Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

18 September 2008 marks one year since the peaceful uprising in Burma that became known as the Saffron Revolution, and

(ii)

a fortnight later this pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed by the Burmese military regime at the cost of an unknown number of lives, injuries and ongoing detention;

(b)

calls on the Australian Government to:

(i)

use all diplomatic means available to encourage the Burmese regime to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, and engage in genuine dialogue with pro-democracy and ethnic representatives towards democratic reform and national reconciliation,

(ii)

work actively with the United Nations (UN) to ensure that its ‘good offices role’ delivers progress, including on the release of political prisoners,

(iii)

maintain pressure on the Burmese regime to engage in reform through targeted financial sanctions and travel restrictions,

(iv)

urge the Burmese regime to respect the fundamental human rights of the Burmese people, including freedom of religion, and

(v)

evaluate what other measures the Government can take to support the Burmese pro-democracy movement; and

(c)

expresses its support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma.

Question agreed to.