Friday 12th January 2007

The Burma Campaign UK today condemned China and Russia for vetoing a Security Council resolution requiring the restoration of democracy to Burma.

“It is deeply disappointing that China and Russia have used their veto,” said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “This is a blow, but not a knockout. The majority of the Security Council voted for this resolution. Russia and China lost the argument, and were forced into the desperate measure of using the veto. This vote was not just about Burma, but about China and Russia wanting to give the USA a slap in the face.”

Russia and China are both significant arms suppliers to the Burmese regime, as well as seeking investment opportunities in Burma’s large-scale gas reserves.

The majority of the Council, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, Peru, Panama and Ghana supported the resolution, China and Russia exercised their veto powers to reject it. South Africa opposed the resolution, while Qatar, Indonesia, and Congo abstained

“The biggest shock is that South Africa, of all countries, would vote for dictatorship, said Yvette Mahon. “Given their history they should know better. Every South African should be ashamed of what their government has done.”

The Burma Campaign UK praised those governments that backed the resolution. “The USA and UK worked very hard to secure a resolution, and deserve a lot of credit for sticking with this in the face on intense opposition. This is foreign policy making based on principle and international law, and it deserves praise and recognition.” said Yvette Mahon.

The regime in Burma has consistently defied the United Nations, ignoring over a dozen calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release by the Secretary General, and 29 resolutions by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Commission. The regime has also defied repeated calls by the International Labour Organisation to end forced labour. Demands for UN Security Council intervention increased following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003. The campaign was given fresh momentum following publication in September 2005 of a report – A Threat to the Peace – commissioned by former archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Czech President Vaclav Havel from global law firm DLA Piper. The report found that Burma does fit the criteria for UNSC intervention, and called on the UNSC to pass a binding resolution requiring the restoration of democracy to Burma, and the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The Security Council held its first discussion on Burma in December 2005.