Worldwide Parliamentarians call for investigation

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today welcomes a letter to the United Nations Security Council signed by 442 Members of Parliament around the world and issued on the 61st anniversary of the introduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, calling for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma, and the introduction of a universal arms embargo.

The letter, signed by Parliamentarians in 29 countries from Asia, Europe, North and South America, including Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Korea, Brazil, Maldives, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand, comes a day after the British House of Commons debated the human rights crisis in Burma.

Yesterday, Nigel Evans MP introduced a debate on Burma in the House of Commons, in which he called on the British government to support the establishment of a commission of inquiry. Several other contributing MPs added their support to this call. In addition, an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the British Parliament calling for a commission of inquiry on Burma has been signed by 92 MPs so far, and a new EDM, tabled by Nigel Evans to mark International Human Rights Day, states that “in Burma, the case of Aung San Suu Kyi highlights the cruel suppression of democracy and perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the military junta”.

Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader at CSW, said: “We warmly welcome the support of almost five hundred Parliamentarians around the world, and we are delighted that the British House of Commons has debated Burma again and has spoken so strongly in support of a commission of inquiry. The international recognition that what is happening in Burma amounts to crimes against humanity and war crimes is growing, and governments now need to respond to this by working to establish a UN commission of inquiry to investigate these crimes.”