Senator TROETH —At the request of Senator Reid, I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, she will move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes:

   (i)   that 26 May 1996 is the 6th anniversary of the general elections held in Burma and that the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) has not allowed the victors of the election, the National League for Democracy (NLD), to take power, and

   (ii)   with alarm, the SLORC's crackdown against Burmese politicians and others who appeared likely to attend a conference called by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, on 26 May 1996, to discuss democracy in Burma and condemns the arrest, to date, of over 260 people;

(b)   expresses concern that, despite continued overtures by the NLD, the SLORC refuses to enter into political dialogue with it; and

(c)   notes:

   (i)   with concern, that violations of basic human rights, such as by use of forced labour, continue despite continued calls by the United Nations General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights to abandon such practices,

   (ii)   that NLD General Secretary, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has called on the international community not to encourage trade and investment at this time, and

   (iii)   the Australian Government has asked its diplomatic representative in Rangoon to seek an explanation from the Government of Burma and to express Australia's concern at events, and advises that Australia intends to take up this matter in the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations; and

(d)   requests the Australian Government to continue to closely monitor the situation in Burma and to respond appropriately.