Foreign Affairs committee  I want to follow up on my other question in regard to Burma—Myanmar—and the Rohingya minority group there. I had one other question, which I think we've discussed before, about how your office deals with the whole issue around aboriginal and first nations groups and indigenous peoples.

Agriculture committee  We are watching closely the discussions Canada is having with India. We were pleased to see the government removing sanctions in Myanmar, and we are excited about the opportunity this market presents. We have been monitoring the negotiations with Korea, negotiations which we hope move forward soon. We are following the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as well.

Religious Freedom  Religious rights conflicts around the world are complicated. For instance, this week we are receiving a delegation from Myanmar. Some of us just returned last month from Myanmar. The conflict there is between Muslims and Buddhists, in a country where poverty and corruption are rampant. Is it a religious, economic or ethnic conflict?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Fifth is to assist the Government of Myanmar to understand that diversity within a country is not a hindrance, but a blessing. Sixth is to encourage Myanmar's leaders to truly open the door to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom to be part of the global community, and to express the need to be free from their fears.

Natural Resources committee  I'm looking at slide 6, and I can see that Canada has 12,000 of these trucks behind such countries as Pakistan, Iran, India, Myanmar, countries which, some of them, may be third world countries. What's holding us back? Why so few?

International Trade committee  India's preference for lumber products still remains hardwood, such as teak and meranti, which has seen significant increases of log imports from both Myanmar and—and I'll make a correction to the brief; it's not Indonesia, but Malaysia. These are the two largest exporters of these logs. Imported logs are subject to a duty of 9%. Lumber is at 14.75%, and finished products, such as doors, windows, and flooring, are at 33%, thereby skewing buying decisions.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  With regard to Myanmar, the EU adopted a council regulation in May 2006, which included a new range of restrictions. I quote from the legislation: ...a ban on technical assistance, financing and financial assistance related to military activities, a ban on the export of equipment which might be used for internal repression, the freezing of funds and economic resources of members of the Government of Burma/Myanmar and of any natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, and a prohibition on making financial loans or credits available to, and on acquiring or extending a participation in, Burmese state-owned companies.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Also, when the military took power, they were trying to shut down the country and make people conscious that Burma is no longer here and it's the new Myanmar. In the public consciousness, Myanmar is a new country and Burma is no more. That is a tactical way to cover up what happened in the past. That's why we cannot accept that yet. The decision will be made by the elected members of parliament in the near future.

International Trade committee  On food, we're already a major exporter to India. I know this, and do you know why? When I was in Myanmar recently, in Burma, I met with some agricultural interests there and they said to me: “We want to learn from Canada. Did you know that Burma is the second largest producer of pulses in the world and you are beating our pants off by selling to our neighbour?”

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Then, the third one will start. They're going to rebuild the railway from Thailand to Myanmar. We know the famous movie Bridge on the River Kwai . The railway that was built during the war is now going to be rebuilt. Again, they will take all those lands away from the Karen people.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  A number of years ago, the Americans did stop a ship—I'm not sure how many years ago—from North Korea that was bringing more equipment to Myanmar for this specific area and also weapons. As for why they are trying to become a nuclear country, that part I cannot answer, unless they want something to do with breaking their long-term hold from China....

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The AIDS epidemic is horrendous in the northern part. The drug trade has always been quite extensive in both northern Thailand and Myanmar, where it is used as currency. A lot of people are involved in drugs in those areas. I mean, there is much more. I could go on for hours.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Honourable members of the Canadian House of Commons Subcommittee on Human Rights, we are grateful to be here because we want to tell you our story and express our concerns for the Kachin people in the land of Myanmar or Burma. The Jinghpaw people, also known as the Kachin or mountain people, are one of 135 people groups that create a diverse population in the country, which numbers over 55 million.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We're very glad to hear your perspective on the concerns of Burma. We were having a conversation the other day about the use of Burma versus Myanmar. Why don't you call your organization the Friends of Myanmar?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Your opening remarks included the following:In his most recent report in March 2012, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Tomas Quintana, welcomed positive changes in Burma but flagged several other areas still in need of major improvement, including treatment of prisoners, consistency of certain laws and provisions of the constitution with international human rights standards, and reform of the judiciary.