Building support for democracy and human rights for Burma

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Media Release from European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma

For Immediate Release 6th September 2010

European MPs Welcome Hungary Support for Burma Crimes

Inquiry

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma (EPCB) today welcomed a

statement of support by the Republic of Hungary for a UN Commission of
Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

In reply to EPCB¹s recent letter to the Hungarian government, asking it to

support a UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma, Hungary became the sixth
country to publicly support a UN Inquiry. UK, Australia, Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Canada and USA have also expressed their support for an Inquiry.

In his letter to the EPCB, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Janor Martonyi,
said: “The Republic of Hungary welcomes and supports your recommendation
to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the current situation in
Burma. We are convinced that the Commission could succeed in investigating
the current situation and in this way contribute to the promotion of human
rights in Burma.” The statement of support comes at a crucial time as the EU is
drafting the next UN General Assembly resolution on Burma, which should
include the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry.

In Burma, the military junta is committing widespread and systematic crimes

with impunity. The crimes include the destruction of more than 3,500 villages in
Eastern Burma, the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war against ethnic
minorities, the forced displacement of over 1 million refugees and internally
displaced people, the recruitment of tens of thousands of child soldiers, and the
widespread use of forced labour in the country. The UN Commission of Inquiry,
which will allow the investigation of these crimes, can be a crucial and effective
step that the international community must support.

“Despite the growing support for a UN Inquiry, the EU remains silent. Now,
following the public statement of support by another EU member, the EU as a
whole must break its silence and include the establishment of such an Inquiry in
the next UN General Assembly Resolution on Burma,” said Silver Meikar,
executive committee member of European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma.

For more information contact the Caucus administrators: Anna Roberts on +44
7950849529 or Kristina Prunerova on +420 777 787 917.