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Adjournment Speech

Date:
19th October

Subject:
Launch of Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma


" I am pleased to inform the House that on 16 September this year, in the presence of the President of the Legislative Council, the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann, U Tin Htut, who is the National League for Democracy MP in exile, and Dr Myint Cho, among other guests and friends of Burma, I had the honour of being the charter president at the launch of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma, which was formed on 27 July 2004.

The official launch was held on 16 September because that is the anniversary of the National League for Democracy's election victory. The objects of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma are to inform the Australian people about the developments in Burma, to promote friendship between the people of Australia and the people of Burma, to promote organisations in Burma that advocate democracy, gender equality, racial equality and human rights, and to help the convening of the democratically elected Burmese Parliament of 1990.
The Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma especially wishes to convince parliamentarians and decision makers about the legitimacy of the Committee Representing the People's Parliament [CRPP], which consists of representatives of the National League for Democracy outside Burma. The leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, is a household name in Australia. The appalling treatment of her—a person who is a hero among her own people—is a disgrace. During the launch, the representative of the National League for Democracy, U Tin Htut, referred to the situation in Burma. In Australia, people take democracy for granted. Although our system is not perfect, at least we are able to get rid of a government when that is necessary. Australians are not confronted with problems that exist in Burma where there is real oppression by the illegitimate government that effectively has stolen the wealth of the country and enslaved the people.

Australia is in the process of taking democracy to Iraq, but has ignored a legitimate government that has been forced into exile by an illegitimate regime in Burma. The State Peace and Development Council, the name of the former State Law and Order Restoration Council, is the junta that controls power in Burma. To a large extent, Burma is run by both the Chinese mafia and the Japanese yakuza. The attitude of surrounding Asian countries is extremely important for Burma and it is vitally important for Australia to maintain its pressure on the Burmese regime and the illegitimate junta that currently holds power.

Recent events that have caused concern include Japanese monks being sentenced to three years imprisonment for allegedly, according to the regime, breaking the rules. If the monks broke the rules, that is because the rules are incredibly restrictive and place much of Burma off limits.

The monks visited only major towns and were particularly interested in the monasteries. It is significant that the monks were targeted, as Japan is seen to support the current Burmese regime. The interpreters for the Japanese monks were also gaoled. Honourable members should write letters of protest to the Burmese Government, because pressure from other countries, and particularly from parliamentarians, may lead to its ceasing its appalling practices. Burma has eight major ethnic groups and more than 100 minor ethnic groups, many of which have their own languages, although Burmese is universal and widely spoken.
I ask all members of this Parliament to support the Burmese in their struggle for justice and to have the result of the legitimate 1990 election acknowledged. Presumably the junta thought it would win and simply ignored the results that did not suit it. It is up to Australia to be a long-term friend of the Burmese people. I ask all people associated with Parliament to support the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma.[ Time expired .] "