Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Not in the case of Ivanhoe.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Each year, Ivanhoe, the copper-funded operations, were supposed to contribute to some military regimes. According to our records, many transfer their own production companies to be like state enterprises. That kind of distribution happens, according to our records, but not in the

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We prefer to use Burma.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, I can explain that. After the military took power and cut down the peaceful movement across the country, not only did they change the country's name, but they changed every name, such as street names and township names, that were given by the British. As you know, the Briti

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, we are in the process of finalizing the paper. I was hoping to present it to this committee, but we are still talking and working on that. Maybe in a week or two we will be able to present it.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I don't know the details about other mining companies, but I know a few details about the Ivanhoe mines corporation. Some mining companies in Burma in the past didn't have that kind of bad reputation, as far as I can see. They were just there to explore the possibility of invest

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Many other ethnic people and organizations are also asking for the same autonomy and self-determination in Burma, but Kachin, as far as I know, is one of the strongest groups in Burma.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Forced labour in Burma was quite bad in the past. When the ILO, the International Labour Organization, got involved, the previous Burmese government decided on some kinds of standards, and even changed some laws preventing the use of forced labour in Burma, but still there is for

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There were a few mining companies. Some companies got involved in the exploration of some precious stones in northern Burma. Some companies no longer exist there, as far as I know—for example, Jet Gold. That was a company based on the west coast. I don't think they are still in o

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The Kachin organization has been taking a political stand. They used an old document called the Panglong agreement, which is the document that formed Burma. With that, Burma gained independence from the British. With the agreement, it meant that with all ethnic leaders at that ti

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There are two issues. One is related to the dam. The other one is a political issue. Politicians are constantly asking for political solutions to create a peaceful country and to coexist together, but successive Burmese military governments never agreed to that kind of political

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Overall, the situation on the surface seems to be very encouraging, but if you look deeply, the situation is different. When it comes to freedom of expression or free media, there is some freedom of the press, but today, for example, there is more international press today. Acco

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Mr. Chair and honourable members, it is a great honour to be here to talk about Burma and to answer your questions related to the current political situation in Burma. I represent the Canadian Friends of Burma, a federally incorporated non-governmental organization working for d