Canada throws support behind Burma inquiry By Lee Berthiaume Published September 8, 2010

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Canada has followed the US and several other countries by throwing its support behind calls for a UN inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma.

But while the news has been met with applause from some quarters, others say the government's support appears tentative at best, and they continue to question why it took so long for a Canadian position to become known.

In March, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special human rights rapporteur to Burma, issued a report to the UN Human Rights Council claiming there have been "gross and systematic" human rights abuses in the country, which is also known as Myanmar, involving all levels of authorities and branches of government.

The report says the "possibility exists that some of these human rights violations may entail categories of crimes against humanity or war crimes under the terms of the Statute of the International Criminal Court."

Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic and Slovakia moved to back Mr. Quintana's call for the establishment of an inquiry into possible war crimes in the military junta-controlled country. The biggest boost to the effort, however, came last month when American officials revealed the US was also in favour of such a move.

In an email to Embassy last week, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, Melissa Lantsman, wrote: "Canada supports both the UN special rapporteur's work on human rights abuses in Burma, and the idea of a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by the Burmese regime,"

"We will work with our allies in the international community to develop a common approach to support the recommendations that the rapporteur will present to an upcoming session of the UN General Assembly."

News of the government's decision to support the call for a UN inquiry was met with applause.

"We are very relieved and feel excited and happy that Canada is indeed responding to a mounting call from both domestic and international communities to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma," Tin Maung Htoo, executive director of the Canadian Friends of Burma, wrote in an email. "This response and position show Canada is in line with other like-minded countries...in calling for accountability and responsibility of all forms human rights violations taking place in Burma."

However, Mr. Htoo said a number of questions still remain, including the exact form of Canada's support.

"How are they going to implement it?" he asked. "There are many, many steps ahead."

Ms. Lantsman said that "once our consultations are over, and once we are presented with something formal on which we can draw our support, we will."

NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar, who is also co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Burma group, commended the government for its decision, but questioned why it took so long for Canada to break its silence.

Ms. Lantsman did not explain what many felt was a slow response. However, it is likely not a coincidence that the announcement came only after the Obama administration had made its position known.

The US had been pursuing a policy of diplomatic engagement with the military junta, but a senior administration official told the Washington Post: "There have been no positive results on democracy and human rights in our diplomatic engagement."

At the same time, there may have been concerns that such a call could endanger elections set for Nov. 7—the first to be held in Burma in decades. Canada has already expressed concern about the pending polls, which many doubt will be free or fair. However, some Burmese pro-democracy groups have held out hope the elections will mark a small move towards true democracy in the country.

Mr. Dewar says if Canada was concerned about the impact such a declaration would have on the elections, "I don't see why they would be reluctant to say they were waiting to see how things went."

Brian John, Amnesty International Canada's Myanmar co-ordinator, said that "it is about time that the government took a stand on this vital matter."

However, he also felt the statement was anything but clear, and questioned why the government would wait for the UN special rapporteur to file his report with the UN Human Rights Council later this month before coming out with a clear call for a commission of inquiry.

"Why wait?" he asked. "Is Mr Quintana likely to change his mind from what he reported in March? The human rights situation in Myanmar has not changed—except for the worse."