties shows that the UK Parliament is not willing to sit by and watch this happen.” said Lembit Opik, MP.

Thousands of new Karen refugees fled to Thailand following a major new military offensive by the Burmese Army and their allies in June 2009. They have been in temporary camps on the Thailand Burma border since then. Thailand has publicly stated that it will not force the refugees back against their will, but in practice local soldiers and government officials have harassed and threatened the refugees to try to force them to agree to return. Click here for a full background briefing. 

For more information contact Mary Thandar Tun on 44(0) 207 324 4710. Unfortunately Lembit Opik is not available for interview.

Early Day Motion 955

THAILAND AND THE RETURN OF ETHNIC KAREN REFUGEES TO BURMA

That this House condemns the actions of the government of Thailand, which is threatening to deport 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma; is appalled that on 5 February 2010 thirteen refugees were forced to return against their will to an area which is infested with landmines, and occupied by a military force, allied to the dictatorship in Burma, which is likely to use the villagers as slave labour and children as child soldiers; expresses deep concern that the government of Thailand has made false claims to the international community that the refugees want to return; calls on the government of Thailand to turn its temporary halt of the deportations into a permanent one, and to end the harassment and intimidation of the refugees; and calls on the British Government to make the strongest possible representations to Thailand on this matter, and to examine whether the actions of the government of Thailand in forcing refugees to return could break international humanitarian and human rights law.

In a major victory for Burma campaigners Australia is the first country to publicly announce its support for a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma.

In a statement at the UN Human Rights Council earlier this week Australia’s representative to the council, Angela Robinson, said: “Australia would support investigating possible options for a United Nations commission of inquiry”.

“The Special Rapporteur’s report to the Council again confirmed the dire human rights situation in Myanmar and reaffirmed the need for the international community to remain engaged in seeking to improve the situation,” Ms Robinson said.“Australia noted the Special Rapporteur’s suggestion that United Nations institutions might consider the possibility of establishing a commission of inquiry to address the question of international crimes in Myanmar.“

Burma Campaign Australia spokesperson Zetty Brake said the Australia’s support for a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma was welcomed.“Human rights abuses including forced labour, rape, extra-judicial execution, torture, are widespread in Burma and tragically a part of every day life for the people of Burma.  These systematic violation of right amounts to crimes against humanity and war crimes, which the regime needs to be held accountable for,”Ms Brake said.  “Australia’s support of a UN Commission of Inquiry is a fantastic first step.

The next step is making sure that this goodwill is turned into a Commission of Inquiry.”Last week an advance copy of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma Tomas Quintana report to the UNHRC was released.

It included a call for the UN to establish a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. Attached is the transcript from the UNHRC discussion.

For more information contact Zetty Brake 0416289235

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called the terms of the Burmese election laws “restrictive and unfair” and called for an urgent meeting at the UN in New York to discuss these developments.

The laws have been published ahead of the election in the country later this year.

They prohibit anyone convicted by a court from joining a political party - excluding National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from taking part.

The PM said:

  “Burma has ignored the demands of the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General, the US, EU and its own neighbours by imposing restrictive and unfair terms on elections.

  The targeting of Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD is particularly vindictive and callous. I have today written to the UN Secretary General to call for an urgent meeting in New York to discuss these developments.

  We will also seek international support to impose an arms embargo against Burma. Burma’s people are demanding political and economic freedom, and the international community must stand with them.”

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention, was convicted last August of violating the terms of her house arrest. She was sentenced to a new term of house arrest that is due to end in November.

European Karen Network (EKN) calls on members of the Human Rights Council to support a recommendation by Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, that the UN consider setting up an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese dictatorship.

On Monday the Human Rights Council will meet to discuss the findings and recommendations of Mr Quinatana’s report.

“For six decades Karen people have been one of the ethnic groups who have been directly targeted by the Burmese Army, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against us,” said Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, board member of European Karen Network. “The Human Rights Council must now follow the recommendations of their own Special Rapporteur and establish a Commission of Inquiry.”

On 9th March Karen communities in ten countries worldwide held a day of action calling on governments to establish a Commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the dictatorship.

The regime has recently stepped up attacks against Karen civilians. They are trying to crush all opposition to their rule ahead of fake elections later this year. Villagers have been shot on site, more than 80 homes burned down, and a child killed when the Burmese Army fired a mortar bomb at a school.

“For many years Burma’s generals have broken international law, and been allowed to get away with it without the UN even properly investigating what is going on” said Nant Bwa Bwa Phan. “On Monday members of the Human Rights Council have a responsibility to act, and finally set up a commission of inquiry.”

