Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi to receive Canadian Auto Workers union Human Rights Award

5 December 2000
Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi to receive Canadian Auto Workers union Human Rights Award
    TORONTO, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ - Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi will
receive the Canadian Auto Workers union first Nelson Mandela Human Rights
Award on Saturday, December 9, 2:00 pm at the Sheraton Centre, Toronto, in
front of 1,000 CAW delegates gathered for the CAW's Council.
    Under house arrest by the military dictatorship that rules Burma (renamed
Myanmar by the junta), Aung San Suu Kyi will be unable to accept the award in
person. The prime minister in exile, Dr. Sein Win of the National Coalition of
the Union of Burma will receive the award on her behalf. Presenting the award
will be Warren Allmand, president of the International Centre for Human Rights
and Democratic Development, a Canadian institution based in Montreal.
    The CAW's Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award recognizes "struggle, courage
and achievement in advancing human rights and social justice."
    Aung San Suu Kyi was a founding member of the National League for
Democracy which emerged out of the pro-democracy uprising in Burma in August
1988. Since then she has been placed under house arrest many times. In 1991
she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for
democracy and human rights.
    As recently as November 2000 the International Labour Organization
invoked Article 33 of its constitution for the first time in its 81 year
history calling on employers and governments to cease any activity with Burma
that could directly or indirectly assist the practice of forced labour which
Burma's notorious military and government engages in.
    Companies such as Wal-Mart of Canada, Reitman's and Saan stores have
recently come under criticism for importing garments made in Burma.
    The CAW commissioned Sylvie Boulanger to create the original sculpture
award to be given out once every three years. The union worked with A Show of
Hands, a contemporary craft gallery in Toronto. A photograph of the award is
attached to this press release.
    The Sheraton Centre hotel is located in downtown Toronto at 123 Queen St.
West and the presentation will take place in the lower level ballroom.