Burmese Political Activist Aung Khaing Min to be hosted at Parliament

Burmese activist and former political prisoner Aung Khaing Min, who is in New Zealand this week as part of Amnesty International’s ‘Burma Freedom’ campaign, will give a first-hand account of his insight and experiences to both the Burma Cross-Party Parliamentary Group and the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Select Committee at Parliament.

“Aung Khaing Min has for decades been a strong advocate for democracy and human rights in Burma despite oppressive resistance from a military junta that saw him imprisoned, tortured, and ultimately forced to leave his country,” said Maryan Street, Chair of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma.

"He has come to New Zealand with the assistance of Amnesty International to share his story of struggle and to call upon our government to take further action to assist the people of Burma to be granted real democracy and self-determination,” said Maryan Street.

“In response to my recent letter to Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, on behalf of the Parliamentary Group, the government has indicated that they are willing to support the international push for a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes against the people of Burma. I welcome that resolve,” she said.

“New Zealand should join all international efforts to work towards the restoration of democracy in Burma and the freedom of all political prisoners,” she said.

ENDS

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