Australia Must Impose Sanctions NOW

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

[The following is News Release from Senator Vicki Bourne Calling the
Australian Government to impose Sanctions.]

PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA · THE SENATE

SENATOR VICKI BOURNE
Senator for New South Wales
Australian Democrats Whip

27 May l997

NEWS RELEASE

7th Anniversary of SLORC Junta in Burma -
Australia Must Impose Sanctions NOW

The Australian Democrats Senator Vicki Bourne today urged the Federal
Government to contact the Association of South East Asian Nation's
foreign ministers to point out the disadvantages to ASEAN member nations
of Burmese admission to the group.

Senator Bourne, Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Spokesperson for the
Democrats, was speaking to members of Australia's Burmese community at a
protest outside Parliament House in Canberra this afternoon.

The protest coincides with the seventh anniversary of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi's National League for Democracy landslide election victory in Burma.
As the anniversary approached, SLORC, Burma's brutal ruling military
junta, has pushed ahead with a crackdown against supporters of Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi. So far at least 250 people have been detained.

Senator Bourne said "ASEAN foreign ministers are about to hold a special
meeting to discuss Burmese admission to the Association. Australia's
Government should point out to these ministers, in no uncertain terms
that ASEAN credibility would be seriously undermined if Burma is allowed
to become a member.

"ASEAN can readily gauge the strength of international concern about
SLORC human rights abuses by the imposition of United States and
European Union economic sanctions against Burma.

'The EU and US have shown the way. It is time for Australia to also
accept its role as principled international citizen by following their
example, We should also impose visa restrictions on SLORC and members of
their families.

"Seven years of diplomatic niceties have failed dismally: a multilateral
approach is the only way to stop the hardline rule of SLORC.

'Australia must heed the request of Burma's democratically elected
leader and Nobel Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by imposing sanctions
against SLORC now."

(Senator Bourne moved a notice of motion in the Senate today on the
current situation in Burma.  Copies are available on request.)

For more information, please contact Senator Bourne: 06 277 3820 W or 06
297 3830 H 
Commonwealth Parliament Offices 56-70 Phillip Street  Sydney, N.S.W.
Postal Address: GPO. Box 34, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000
Telephone: (02) 247 3377 Facsimile (02) 247 9681