Canada Can and Should Do More

Embassy, September 5th, 2007
NEWS STORY

Advocates Urge Canada to Get Active on Burma

Instead of China-Burma relations, conference-goers last week discussed Canada's role in the Asian nation, calling on the Harper government to back up its talk of change with actions.

By Lee Berthiaume

Burmese political leaders and pro-democracy advocates said Canada can and should do more to help spearhead change within the military junta-ruled country by pushing for dialogue along the lines of North Korea's six-party talks and establishing a country-specific aid program at CIDA.

The leaders and advocates were in Ottawa for a two-day conference, the first of its kind in Canada, to discuss the role China is playing in the Southeast Asian country that is also known as Myanmar. However, much of the dialogue instead focussed on Canada's role.

The meeting came the same week the junta staged a brutal crackdown on protestors who were upset over a fivefold increase in fuel prices. Government forces are reported to have beaten up the demonstrators, jailed 41 of them, and hired thugs to break up any new protests.

Conference participants, including officials from the National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas (NLD-LA), a political party that operates in the Thai-Burma border areas and abroad, and exiled Burmese activists, drafted a declaration that called "on Canada, ASEAN, the European Union, the United States of America, Russia and Burma's neighbors, to convene a multi-party talk similar to Six-party Talks on North Korea, to facilitate reforms and a transition."

They also called on Canada and the international community to "urgently address the deteriorating political, economic and humanitarian situation in Burma," and on Canada itself to find an effective way to support the empowerment of civil society and democratic development in Burma."

In a presentation on Aug. 30 to those assembled, Conservative Deputy House Leader Scott Reid said the Canadian government remains committed to pressuring the military junta to release political prisoners, halt human rights violations and embrace democracy.

"Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper's leadership, the government of Canada remains firmly committed to promoting democratic reform," Mr. Reid said.

Since the Burmese military took control in 1988, Canada has imposed sanctions on the country, implemented visa bans on senior military officials, and repeatedly voiced its concerns over the junta's poor human rights record and draconian measures to clamp down on pro-democracy efforts.

Mr. Reid highlighted the sanctions and bans Canada has placed on the junta's leaders, and said the government believes the international community must work together to address the situation.

"Canada actively encourages other nations, particularly Burma's immediate neighbours, to press Burma's rulers to take concrete steps towards genuine political dialogue with the opposition," Mr. Reid said, adding Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier "is a strong supporter of an uncompromising stance on the Burma issue."

"It's only through the kind of principle shown by Prime Minister Harper and Foreign Minister Bernier that we can expect the international community to successfully pressure the regime in Burma to make real changes."

Canada 'Well-Positioned' as Mediator

Tin Maung Htoo, executive director of the Canadian Friends of Burma, which organized the conference, welcomed Mr. Reid's comments, but said statements are not enough.

"I sincerely hope the government of Canada will be more proactive, especially under Prime Minister Stephen Harper's leadership," he said. "Issuing statements and condemning those atrocities and crackdowns on peaceful demonstration is encouraging for people inside Burma. At the same time, we should show something tangible for support of these people."

Harn Yawnghwe is the son of Sao Shwe Thaik, who was the first elected president of Burma when it became a republic in 1948. Mr. Thaik died in prison in 1962 following a coup, and Mr. Yawnghwe has since moved to Canada where he has worked as an advocate for democracy in Burma.

"As Canadians, we are too modest," Mr. Yawnghwe told participants on Aug. 30. "We say we are too small a country, that we can't do anything."

However, Mr. Yawnghwe said Canada is well positioned to facilitate talks between the military junta and its neighbours to resolve the situation. The idea of such talks is not new, and has been forwarded by such people as Michael Green, a former advisor to U.S. President George W. Bush.

The situation in Burma represents a security threat to the region, advocates said, adding that it appears China is opening its eyes to the need for a resolution in the country to ensure instability doesn't spill over into its borders.

Earlier this year, China hosted a secret meeting between a key U.S. diplomat and junta officials in Beijing, which the advocates took as a sign of China's willingness to play a constructive role in Burma.

If India, Bangladesh and key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations–of which Burma is a member, can be brought on side, as well as the United States, a political resolution is possible, Mr. Yawnghwe said.