The unprecedented recommendation came in an advance unedited version of his report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, which has been published on their website.

The Special Rapporteur report stated that the ‘gross and systematic’ nature of the abuses and the lack of action to stop them indicated; ‘a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels.’

It further states; ‘According to consistent reports, the possibility exists that some of these human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.’ ... ‘UN institutions may consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes.’

The Burma Campaign UK and many other NGOs and democracy activists from Burma have been calling on the UN to establish a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. The calls have been backed by former Special Rapporteurs on Burma, a report by Harvard Law School, and many others, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

In the UK 176 MPs have signed a Parliamentary motion calling on the British government to support the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry.

“The Special Rapporteur’s recommendation for a UN inquiry into human rights abuses is a major step forward,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK. “It is now time for the British government to publicly state that they support this recommendation, and back the UN setting up an Inquiry.

So far the British government has refused to say that they support the UN establishing a Commission of Inquiry, arguing that there is not enough support at the UN Security Council. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy, as unless one country supports a position and starts working to build support for it, there never will be agreement. In addition, as the Special Rapporteur has indicated, the Inquiry does not have to be set up by the Security Council.

“Burma’s generals are criminals, the evidence is everywhere to see, it is now time for their crimes to be investigated,” said Zoya Phan.

For more information contact Zoya Phan on 020 7324 4710

The advanced unedited version is available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A-HRC-13-48.pdf

Key relevant sections follow:

120. As the Special Rapporteur stated in previous reports, there is a pattern of gross   and systematic violation of human rights which has been in place for many years and still continues. The human rights that are part of this pattern are broad ranging and include the right to life, right to liberty, right to personal integrity, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, right to judicial remedy, due process of law, right to nationality, protection of civilians and internally displaced communities, prohibition against discrimination, among others.

121. Given the gross and systematic nature of human rights violations in Myanmar over a period of many years, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights violations are the result of a state policy that involves authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels. According to consistent reports, the possibility exists that some of these human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

122. The mere existence of this possibility obliges the Government of Myanmar to take prompt and effective measures to investigate these facts. There have clearly been cases where it has been necessary to establish responsibility, but this has not been done. Given this lack of accountability, UN institutions may consider the possibility to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes. At this particular stage in Myanmar’s history, the state faces this critical assignment which must be addressed by this Government and by a newly elected Government as well.
57. The Special Rapporteur has previously noted the problem of impunity in Myanmar, and he has called for prompt measures to establish accountability and responsibility with regard to widespread and systematic human rights abuses. The Constitution contains one article in Chapter XIV on “Transitory Provisions” which could be seen to enshrine impunity through permanent amnesties for crimes committed by military leaders and civilian personnel and requires clarification. Article 445 states that “no proceeding shall be instituted against the aid Councils (SLORC, SPDC) or any member thereof or any member of the Government, in respect of any act done in the execution of their respective duties.”

Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from membership of a political party as she has a criminal conviction after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house last year and refused to leave. The generals used this as a pretext to charge her with breaking the law, and she was found guilty in August 2009 following a sham trial.

“This is the final nail in the coffin for the credibility of the elections,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “They won’t be free and fair, and even if they were, the new constitution guarantees continued dictatorship anyway. The entire process is a sham. It is time the United Nations Security Council enforced its demands for a genuine process of reform by passing a binding resolution, and discussing imposing an arms embargo.”

The United Nations Security Council, United Nations Secretary General, and UN General Assembly have repeatedly called on Burma’s generals to enter into genuine dialogue with the National League for Democracy and genuine ethnic representatives. However, the international community seemed content to sit back and hope that the dictatorship’s so-called road map to democracy could be adapted to introduce real change. At last it should now be clear that the fake elections due later this year will not bring any change to Burma.

The hard line approach of the generals, underlined by the lack of willingness by the dictatorship to respond in the smallest way to requests by the UN and others, is demonstrated by the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi is not only barred from taking part in the elections, but also barred from membership of a political party, meaning that the National League for Democracy is required to expel her, or face being banned itself.

The election laws are being published in instalments in a national newspaper. Yesterday, the laws covering the election commission were published, which state that the generals will hand-pick election officials, rather than allowing an open process involving political parties or impartial UN or international officials.

“Burma’s generals are directly defying the United Nations Security Council, shamelessly rigging elections, and slaughtering ethnic minorities,” said Anna Roberts. “The Security Council can no longer hide behind the hope that the elections will bring change, and now must to wake up to its responsibilities and take action.”

