PRIME
MINISTER MOVES TO GRANT HONOURARY CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP TO LEADER OF
DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN BURMA, AUNG SAN SUU KYI
OTTAWA
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper tabled a motion in the House of Commons
today to confer honourary citizenship status on Aung San Suu Kyi, the
world-renowned advocate of freedom and democracy in Burma. The Prime
Minister called upon all Members of Parliament to back the motion as a
demonstration of Canada's support for the people of Burma in their
struggle against the brutal military dictatorship that rules their
country.
"Our
nation is built on our founding values: freedom, democracy, human rights
and the rule of law," said the Prime Minister. "We must
ally ourselves with those in the world who share our values, and
especially those who are denied them."
In
early September, the latest round of pro-democracy demonstrations began in
Burma. The military junta responded with a violent crackdown that left
thousands imprisoned and an unknown number of people beaten, tortured and
killed.
The
Prime Minister said Canada has responded by joining the international
community in condemning the violence and pushing for a special session of
the United Nations Human Rights Council on Burma earlier this month.
"Ms.
Suu Kyi is the living embodiment of the long struggle for freedom and
democracy in her country," said Prime Minister Harper. "The
adoption of today's motion sends a message to her, her people, and the
world, that Canada stands up for the universal values that are under siege
in Burma today."
