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VIC ALP calls for sanctions on Burma

By Burma Campaign Australia  •  June 22, 2010

Burma activists are urging the Australian Government to listen to the Victorian branch of Australian Labor Party (ALP) who has called for trade and investment sanctions to be imposed on Burma.

On Saturday, Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th birthday, the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party passed a motion calling on the Australia Government to impose targeted trade and investment sanctions on Burma at their state conference.

The motion stated: “Australian companies that invest and operate in Burma are helping fund the country’s brutal military dictatorship and their actions including systematic human rights violations.”

“Foreign investments in Burma directly contributes to the long term financial viability and stability of the Burmese military dictatorship because it provides an economic lifeline to the dictatorship through revenues gained from partnership agreements, tax and royalties,” it stated.

“We call on the Australian Government to Impose target trade and investment sanctions against Burma.” Burma Campaign Australia spokesperson, Zetty Brake, welcomed the motion and urged the Australian Government to take action.

“Australian companies are helping fund the military dictatorship in Burma and their actions including human rights abuses,” Ms Brake said.

“The Australian Government is aware of this and is yet to take appropriate action to stop these companies – hopefully this motion will push the Government to take action.”

Australia’s Twinza Oil is investing in Burma’s multi-billion dollar oil and gas industry. Twinza Oil’s project will provide the military regime with an estimated US$2.5 billion – enough money to fund a quarter of Burma’s military, the 12th largest in the world, for a decade.

Local ALP Branches across Australia have adopted similar resolutions, calling on the Australian Government to impose targeted trade and investment sanctions on Burma.

For more information contact Zetty Brake 0416289235

Tags: Australia, Burma Campaign Australia, Sanctions

This post is in: Press Release

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