- Conference
- 2013 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 18 September 2012
- Decision
- Carried
The British Government’s support for a UN Arms Embargo against Burma and an imposed ban on Burmese Gems, Timber, Metals, and on investments in these sectors, is very welcomed. However, it is time for further sanctions, as it is vital for us to pile up economic and political pressure on the military regime, to start genuine talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, to ensure a smooth transition to democracy.
Conference notes with deep concern that in the absence of democracy in Burma, abuse of Human Rights and killing of Burmese people is still going strong under Military rule.
For example, Amnesty International recent statement manage an evidence, that Muslims in Burma’s western Rakhine state have been subjected to attacks and arbitrary arrests in the weeks since communal violence erupted, this June. BBC, Amnesty sources accuses Burmese security forces as well as ethnic Rakhine Buddhist residents of assaults, unlawful killings of Muslims and the destruction of property.
In its 56-page report “Human Rights Watch” insists: “The Government Could Have Stopped this Sectarian Violence and Ensuing Abuses. The report presents evidence that how the Burmese authorities failed to take adequate measures to end rising tensions and the outbreak of sectarian violence in Arakan State.
Although communal violence has eased since the unrest in June; violations by the security forces appear to have increased. According to human rights groups the government claims it is committed to ending ethnic strife and abuse, but recent events in Arakan State demonstrate that state-sponsored persecution and discrimination persist. Earlier this month, Burma’s President Thein Sein said the “solution” for the Rohingya was deportation or refugee camps.
Killing and abuse of Human Rights in Burma does affect Black people living in the UK. The fact is British Citizens of Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani origin via remittance do contribute a huge chunk to the economy of countries they came from.
Migration of Burmese people (including Muslims) to neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, India and even to Pakistan puts addition burden on the overstretched economic resources of these countries. Migration of Burmese people does give rise to high cost of living back home, forcing our families to live in poverty – this worries us all. The neighbouring Bangladesh already hosts several hundred thousand refugees from Burma and says it cannot take any more.
Conference, UNISON has a chequered history in providing support to the movement for Democracy in Burma. And we believe democracy is the only way to put an end to the Human Rights abuse of Burmese people.
Therefore, conference urges up on the NBMC to work with UNISON NEC’s International Committee to lobby with our politician and sister trade unions in US, Canada, and EC:
1)To influence Burmese government to take urgent measures to end Human Rights abuses by their forces.
2)To ensure humanitarian access, and permit independent international monitors to visit affected areas and investigate abuses.
3)To intensify support for trade union led movement for democracy in Burma.