Mr. Yawnghwe acknowledged that Canada has placed sanctions on Burma–though at least one Canadian mining company continues to operate in the country, supplying much-needed cash to the junta–but real sanctions through the United Nations aren't possible because Security Council approval hasn't come to pass.

"So you have to take another angle," he said in an interview. "We've [proposed talks] several times, but no one has wanted to take it on."

It would take political capital to kick-start such talks, Mr. Yawnghwe said, but the potential for success is there, and Canada could "become a leader on the world stage again."

Special Aid Program Urged

Those comments were echoed by Nyo Ohn Myint, head of the NLD-LA's foreign affairs committee and a former aid to detained Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We'd be very happy if Canada mediates the situation," Mr. Myint said.

Mr. Myint said Canada is well suited to persuade the military junta, Burma's neighbours, including China, and other groups to hold talks to resolve the ongoing problems plaguing the country. The United States, he said, is not well regarded by the junta, and Scandinavian countries like Norway, which has championed talks in Sri Lanka, have openly supported the opposition.

Participants also called on the Canadian government to establish a specific aid program to Burma. The country is noticeably absent from CIDA's long list of development partners, and Mr. Yawnghwe said this is the result of the Burmese pro-democracy movements own success.

"We lobbied in 1988 for it to be cut off," he said.

The two men said CIDA does run some humanitarian projects along the borders, specifically where refugees are living in Thailand and Bangladesh, but that money is often scraped together from other places or regional funds and there is no dedicated funding.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade document available online notes that "Burma-based projects are limited and are only supported when they meet the requirements set out by [Ms. Suu Kyi] that assistance be accountable, transparent, and reach the intended recipients."

Mr. Myint said Canada needs to spend more on long-term projects like strengthening civil society, and improving education and health systems.

He acknowledged there is a great deal of controversy surrounding all aid to Burma. Some believe donor countries should only fund projects in the borderlands, while others say money for civil society groups toiling in the country are also needed.

Both men felt any and all aid, as long as it didn't go directly to the junta, makes a difference.

"Helping refugees, applying diplomatic pressure, that's really needed and really appreciated," Mr. Myint said. "But we need more concrete moves from Western countries."

Makhampom Theatre Laboratory

This is a fantastic theatre organization in Thailand. I was able to work with them briefly in Chiang Dao -- they do great professional work in Bangkok, as well as work in hilltribe communities and Burmese refugee camps... Wonderful people.

-ulla

Makhampom Theatre Laboratory

a 14-day intensive theatre laboratory training in Thai theatre and intercultural performance

October 22 – November 4, 2007

Likay – Thailand’s traditional popular folk theatre (4 days)

* Vocal forms * Verse composition * Character types

* Movement and gesture standards * Clowning * Improvisational aspects

Intercultural Theatre (4 days)

* “Let the Body Talk” (movement-based text) * Image theatre

* Ensemble movement and sound improvisation

* Environmental theatre * Multi-lingual dramaturgy

Theatre Devising (3 days)

* Thematics and performance research process * Group devised scenario making

* Simultaneous dramaturgy

Performance at the Bangkok Theatre Festival

* Travel to Bangkok and perform at the opening weekend of the festival

At the Makhampom Living Theatre

Ban Dong village, Chiang Dao town, 75 km north of Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand

and the Bangkok Theatre Festival, Bangkok

Who Should Come?

* Performers, actors, directors, dramaturges, dancers, anyone with performance experience and an interest in ensemble performance, inter-cultural theatre, and Thai or Asian theatre.

* There are a minimum 5 and maximum 10 places available for international participants, with another 10 places allocated for Thai participants.

