For many years the United Nations has ignored widespread and systematic crimes committed by Burma’s military junta, including the destruction of more than 3,500 villages in eastern Burma, widespread use of rape as a weapon of war against ethnic minorities, the forced displacement of over 1 million refugees and internally displaced people, tens of thousands of child soldiers, and the abundant use of forced labour in the country.
For decades the United Nations has been documenting these serious and systematic human rights abuses committed by Burma’s military dictatorship, abuses which break international law. Yet no action has been taken to end the impunity which Burma’s brutal military dictatorship enjoys.
Burma’s new constitution, which comes into force after fake elections later this year, will ensure these abuses continue. The constitution even grants immunity from prosecution for those who have committed these crimes. This is why it is up to the international community to take action to end the impunity with which the dictatorship commits these crimes.
In March 2010, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma called for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. The United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Australia have expressed their support for such an inquiry.
Canada played a leading role in establishing the International Criminal Court and has a long track of supporting strong action on Burma. Canada’s failure to support a UN investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma is shameful.
Assinem!
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