For more information contact Anna Roberts on 020 7324 4710

Each year the World Economic Forum recognizes up to 200 people who are under the age of 40 for “their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.”

Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2010 were chosen by a selection committee chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and comprised of eminent international media leaders.

Announcing the awards, the World Economic Forum stated: “The 2010 honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young Global Leaders community that currently comprises 660 outstanding individuals. The YGLs convene at an annual summit – this year it will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2-7 May 2010, the first time in Africa and the largest ever gathering of YGLs – as well as at Forum events and meetings throughout the year. These events enable YGLs to build a strong and diverse community, to engender a better understanding of the global and regional agendas and to engage in initiatives to address specific challenges of public interest.”

“It is a great encouragement to see such a respected body give recognition of the struggle for freedom and justice in Burma,” said Zoya Phan. “I am delighted and honoured to have been chosen, and hope that it will enable me to do more to raise the profile of the situation in Burma.”

To interview Zoya Phan call 020 7324 4712

“The United Nations and some European countries seems to have been seduced by the mood music from the generals that change is on the way because of so-called elections later this year,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “However, the generals’ actions tell a different story. The continuing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners, the mortar bombing of a school in Karen state last week, new military offensives against ethnic people in Eastern Burma, these are not the actions of a reforming regime. It is time the UN stopped dithering in the desperate and deluded hope that the fake elections will bring change, and instead renewed efforts to enforce Security Council and General Assembly demands for dialogue between the generals, the National League for Democracy, and genuine ethnic representatives.”

Aung San Suu Kyi had appealed against her latest detention, following a sham trial after an American man entered her home without her permission. She has now spent more than 14 years in detention. Her current period of detention began in May 2003 after a convoy she was travelling in was ambushed by a regime militia. She escaped with her life but dozens of her supporters were killed. She is due to be released from house arrest in November this year, a month after fake elections being planned by Burma’s generals.

For more information contact Anna Roberts on 020 7324 4710

The Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/aungsansuukyi enables people to become a fan of Aung San Suu Kyi and receive regular updates about the situation in Burma, as well as requests to take action.

The high number of supporters puts her in the top one hundred political leaders of all time.

“For thousands of people this Facebook Page is the only way they receive news about what is happening to Aung San Suu Kyi,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK. “Facebook enables us to reach people who would not otherwise pay attention to the situation in Burma, and we can mobilise them to take action.”

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent more than14 years in detention. Her current period of detention began in May 2003 after a convoy she was travelling in was ambushed by a regime militia. She escaped with her life but dozens of her supporters were killed. She is due to be released from house arrest in November this year, a month after fake elections being planned by Burma’s generals.

The Facebook page is at: http://www.facebook.com/aungsansuukyi

For more information contact Zoya Phan on 020 7324 4710

Major New Report On Eastern Burma

Walking Amongst Sharp Knives reveals previously unreported abuses taking place against ethnic Karen women in Burma.

The practice of the Burmese Army to execute village heads has led to traditional Karen culture being turned upside-down, with women now being appointed village chiefs as they are seen as less likely to be killed. However, this change has put women in the frontline of human rights abuses. These abuses constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The abuses experienced or witnessed by the women chiefs include:
·      Crucifixions

·      People burnt alive

·      Rape, including gang rape.

·      Many forms of torture, including beatings and water torture.

·      People buried up to their heads in earth and beaten to death.

·      Arbitrary executions

·      Beheadings

·      Slave labour

The women chiefs have been deliberately targeted for gender-based violence, including gang-rape. Pregnant and nursing women chiefs have been subjected to forced labour and gruelling interrogation. 

Yet despite these abuses the report also reveals the bravery and personal sacrifice of women in challenging injustice and defending their people.

“How can any woman feel safe under the Burma Army when even women village heads are openly targeted for abuse?” said Blooming Night Zan KWO Joint Secretary 1 of KWO.

The Karen Women Organization is calling on the members of the United Nations Security Council to support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Burmese military dictatorship.

“These women chiefs are unsung heroes,” said Blooming Night Zan “They are placing themselves not only at the front line of abuses by the Burma Army, but also at the forefront of the struggle for gender equality in Burma.”

The KWO is urgently calling for the Thai government to continue to provide protection to refugees fleeing human rights abuses in Burma. The Thai Army is currently seeking to repatriate over 3,000 Karen refugees in Tak province.

http://www.karenwomen.org