Second Burma Forum ( Canada )

The Statement of the Second Burma Forum (Canada)

Ottawa, March 21, 2006
The 2nd Burma Forum (Canada) was held successfully at the Embassy West Hotel in
Ottawa from March 17 to 18, 2006. The forum participants widely represented
democracy activists from Burma including ethnic nationalities across Canada and the
United States along with representatives from Canadian Burma support groups. The
forum touched on all Burma related issues but mainly focused on the humanitarian
crisis, recent new political initiative of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
and Canadian foreign policy towards Burma.
It is indeed the second opportune time for Burmese Diasporas and Canadian
supporters across Canada to get together to exchange views and concerns on situation
in Burma and to generate collective policy recommendations to the Government of
Canada. After having two-day long frank and open discussion, the Forum
unanimously agreed the following messages to deliver to the Government of Canada.
Humanitarian Crisis in Burma
· The forum gravely concerns upon rampant humanitarian crisis in Burma and fully
supports the recent call of student leaders from inside Burma on urgent needs of
humanitarian assistance to Burma.
· The forum also agrees with the student leaders asking the establishment of a joint
mechanism comprise with the SPDC, democracy forces led by the NLD and
International donors to receive and manage the international assistance. (Statement of
the “88 Student Generation” can be found as attached)
· The forum fully supports the principles of the NLD on humanitarian assistance
that transparency, accountability and closed monitoring are fundamental necessities to
be an effective assistance delivery system.
· The forum believes that the humanitarian crises are not because of natural disaster
or scarcity of resources but only as a result of systemic failure of incumbent
authorities in Burma. Therefore, an urgent humanitarian intervention by international
community under the auspices of the UN Security Council is strongly recommended
in addition to provision of humanitarian aid.
· The forum urges the Government of Canada to increase humanitarian assistance
significantly in order to cope with appalling situation along the Burma border as well
as inside the country.
NLD’s new political initiative “Olive Branch” Offer
· The Forum fully respects the will of the people clearly expressed through the
1990 general elections and thus supports recent proposal by the NLD for power
sharing, as a practical solution for protracted political stalemate in Burma. (Statement
of NLD can be found as attached)
· The Forum expects the NLD’s political initiative will lead to a stage that will
allow equal participation of all ethnic nationalities in the political process as the best
means for national reconciliation in Burma consecutively expressed in the UN
General Assembly resolutions since 1994.
· The forum strongly urges the State Peace and Development Council, ruling
military regime of Burma, to get into gracious Burmese New Year, which will begin
from April 17, 2006, by responding positively to the mutually acceptable proposal of
the NLD.
· The Forum urges the Government of Canada to support the NLD’s initiative and
also encourages international community, especially ASEAN countries, China and
India to lend the ir support.
Canadian Foreign Policy on Burma
· The Forum appreciates and thanks on current measures and efforts by the
government and people of Canada for restoration of human dignity and democracy in
Burma but still believes that the Canadian Government could and should do more
effectively in both unilateral as well as multilateral levels.
· The Forum urges the Government of Canada to implement the Burma Motion,
which was passed by majority vote in the House of Commons in May 2005.
· The Forum welcomes and thanks the call of former Czech President Vaclav Havel
and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa,
calling for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to act in Burma.
· The Forum welcomes the first ever closed-door briefing of the UNSC on
December 16, 2005, on the situation in Burma and expects the UNSC will continue to
seize the matter. The Forum urges the Government of Canada to increase its
diplomatic effort to make this possible.
The Convening Committee is preparing for detailed report and will submit to the
Government of Canada soon.
The Forum deeply appreciates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Canada, Euro Burma
Office and Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) for their strong support to make
this event successful.
The Forum also apprecia tes all Forum participants and volunteers for their hard work
for the success of this event.
The Forum sincerely expects that the Canadian Government will take these
recommendations, which reflect collective desire of the Burmese community in
Canada, into serious consideration.
Convening Committee
Burma Forum Canada
Further contact:
(1) Than Aung – 780-439-7555 (H); 780-710-3730 (M); thanaung@shaw.ca
(2) Kyaw Moe – 613-231-5228 (H); 613-240-2370 (M);
kyawmoe2000@hotmail.com
(3) Tin Maung Htoo – 519-860-4745 (M); mhtin88@gmail.com
(4) San Aung – 778-828-7433 (M); sanaung@canada.com

Second Burma Forum Canada

The Embassy West Hotel, 1400 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Canada

9a.m. - 4p.m. March 17-18, 2006

Tentative Agenda

March 17, 2006 – Friday (to be conducted in English)

9:00 - 9:20	Breakfast
9:20 - 9:40	Welcome & Introduction of Agenda by Master of Ceremony, Toe Kyi
9:40 - 9:50	Introduction of Participants
9:50 - 10:10	Opening Statement of the Burma Forum Canada: · Than Aung, Joint-Coordinator, Burma Forum Canada (BFC)
10:10 - 10:30	Keynote Speech: · U Bo Hla Tint, Minister, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
10:30 - 10:50	Presentation on US Campaigns on Burma: · Aung Din, Policy Director, US Campaign for Burma, Washington DC, USA
10:50 - 11:00	Questions & Answers
11:00 - 11:20	Presentation on Canadian Campaigns on Burma: · Tin Maung Htoo, Coordinator, Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)
11:20 - 11:30	Questions & Answers
11:30 - 12:30	LUNCH
12:30 - 15:30	Panel Discussions (Interruption allowed with the permission of Panel Chairs) 12:30-13:30 Panel 1: Humanitarian crisis in Burma - Chaired by Kyaw Moe, Ottawa; Panelists: Saw Ler Wah, Toronto and Htun Htun Oo, Toronto, San Aung, Vancouver 13:30-14:30 Panel 2: New Political Initiative - Chaired by Than Aung, Edmonton; Panelists: Aung Tin, Toronto and Salai Za Ceu Lian, Winnipeg, (U) Tha Zul 14:30-15:30 Panel 3: Canadian Foreign Policy - Chaired by Tin Maung Htoo, London; Panelists: Chan Toik, Calgary and Salai Za Uk Ling, Thunder Bay, Tala Rod, Lennoxville.
15:30 - 16:00	Day One Wrap-up

March 18, 2006 – Saturday (to be conducted in Burmese)

9:00 - 9: 30	Breakfast
9:30 - 12:30	In-depth Group Discussions on Panel's Topics & Open the floor for further inputs 9:30 –10:00 Group Discussions: Group – I : Humanitarian crisis in Burma, Moderated by Kyaw Moe Group –II : New Political Initiative, Moderated by Than Aung Group – III : Canadian Foreign Policy on Burma, Moderated by Tin Maung Htoo 10:00 -10:30 Presentation by Group-I 10:30 -11:00 Presentation by Group-II 11:00 -11:30 Presentation by Group-III
11:30 -12:30	LUNCH
12:30 - 13:30	Strengthening Ties among Burma Related Activists, Moderated by Aung Tin
13:30 - 14:30	Discussion on the future of the Burma Forum Canada, Moderated by Than Aung
14:30 -15:30	Drafting recommendations
15:30 -16:00	Conclusion

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