BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

EDM number 1143 in 2007-08, proposed by Nigel Evans on 10/03/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Asia, Elections, Electoral systems and Human rights.

That this House notes the decision of the Burmese military regime to hold a referendum on a new constitution in early May 2008; is concerned that clauses in the draft constitution would preclude the election of Aung San Suu Kyi or other legitimate non-military opposition leaders; condemns the harsh restrictions in place against campaigners against the referendum; further notes that among those Burmese citizens to be denied the opportunity to vote within Burma will be approximately 350,000 Buddhist clergy, 500,000 internally displaced Burmese and 160,000 refugees on the Thai-Burma border; further notes the opportunity to vote will also be denied to an estimated 150,000 Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia, Singapore, China and India, to 50,000 Burmese refugees in India, and to an estimated four million Burmese living in exile around the world, including in Britain; calls for the referendum to be held in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for basic rights; looks forward to the day when all Burmese citizens over 18 are afforded the right to vote, without regard to religion, gender, ethnicity or political affiliation; and calls on the Government to continue to press the EU, the US and Burma's neighbours to take a strong and united position on Burma and to support the Burmese people in their struggle for full democratic rights.

This motion has been signed by a total of 62 MPs.