For enquiries/registration:

Email inter@makhampom.net or makhampom2@hotmail.com

Fax + 66 2 6168474

Price AUD $1,750 (conc. $1,500) (does not include flights)

For further information about the programs, and our internationally renowned trainers, Pradit (‘Tua’) Prasartthong, Pongjit (‘Jon’) Saphakhun, and Richard Barber, please visit

www.makhampom.net

The PTC Colony on Granville Island

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The PTC Colony on Granville Island

November 16-26, 2007

The PTC Colony is an annual play development intensive operated by Playwrights Theatre Centre in Vancouver, BC, open to professional Canadian playwrights. The 2006 Colony included Jason Bryden's The Dissemblers, slated for production by Touchstone Theatre in 2008, and Trina Davies'Waxworks, winner of the 41^st Annual Alberta Playwriting Competition. Entering its second year, the Colony will provide a group of five playwrights-in-residence with a dedicated creative context, dramaturgical resources and a company of actors to read their work at intervals throughout the seven day colony. The focus is on the individual development of each playwright's work as well as the creation of a unique supportive and productive community of playwrights, directors, dramaturgs and actors. Playwright/novelist Don Hannah ( Ragged Islands) joins PTC Executive Director Martin Kinch and Associate Dramaturg Heidi Taylor as Colony dramaturgs. Participating playwrights must be available for full-time residency during the Colony and will receive accommodation, a meal allowance and, where necessary, travel to and from Vancouver. See below for application guidelines and more information.

Application Guidelines:

Application Deadline: September 5, 2007

Notification Date: September 17, 2007

Applicants must submit:

1) A completed application form along with a cheque or money order payable to Playwrights Theatre Centre to cover the application fee:
$25 for PTC Members / $50 for Non-Members.
Please note: The $50 application fee for non-members includes a year-long PTC Membership.

2) A copy of the current draft of the play you propose to work on during the colony. Copies must be unbound on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Times or Courier 12-point font is preferred. Bound, three-hole punched or stapled scripts cannot be accepted.
Please note: Submissions by e-mail or fax will NOT be accepted. Hard copies only.

3) A letter outlining the developmental history of the play and what specific elements the playwright intends to focus on and develop through the colony.

4) A playwright's resume.

The successful plays will be selected based on recommendations from an advisory committee made up of Playwrights Theatre Centre artistic staff and Canadian theatre professionals.

Submit completed applications to:

PTC Colony on Granville Island
Playwrights Theatre Centre
#201 – 1398 Cartwright Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION PACKAGES:

Wednesday, September 5, 2006, 5:00 PM,
Please allow enough time for your submission to reach the PTC office by the deadline. We will not accept applications submitted via e-mail.
For more information, contact Heidi Taylor at 604-685-6228 or heidi@playwrightstheatre.com.

The 30th Rhubarb Festival

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre announces a call for submissions for

THE 30^th RHUBARB FESTIVAL

February 20 – March 2, 2008

Festival Director Erika Hennebury

RISK RIOT REJUVINATION

Buddies is seeking submissions for the 30^th incarnation of the country’s oldest new works fest. Curated by Buddies’ Associate Producer, Erika Hennebury, Rhubarb is an annual festival of new, original, innovative contemporary performance.

DEADLINE: 5pm, Fri, Sept 14, 2007

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Rhubarb is a partially curated, but primarily submission-driven festival. Submissions are reviewed by a selection committee composed of Erika Hennebury, Festival Director, David Oiye, Artistic Director, Jim LeFrancois, Producer and Associate Artists Ed Roy and Moynan King. Criteria for this year’s festival are strongly in the realm of experimental, devised, innovative contemporary performance. Although script-based submissions will be accepted, Buddies strongly encourages submissions which are more experimental in nature. Rhubarb seeks submissions from contemporary theatre, conceptual dance, performance art, new media, installation art and welcomes new hybrids of live performance as well as cross-disciplinary experiments and collaborations.

THE 2008 RHUBARB FESTIVAL STAGES

The 2008 Rhubarb Festival seeks proposals for the following stages:

The Cabaret: performances up to 25 minutes in length, for a fixed, raised proscenium stage

The Chamber: performances up to 25 minutes in length, for the Buddies Mainspace

The Mini-Stage: 1-5 minute performances or installations for a small audience in a

*small space

The Solo-Stage: 1-2 minute performances or installations for a single audience member, in a *very small space

Environmental & Late-Night: happenings, interactive installations and other ancillary performances and 5-minute late-night Cabaret performances

* for venue specifications or further clarification, contact Erika Hennebury

Submissions may include (but are not limited to):

Short plays, collective creations, conceptual dance, performance art, new media, installation art, opera, music theatre, new hybrids of live performance as well as cross-disciplinary experiments and collaborations.

