PFOB formed, 25 MPs and Senators joined

A Statement of Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)

December 12, 2006, Ottawa

The Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) was officially launched on Dec. 7 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with the membership of 25 MPs and Senators from all political parties in Canada. “This long-anticipated Parliamentary group was created to encourage dialogue and raise national as well as international awareness, for the people of Burma and their long struggle for democracy,” said Liberal MP Larry Bagnell, elected chair of PFOB.

“PFOB is now the biggest Parliamentary friendship group in the Canadian Parliament,” said Tin Maung Htoo, Executive Director of the Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB), the organization that helped form the group. “We are also delighted to see influential parliamentarians joining in the group,” he added.

PFOB membership includes important figures such as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the ruling party’s Caucus Chair. The group also consists of leading political figures such as Mr. Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Chair of Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, and the foreign affairs critic from Bloc Quebecois.

“The launch of Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB)last week in Ottawa is a timely and important initiative in the cause of restoring democracy and the rule of law to 50 million nationals of what should be a peaceful,important and prosperousmember of the international community,” said Hon. David Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and a member of Advisory Council of the Canadian Friends of Burma. He chaired the official launch of PFOB on Dec. 7.

To the event, Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of the Burmese government in exiled, Mr. Charles Chong, the head of Singaporean Parliamentary Caucus on Burma and member of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), Dr. Tint Swe, representative of Members of Parliament Union (MPU-Burma), and Dr. Thoung Htun, UN representative for the government in exiled, attended, along with Canadian parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of civil society and Burmese delegates from across Canada. Dr. Sein Win delivered a keynote speech during the reception.

On Dec. 8, a series of important meetings took place in the Parliament, and implementation of ‘Burma Motion’ passed in the House of Commons in May, 2005 was mainly discussed. The ruling Conservative MPs including Mr. Jason Kenney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Mr. Deepak Obhria, Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Minister, assured the delegates that their government that voted in favor of the motion during the opposition is considering for the implementation of major recommendations including a provision of tangible support to Burmese democratic institutions and imposition of tougher measure against the Burmese military junta.

For further info: Tin Maung Htoo (CFOB) at (613) 297-6835, or Melissa Delaney (Secretary to PFOB) at (613) 995-9368

Background Information

On the formation of Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB)

Successive Canadian MPs have supported Burmese Democratic Movement since a nation-wide Democratic Movement broke out in Burma in 1988. The name of Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) has virtually existed in the Canadian Parliament since more than 10 years ago with MPs advocating for Democracy in Burma. The first attempt to officially form the group took place on Nov. 30, 2005; however, it was postponed due to an early dissolution of Parliament on Nov. 28, 2006.

Apparently, Canadian MPs’ support for Democracy in Burma has steadily increased. Notably, 50 MPs added their names and signed on a letter addressing to UN General Secretary Kofi Anan and members of Security Council on June 27, 2006, calling for UNSC action on Burma. This parliamentarians’ support strengthens the position of the Government of Canada that expressed the need to have an UNSC action on Burma. Subsequently, UNSC formally put Burma on its agenda on September 15, 2006.

Moreover, the most significant outcome from the Canadian Parliament is a passage of the first-ever yet the most comprehensive resolution on Burma. The majority Members of Parliament voted in favor of the resolution on May 18, 2005 that calls for trade and investment sanctions, UN Security Council intervention, and the provision of ‘tangible support’ for the Burmese democratic movement. The existence of PFOB will ensure the implementation process and represent the interest and spirit of this resolution.

Overall, the formation of PFOB is to support democratization process in Burma by promoting Burma issues at Canadian Parliament and among Canadians. PFOB is to work together with similar parliamentary groups on Burma around the world in order to help realize the dream of 52 million Burmese people for the restoration of Democracy and human rights in their homeland. PFOB is also to raise Burma issues in various international and regional events, as well as sending fact-finding missions, conducting research and making recommendations to the Government of Canada.

It will also ensure more parliamentarians support on Burma, more debate, advocacy, and concerted effort on Burma and the chance to work together with ASEAN and other international parliamentarians in support of Democracy and human rights in Burma.

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Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)
145 Spruce St. Suite 206
Ottawa, ON K1R 6P1
Tel: 613.237.8056

Mobile: 613. 297.6835
Fax: 613.563.0017
Email:
Website: http://www.cfob.org

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