The attached resolution is the product of a two day conference in Ekne , Norway that took place at the Falstad Center for Human Rights on June 21 to 22, 2007. The conference was organized by Partners Relief & Development and hosted by the Falstad Center for Human Rights with support from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and the Free Word Institute of Norway. Delegates from Burma included current political leaders, Human rights and aid organizations, and grass roots activists. The conference was attended by over 120 people from the Norwegian Foreign ministry, local politicians, and many who work with incoming refugees from Burma . Three members of Norwegian Parliament, Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Arild Stokkan Grande, and Borge Brende participated in the dialog and spoke on government positions related to the issues of immigration and displacement inside Burma. The conference was covered by local and national media including the national television station, TV2.

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The Falstad Resolution

Falstad Center for Human Rights, Ekne, Norway
June 22, 2007

We, the delegates and attendees of the 2007 Falstad Conference on Burma have resolved to call upon the Norwegian Government and the international community to take the following actions:

1. Request that the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution on Burma calling for tripartite dialogue between the SPDC, pro-democracy groups led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic nationalities.
2. Call upon the Security Council to pressure the SPDC to comply with UNSC Resolution 1738 calling for the protection of civilians and withdraw of troops from conflict areas.
3. Increase humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and political prisoners by increasing cross-border humanitarian aid, calling upon neighbouring countries to cooperate with cross-border aid and supporting expansion of existing assistance infrastructure.
4. Provide for immediate human security for people under attack in the IDP areas.
5. Call upon neighbouring countries to allow refugees safe haven and to uphold the human rights of migrants and displaced peoples.  Expand Norwegian support for refugees and migrant workers.
6. Include a call for the Burmese regime to end sexual violence against women by its army in the Norwegian Government's floor statement during the open debate of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.  Additionally urge the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief to conduct an investigation, including a visit to Burma 's border areas, into allegations of violations of religious freedom against Christians, Muslim and Buddhists.
7. Immediately divest all Norwegian Government Fund-Global holdings in corporations currently operating in Burma .

 

David Taw (sign)
Foreign Minister, Karen National Union

Sai Aung Mart (sign)
Former General Secretary, Shan National League for Democracy

Matthew Smith (sign)
EarthRights International

Oddny and Steve Gumaer (Sign)
Partners Relief & Development

Øyvind Løvrød (Sign)
Leader of Partners Norway

Khin Ohmar (sign)
Asia-Paific People’s Partnership on Burma / Network for Democracy and Development

Win Min (sign)
Former leader in the All Burma Student Democratic Front, current lecturer at Chiang Mai University

Nick Hurlburt (sign)
Free Burma Rangers

Ben Rogers (sign)
Advocacy Officer, Christian Solidarity Worldwide