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People's Tribunal Presents Findings to UN Commission on Human Rights - Wednesday, March 15, 2000 [return to index]

Hong Kong - Wednesday, March 15, 2000

The People's Tribunal on Food Scarcity and Militarization in Burma will submit its findings to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 56^th Session in Geneva, Switzerland. Under accreditation from the Asian Legal Resource Centre, Tribunal panelist Professor Mark Tamthai will discuss widespread hunger in Burma as the systemic violation of basic economic rights with severe social consequences. Professor Tamthai will make his statement to the Commission on Human Rights and delegations from UN member states, including Burma (Myanmar), under the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights agenda.

Published in October 1999, the Tribunal's report, Voice of the Hungry Nation, details the relationship between food scarcity and the pervasive militarization of Burmese society. The military's successful influence over government, economy and social services has threatened the Burmese people's basic economic security— particularly access to food. A compulsory paddy purchase program, land confiscation by the state, displacement of rural villages for irrigation and infrastructure programs, and ongoing insurgencies have devastated the rural poor's self-sufficient agricultural economy. Consequently, waves of refugees and landless peasants have joined an unskilled migrant workforce both in Burma's cities and in neighboring countries.

In addition to the formal submission to the Commission on Human Rights, the Tribunal is holding a separate event featuring a panel discussion by Tribunal representatives, Burmese activists and members of international NGOs. The discussion, "Right to Food: Burma, the Hungry Nation" will be held on Friday, March 31, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., in Conference Room XXI (21) of the United Nations building. This will be an opportunity for participants to discuss, in light of the Tribunal's findings on food scarcity and militarization, continuing campaigns and potential policy options for economic rights, democratization and people's participation in Burma. Copies of Voice of the Hungry Nation and other publications will also be available.

For further details, interested parties may contact the Tribunal Secretariat, c/o the Asian Human Rights Commission, and visit the Tribunal's website at www.hrschool.org/tribunal. 

Asian Human Rights Commission Unit D, 7th Floor, Mongkok Commercial Centre, 16 - 16B Argyle Street, Kowloon, HONGKONG Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339 l Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367 l E-mail: ahrchk@ahrchk.org

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LAST UPDATED: Friday, July 14, 2000 11:49:56 AM

PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL ON FOOD SCARCITY AND MILITARIZATION IN BURMA
Email: tribunal@ahrchk.org