HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

Early day motion 758, tabled 24 February 2003 by Bob Spink (Conservative). Signed by 90 members.

That this House is appalled by the continued violations of human rights committed by the State Peace and Development Council in Burma; calls on the international community to redouble its efforts to assist the 132,000 refugees in camps on the Thai-Burma border and the over 650,000 internally displaced Karen, Karenni and Shan ethnic minority people; believes that the indiscriminate burning of homes, villages and crops, forced porterage, the use of civilians as human minesweepers, the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war and countless violations of human rights against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people constitute genocide; demands an end to the 54-year long war of attrition against ethnic minorities such as the Karen; demands an end to the repatriation of democracy activists back to Burma; condemns those governments which are seeking to create normal trading relationships with the Burmese military junta; and further demands the upholding of the 1990 election victory of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy and the bringing to justice of those responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

Signatures by party: Labour 46, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 14, UUP 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1.