The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today made the following statement on democratic development in Burma:

“May 27 marks the 17th anniversary of Burma’s last democratic elections, which were won in a landslide by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Today, Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, and Burma continues to be ruled by an authoritarian and repressive government.

“The Burmese regime consistently violates the most fundamental human rights of the people of Burma. The April 18 attack on two human rights workers and last week’s arrests of activists calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, including noted labour activist Su Su Nway, once again demonstrate the Burmese regime’s brutal disregard for human rights, freedom of expression and democracy.

“Canada calls upon the Burmese government to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Burma, engage in a genuine dialogue with members of the democratic opposition, and release immediately all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.”