Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org> .
Wednesday 26 September 2007
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), 1997 Nobel Prize for Peace, joined today other Nobel Laureates in expressing solidarity to the people of Burma/Myanmar as their peaceful protest to demand respect for their fundamental human rights is being met by violence.
The ICBL also joined the call - made by six women Nobel Laureates on 25 September for the ruling military junta not to respond with violence to demonstrations, and to
ICBL ambassador Jody Williams and former coordinator Liz Bernstein meet Aung San Suu-Kyi in 2003. Photo: ICBL.
immediately release fellow Laureate Aung San Suu-Kyi and other political prisoners. ICBL ambassador and Nobel co-laureate Jody Williams visited Aung San Suu-Kyi in 2003 prior to her house arrest.
“Although our main focus is on violence caused by antipersonnel mines, this does not blind us to other types of violence. The people of Burma/Myanmar have suffered too long from the denial of their most basic human rights, including the right to life,” said Sylvie Brigot, ICBL Executive Director. One of many threats to their basic rights suffered by the Burmese is called “atrocity demining,” which is when civilians are forced to clear mines ahead of military units by walking over them. The ICBL strongly condemns this practice, as well as the Burmese government’s the widespread use of antipersonnel mines to terrorize the civilian population in ethnic areas.
“We commend the courage of those responding to the violence and oppression of the military regime by trying to promote peaceful change,” Brigot continued. “We urge the authorities of Myanmar to listen to the voice of their people, and not to respond with violence to their legitimate calls for political freedom.”
Background
The military junta ruling Burma/Myanmar was one of only three state authorities still using antipersonnel mines in the Landmine Monitor 2006 report.
Aung San Suu-Kyi and the National League for Democracy party have consistently and publicly endorsed the mine ban. They have been the only major party in Burma/Myanmar to do so, and to state that they will seek for Burma to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty as a matter of national urgency once they are able to take their seats in Parliament. Aung San Suu-Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 “for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.”