Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Canada suspending Burma sanctions

Canada is suspending its sanctions against Burma in recognition of its moves towards democracy.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says he has seen encouraging steps in Burma, also known as Myanmar, after former political prisoner Aung Sang Suu Kyi won a parliamentary seat in historic elections there earlier this month.

Baird says Canada's sanctions on imports, exports and financial transactions will be suspended, although an embargo will be maintained on sales of arms and military technology.

The minister visited Burma, last month and personally conferred honorary Canadian citizenship on Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate.

Baird also visited Burma's new, reform-minded civilian leadership, and though impressed, said at the time he wanted to wait before easing restrictions on the repressive South Asian country.

Earlier this week, the European Union suspended some sanctions against Burma for a year, but retained an arms embargo.

Original Article
Source: CBC
Author: The Canadian Press

No comments:

Post a Comment