AAPP Welcomes America’s Endorsement of a Commission of Inquiry on Burma and Urges Other Nations to Take Action (2010)

Information Release
Date: August 19 2010
[Maesot, Thailand] the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners- Burma warmly applauds the United States of America for their decision to support the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. AAPP is appealing to ASEAN, members of the European Union, and other like-minded nations to stand in solidarity with the Burmese people and pledge their support for a Commission of Inquiry.
The United States is the fifth country to support the proposal for an investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma and follows the United Kingdom, Australia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In March 2010, the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Quintana endorsed the call of Burma activists around the world and urged the UN “to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact finding mandate to address the question of international crimes” in Burma.
“AAPP and the people of Burma welcome the decision by the United States to support a Commission of Inquiry and we urge other nations to do the same.
“The international community has long been aware of the systematic nature of human rights violations committed in Burma, and it is time they started to investigate them; mere rhetoric is no longer enough” Bo Kyi, joint secretary of AAPP, said.
“This move by the US will hopefully give other UN member states the encouragement they need to back a Commission of Inquiry.
There is no doubt that the military junta of Burma is one of the worst human rights violators in the world. Torture, sexual violence, forced labour, recruitment of child soldiers, and the killing of civilians in ethnic areas are widespread and systematic.
AAPP and other human rights organizations have spent years documenting human rights violations in Burma and are ready to help an Inquiry when needed.
“As long as the military regime continues to respond with denial in the face of such horrific and harrowing human rights abuses, then we need to ensure that these violations are adequately addressed through independent channels.
Establishing a Commission of Inquiry is a necessary first step to ending impunity and bringing the abusers to justice,” Bo Kyi said.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
For more information –
Tate Naing (Secretary): +66 (0) 812 878 751
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary); +66 (0) 819 628 713