3RD BURMA FORUM TO BE HELD IN SASKATOON, CANADA
Gathering of dissidents/representatives of Burmese Diaspora Communities in Canada
Saskatoon (Canada) March 2, 2010 – Burmese dissidents and representatives of Burmese Diaspora communities across Canada will gather this weekend (March 6 and 7) in Saskatoon to discuss the political situation in Burma.
The Burma Forum Canada, set up in the summer of 2004 with Burmese origin activists across Canada, is a policy consultation place for Burmese Diaspora communities in Canada. It has already produced two policy-oriented reports following its previous Forums in 2004 and 2006. This is the third time in six years for Burmese activists in Canada to come together to discuss pressing issues in Burma.
A representative from the Government of Canada will take part in the opening session on the morning of March 6.
The Forum is scheduled to include discussions on Canadian, U.S. and EU foreign policies towards Burma and the role of the United Nations in the restoration of democracy in Burma. They will also touch on the upcoming 2010 elections and the role of ethnic nationalities in Burma.
Upon the completion of the two-day Forum, Burmese activists are expected to develop policy recommendations for the Government of Canada and Canadian civil society organizations working on Burma.
The 3rd Burma Forum Canada is sponsored by the Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) with the support of the Canadian NGOs Committee on Burma (CNC).
Venue: Sandman Hotel, Saskatoon, Canada
Date: March 6-7, 2010 from 8:30am-6:30pm
Note: The Forum will be carried out in Burmese language except a special proceeding of the government announcement.
Organizing Committee - Burma Forum Canada
For media interview arrangement, please call at 613-297-6835
For the rest, please contact Min Naing at 306-880-5355, or Htay Aung at 778-322-5385.
Email: BurmaForum2010@gmail.com
Forum related information at http://groups.google.ca/group/BurmaForumCanada
Burma Forum Background:
In the summer of 2004, a group of Burmese activists gathered in Ottawa with the objective of establishing a stronger and more inclusive consultative process among Burmese activist communities in Canada. Attended by 22 individuals from Ottawa, Toronto, London, Calgary and Vancouver, the meeting concluded with recommendations calling on the government of Canada to be more proactive on Burma. In the fall, the Forum came up with a 47-page report containing an analysis on specific areas of concern with Canadian foreign policy towards Burma.
The 2nd Forum was also held in Ottawa in March, 2006. It included 50 participants who represented democracy activists from Burma including ethnic nationalities across Canada and the United States. The Forum touched on all Burma related issues with an emphasis on the humanitarian crisis, political issues and Canadian foreign policy towards Burma and expressed common positions on many issues. The Forum produced a 2nd Report with in-depth research on Canada-Burma relations and a wide range of recommendations including an increase humanitarian aid to the Burma border and a more proactive foreign policy towards Burma.
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