16 – 22 August: US Supports UN Inquiry in Burma; Others Must Follow Suit

By Burma Partnership • August 23, 2010

Last Tuesday, the Obama administration declared their support for a UN commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. Activists, think tanks, and UN officials, including UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma Tomás Ojea Quintana and his predecessors Paulo Pinherio and Yozo Yokota, have long called for this commission of inquiry in order to move towards justice and peace in Burma. The United States’ decision is a crucial step towards to the creation of the commission of inquiry and a much-needed move from the international community to demonstrate their commitment to the protection of human rights in Burma.

Regardless of individual nations’ diplomatic policy towards Burma, support for a commission of inquiry is a move that all countries can, and must take. It is not an issue of intrastate politics – it is an issue of justice. If a state is earnest in its calls for positive social, political and economic change in Burma, it should back up its rhetoric with concrete actions to help seek justice, peace and national reconciliation.

As demonstrated by the Obama administration, support for a commission of inquiry is still consistent with policies of engagement: “Diplomatic engagement is not a reward – it is a tool designed to facilitate and encourage positive change. We have been clear all along this did not preclude us from taking steps to increase pressure when warranted,” stated a US State Department official.

Foreign Policy magazine noted that this move reflected a greater shift towards critical engagement in US policy on Burma, partly in response to the fact that “the Burmese government failed to come forward with steps to bring progress towards democracy.”

Burma and solidarity groups have applauded the US’s decision to back up their words with actions but have noted that, shamefully for the international community, the US is only the fifth country to publicly support the commission of inquiry, following Australia, Czech, Slovakia, and UK. Joint Secretary of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners-Burma, Ko Bo Kyi, called for action to pressure New Zealand, Canada and numerous European countries to follow suit and support the commission. Burma Campaign UK has specifically targeted New Zealand and especially the European Union, stating, “The EU must end its silence on crimes against humanity in Burma, and publicly support a UN Inquiry. The EU is currently drafting the UN General Assembly resolution on Burma and must ensure the establishment of a UN Inquiry is in the resolution which is adopted.” Canadian Friends of Burma is leading the calls for the Canadian government to also support the inquiry.

Regional groups, including the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), have also called on ASEAN to support the commission of inquiry. Indonesian House of Representatives Myanmar caucus head Eva K. Sundari declared that the Indonesian government should support the creation as the Indonesian government “ha[s] been very soft so far. Our so-called constructive engagement has failed to bear any fruit.”

The international community often pledges their support for improving the human rights situation in Burma in statements and speeches. However, the people of Burma need more than just empty words. If individual states are truly committed to protecting human rights, they must prove it now by supporting the creation of a UN-led commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

News Highlights

NLD announces official boycott of the elections and plans to encourage the public to participate in the boycott

Inside Burma

NLD holds voter education campaign in Southern Burma

Imprisoned 88 Generation student leader Htay Kywe denounces the upcoming elections

NDF expects to field more than 100 candidates nationwide

Opposition parties encounter difficulties in fielding enough candidates across the country

Kachin State Progressive Party still yet to receive approval from the Election Commission

Shan National Democratic Party chooses a female candidate to run in the elections

Survey in Rangoon finds 55% of citizens intend to boycott the elections as “no matter what government comes into power, it won’t change our lives”

Election commission demands NDF leaders submit second letter of appeal for past acts of ‘treason’ as the first letter was deemed ‘incomplete’

Election Commission republishes campaign restrictions

Senior USDP official boasts it only considers the National Unity Party and NDF as potential main rivals in the 2010 elections

USDP opens offices across the country, including Rangoon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw; claims membership is now at 8 million people

Prime Minister Thein Sein and 26 other ministers are expected to resign from administrative posts in September; junta will then instate interim government led by Lt-Gen Myint Swe

Ten more military lieutenant generals retire to participate in the elections

Than Shwe joins a USDP “Election Victory campaign” strategy meeting; orders the completion of government buildings in Naypyidaw ahead of elections

New railway in Shan State increases military capabilities in Eastern Shan State; raises concerns about possible renewed fighting

Regional

Indonesian commissioner for the ASEAN Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission urges Burma to learn from Indonesia’s mistakes in failing to hold human rights violators accountable

South Korean Foreign Minister to visit Burma, plans to raise issue of Burmese-North Korean military ties

ASEAN “welcomes” Burma’s announcement of the poll date

East Timor seeks to improve commercial ties with Burma; Burmese FM’s visit swamped by human rights protesters

Thai-Burma border closure causes increasing unemployment and economic hardship for workers from Burma on both sides of the border

Bomb explodes by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army checkpoint in Three Pagodas Pass near the Thai-Burma border

International

NLD co-founder U Win Tin urges Canada to support a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma

Canadian Foreign Minister concerned that Burma’s elections will be held under “oppressive conditions”

Barclays Bank fined for breaking US sanctions; Washington judge criticizes the “sweetheart deal” and relatively insignificant fine of Barclays Bank for flouting international sanctions

US probes drilling company Tranoscean on its operations in Burma and links to junta-allied narcotic ‘warlord’

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Action

Police crack down on human rights activists in East Timor protesting Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win’s visit

Burmese people living in Japan staged a protest in front of the SPDC embassy in Tokyo, demanding the release of a well-known Arakanese historian monk and 11 Arakanese youths, in addition to the return of seized artifacts and 100 relocated Arakanese orphans

Critics and comedians gather at Edinburgh festival for a football game in support of imprisoned Burmese comedian Zarganar

Opinion

Commissions of Inquiry, the Human Rights Council and the ICC
By Mark Leon Goldberg
UN Dispatch

The junta names the day
The Economist

Burma: is a bad election better than none at all?
Bangkok Nation

Burma’s transition to civilian dictatorship
By Burma Campaign UK
Mizzima News

The long arm of human rights law is the only thing that will frighten the generals into change
By Emmanouil Athanasiou
The Independent

Statements and Press Releases

AAPP welcomes the U.S.A’s endorsement of a Commission of Inquiry on Burma and urges other nations to take action
By Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma

ASEAN/Regional Countries Urged to Support a UN Commission of Inquiry
By Altsean-Burma

UN General Assembly Must Establish Burma Crimes Inquiry
By Burma Campaign UK

USA Backs UN Burma Crimes Inquiry – Now EU Must Support
By Burma Campaign UK

Barclays Must Disclose Business Dealings With Burma
By Burma Campaign UK

New Zealand Asked To Support UN Inquiry Into War Crimes
By Burma Office New Zealand of the National Council of the Union of Burma, and Burma Campaign UK

CSW Welcomes US Support for Commission of Inquiry on Burma and Urges EU Action
By Christian Solidarity Worldwide

European MPs call on EU to support a UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma
By European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma

Nobel Women’s Initiative Welcomes the U.S. Support of a Commission of Inquiry on Burma
By Nobel Women’s Initiative

New rail link to eastern Shan State spells war escalation
By Shan Women’s Action Network, Shan Human Rights Foundation

TUC calls for Barclays to come clean on Burma
By Trade Union Confederation

U.S. supports UN investigation on crimes against humanity in Burma
By US Campaign for Burma

Congressman Crowley Applauds Administration’s Support of the Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes in Burma
By US Congressman Joseph Crowley

WLB Applauds the Call from the USA to End Impunity in Burma
By Women’s League of Burma