New Zealand protest about state of democracy in Burma

Today a group of Burmese refugees now resident in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson staged a protest on the steps of the New Zealand Parliament. They expressed their grave concern about the complete lack of freedom and democracy in Burma. Some protesters used theatre to convey that Burma is little more than an open prison for most of the general population.

Many Burmese pro-democracy activists were in the House yesterday when Parliament unanimously passed a motion, calling on the military rulers of Burma to reinstate the democratic rights of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the disbanded National League for Democracy.

MPs fromthe Cross-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma also attended today's protest. Maryan Street - the group's chair - addressed the crowd, stating "The elections in Burma, planned for later this year, will be a sham if Suu Kyi is not permitted to contest them again. Her release from house arrest and the reinstatement of her democratic rights, together with the release of the estimated 2,200 other political prisoners held by the junta, are the only things which will make these elections credible in the eyes of the world.”

The New Zealand Parliamentjoins with nation states from around the world in seeking advances in democracy for the people of Burma.

ENDS

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