Submissions must include:

∙ a copy of the completed application form

∙ a copy of your project description (1 page)

∙ a copy of your script or performance synopsis (25 min max)

∙ a copy of bios for your artistic team

∙ a copy of a brief history of your work or a company history (1 page)

∙ a copy of any support materials

The Deadline:

The deadline for all submissions is:

5:00pm Friday, September 14^th 2007

late submissions may not be considered

submissions post-marked up to Sept 14 will be accepted

The Details:

2008 Rhubarb Festival Application is available on our website: www.buddiesinbadtimestheatre.com

Proposed performances may be no longer than 25 minutes in length.

Proposals submitted in a format longer than 25 minutes may not be considered.

Works submitted must be new, never previously produced and original.

Submissions must submitted in hard copy only and must be accompanied by and 2008 Rhubarb Festival Application form (available online).

Please keep a copy of your submission.

Fax or email submissions will not be accepted.

Please mail or drop off submissions to:

Erika Hennebury, Rhubarb! Festival Director

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON M4Y 1B4

For further information please contact

Erika Hennebury, 416-975-9130 x40

erika@buddiesinbadtimestheatre.com

Canada Denies Visas to Burmese Groups

By The Irrawaddy

August 17, 2007

Burmese living in Bangladesh, Japan, India and Thailand are facing difficulties obtaining temporary visas to attend a Burmese policy conference in Ottawa, according to the conference organizer.

The Burma policy consultation conference which will be held August 29 to 30 in Ottawa is in jeopardy as many Burmese working on human rights, democracy, labor and women's issues in countries in Asia were invited to attend but might be denied entry to the country.

Around 25 prominent Burmese working to restore democracy in Burma were invited. Two Burmese who are former members of the Communist Party of Burma and who now reside in China were also invited. It is unknown whether they will be allowed to leave China.

The conference organizer told The Irrawaddy that Canadian members of parliament, officials from Foreign Affairs Canada, ambassadors to Canada, representatives of Canadian civil society organizations, representatives from Canadian Burmese communities and pro-democracy organizations in Canada will also attend the conference.

Conference organizers have sent appeal letters to Canadian officials to intervene. So far only two Burmese have been granted visa.

Tin Maung Htoo, the conference organizer and executive director of Canadian Friends of Burma based in Ottawa, told The Irrawaddy that Canada’s visa application process is extremely inflexible and difficult.

The process is "unreasonably stringent for some applicants, in this case Burmese citizens and other citizens we invited," he said. "Even compared to the United States, Australia and European countries."

"This is very unfortunate and an apparent contradiction to what Canada proudly claims to be strong support of the Burmese democratic movement.”

Canadian aid organizations such as Canada Fund and the Canadian International Development Agency support Burmese refugees and Burmese groups along the Thai-Burmese border.

Last year, Dr Cynthia Maung, a Karen doctor who has won international humanitarian awards and was featured as an "Asia Hero" in Time magazine, was denied a visa at the Canadian embassy in America. Thanks to the intervention of Canada’s immigration minister, she was finally allowed in. Her Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot receives assistance from CIDA.

According to Tin Maung Htoo, when Burmese applied for visas at Canadian embassies in Asia, a number of impolite incidents occurred.

He said that he sent an appeal letter to Stockwell Day, the minister for public safety in Canada, on August 15.

In the letter obtained by The Irrawaddy, he said: “A number of our guests’ visa applications have been turned down by Canadian embassies in Thailand, Japan and Bangladesh. Such decisions made by immigration officers in Bangkok, Dhaka and Tokyo are in contradiction to the Government of Canada's stance in support of the Burmese democratic movement since 1988. Immigration officers do not seem to understand the complexity of the ongoing people’s struggle in Burma, as well as Canada’s staunch support.”

Similar appeals and requests for intervention were also sent to Diane Finley, Canada’s minister for immigration and citizenship.

