Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Dear Prime Minister:

On behalf of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, I am writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent turn of events in Burma. Canadians and people around the world have been able to witness growing protests in Burma, led by Buddhist monks and nuns, as they have been gathering momentum in recent days.

• Read the latest news from Burma at labourstart.org

In solidarity with the monks who sacrificed their lives, and to the students and youth who bravely confronted the military dictatorship through peaceful protest, the Burmese Federation of Trade Unions called a general strike for October 1. Once again, the military dictatorship has carried out acts of extreme violence against the Burmese people, including repeatedly firing weapons directly into crowds of peaceful demonstrators, and carrying out mass arrests and murderous assaults.

What is most disturbing is that such gross violations of human rights are standard fare for this regime. Not only has it regularly engaged in the barbaric practice of forced labour and imprisoned the leaders of the movement for democracy such as Aung San Suu Kyi, but also it has unleashed military and police terror each time the courageous people of Burma have attempted to stand up against the dictatorship.

In response, governments around the world, including the Government of Canada, have expressed condemnation of these acts. As recently as June, 2007, the House of Commons unanimously demanded that the Burmese military junta release Suu Kyi from the lengthy house arrest she has endured. She has been forced to spend 11 of the past 17 years in detention since she won a landslide election. The Public Service Alliance of Canada supports an expanded demand that all of Burma’s political prisoners, including the thousands of monks recently arrested in Rangoon, as well as student leaders, be immediately freed.

Demands of this sort, unfortunately, have not proven effective in changing the behaviour of “Senior General” Than Shwe and the military thugs he leads. During its proceedings against forced labour in Burma in 2000, the International Labour Organization (ILO) took the unprecedented steps of invoking article 33 of its Constitution. By calling for the use of this enforcement mechanism for the first time in its 85-year history, the ILO in effect promoted a worldwide official boycott of Burma.

We call on the Federal Government to promptly follow up on the ILO resolution, which asked member countries to review their ties to Burma and to “take appropriate measures to ensure [the Myanmar government] cannot take advantage” of such ties in order “to perpetuate and extend the system of forced or compulsory labour”. In order to be effective, such action must be more than pro-forma—it must involve an end to doing business in Burma. This should feature a complete and mandatory cessation of all commercial relations and investment by Canadian-based corporations.

Mr. Prime Minister, we know from the experience of combating South Africa’s despicable and racist apartheid system that economic pressure played a huge role in bringing that regime to heel. Your government can have an important role in fundamentally reducing the ability of the Burmese dictatorship to function in the world. We call on you to act now.

Yours truly, John Gordon, National President, PSAC

c.c. Stephane Dion, Leader of the Opposition
Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP
Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Friends of Burma
PSAC National Board of Directors
Public Services International