New Zealand Government endorses a Commission of Inquiry on Burma

Burma Campaign New Zealand welcomes the New Zealand Government’s endorsement of a Commission of Inquiry on Burma

Wellington, New Zealand

The Burma Campaign New Zealand applauds the New Zealand Government for their decision to support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in Burma.

New Zealand joins the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in publicly supporting the proposal for an investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma. In March 2010, the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Quintana backed the call of Burma activists around the world and urged the UN “to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes” in Burma.

“BCNZ welcomes the Government’s decision to support a Commission of Inquiry.  We urge other nations to do the same and pledge their support for the establishment of Commission of Inquiry in the UN General Assembly resolution on Burma this year.

“I am delighted in this decision and humbly appreciate the endeavors of successive NZ governments and parliamentarians who have supported a free and democratic Burma,” said Naing Ko, Spokesperson for Burma Campaign New Zealand and a former political prisoner.

“New Zealand has a proud history of promoting and protecting human rights. I think all New Zealanders will agree with me that we can not tolerate crimes against humanity and war crimes in our region,” said Naing Ko.

There is no doubt that the military junta of Burma is one of the worst human rights violators in the world. Torture, sexual violence, forced labour, recruitment of child soldiers, and the killing of civilians in ethnic areas are widespread and systematic.

The international community has long been aware of the systematic nature of human rights violations committed in Burma, and it is imperative they start to investigate these crimes.

“It is great to see the New Zealand Government is willing to stand in solidarity with the people of Burma and support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry; a necessary first step to ending impunity and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Naing Ko said.

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