According to senior members of CFOB and Burmese who were not granted visas in the past, Canadian immigration officials have stated that visas could not be issued to an individual who lived in another country without lawful permission. It is considered too high of a risk for Canada to issue visas to such applicants.

Tin Maung Htoo’s said the incident has offended the applicants. He said the CFOB repeatedly assured the embassies that the applicants' expenses and return tickets were taken care of, but the embassy staffs did not take the assurances seriously.

A CFOB member said Canadian immigration officials are concerned that Burmese who visit Canada will overstay in the country and won’t return to Burma or the countries where they are currently living.

A Burmese activist who lives in Mae Sot said he did not want to complain about the visa restrictions. However, he felt that his rights were violated.

“They (immigration officers) were not satisfied with many things, including my financial status and my travel history and background," he said.

In a related issue, an international women's conference scheduled to meet in September in Montreal has invited Burmese and Karen women to attend. They are also having problems obtaining visas.

CAHOOTS WELCOMES TARA BEAGAN AS PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE

On August 1, Tara Beagan joins Cahoots Theatre Projects as its Playwright-in-Residence for the 2007/2008 season.

Tara is an accomplished actor and playwright. Her first play, Thy Neighbour's Wife, was nominated for three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, winning one for Outstanding New Play. Her second play, Dreary and Izzy was produced by Native Earth Performing Arts in 2005. She was part of Tarragon Theatre Playwright's Unit 2006, as well as Nightwood Theatre's Groundswell Festival 2006. She has begun work on a new collective at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre where she will be playwright-in-residence for the 2008/09 season. Much of her writing strives to bridge the two worlds she inhabits culturally—Thompson River Salish and Irish Canadian.

With Cahoots, Tara will be developing her play Quilchena which is based on harrowing, real-life events that took place in the B.C. Interior in 1978. In the Nicola Valley, Monica Jack went missing thirteen days shy of her thirteenth birthday. In Quilchena, Tara writes of a community mourning Monica as they imagine her into adulthood. Seventeen years later, Monica returns to her people as they sleep, to bid them goodbye.

Tara joins a list of distinguished writers who have worked with Cahoots over its twenty-year history. Playwrights such as Marjorie Chan, Rahul Varma, Daniel David Moses, Betty Quan, Florence Gibson, and Guillermo Verdecchia have all had works developed or produced by Cahoots. Cahoots is committed to nurturing artists and plays that reflect the rich cultural diversity of this country.

“We’ve all been huge fans of Tara’s remarkable voice,” says Cahoots Artistic Director Jovanni Sy. “I am delighted to welcome Tara to the Cahoots family and I look forward to exploring Quilchena with her.”

Cahoots extends its gratitude to the Ontario Arts Council for supporting Tara’s term through its Playwright Residency Grant.

For more information please contact:

Ulla Laidlaw

Communications & Outreach Coordinator

Cahoots Theatre Projects

(416) 203-9000

ulla@cahoots.ca

Carlos Bulosan Theatre Play Creation Unit

Call for Submissions

Carlos Bulosan Theatre

Play Creation Unit

The Carlos Bulosan Theatre’s (CBT’s) mandate is to reflect on social issues affecting the Filipino and broader community. CBT is also committed to creating innovative work that reflects a vibrant, new generation of Filipino-Canadian artists. CBT seeks to encourage and develop Filipino-Canadian writers, performers, and other artists within the community.

The CBT Play Creation Unit is a novice play creation program. It introduces participants to various approaches to making theatre. Through regular workshops and sessions with professional theatre artists, we help participants identify, cultivate and explore their creative voice. Each member will create a 10-15 minute piece of theatre that will be presented in CBT’s annual showcase of new work Tales from the Flipside at the end of February 2008.

Submission Guidelines:

• A letter of interest outlining why you would like to be part of the program, including an idea you would like to develop into a piece of theatre
• A 1-2 page submission of creative writing (this can take the form of dialogue, poetry, prose, short story, etc.)

The Play Creation Unit begins meeting September 2007 through to January 2008.

The deadline for submissions is August 3, 2007. Submissions can be sent by email to: info@carlosbulosan.com . Submissions by mail should be sent to: Carlos Bulosan Theatre, 167 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L4