Agenda and minutes
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Speaking at a Council or Committee meeting
PDF 130 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Town Hall
Contact: Jennifer Thompson, Committee and Members Services Officer email: democraticservices@oxford.gov.uk tel: 01865 252275
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Declarations of interest Minutes: There were no declarations. |
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Removal of Freedom of the City from Aung San Suu Kyi The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report asking Council to consider formally enacting the cross party motion agreed on 2 October 2017 to remove Freedom of the City from Aung San Suu Kyi.
Councillor Clarkson, the mover of the motion to Council, will move the recommendation.
Recommendation: That Council consider the motion adopted at their meeting on 2 October 2017 which recommended the removal of the Freedom of the City of Oxford from Aung San Suu Kyi, and formally implement that recommendation. Minutes: The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report asking Council to consider formally enacting the cross party motion agreed on 2 October 2017 to remove Freedom of the City from Aung San Suu Kyi. This would take immediate effect.
At the meeting of Council on 2 October 2017 a cross-party motion was agreed unanimously. This stated: This Council believes the residents of Oxford are deeply concerned about the dreadful attacks on the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) and the flight of refugees into Bangladesh. The City Council has written to Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, to ask her to speak out and to do whatever she can to stop the ethnic cleansing in her country. It was right to give the Freedom of the City to Aung San Suu Kyi in 1997 in recognition of her long struggle for democracy and her personal links to Oxford. However, in the absence of a helpful response from her and with deep regret, Council believes it is no longer appropriate for Aung San Suu Kyi to hold the Freedom of the City. Oxford City Council resolves to remove the Freedom of the City of Oxford from Aung San Suu Kyi.
Councillor Clarkson, seconded by Councillor Altaf Khan, proposed the motion above. Members of Council expressed their disappointment and regret at the circumstances and actions in Myanmar leading to the proposal of this motion, and noted that while the honour was originally awarded for good reason, and given the honour was also conferred on Oxfam who were providing humanitarian aid to the Rohingya people, in this particular instance the honour was no longer fitting.
On being put to the vote, Council unanimously voted to implement the motion above.
Oxford City Council resolved to: remove the Freedom of the City of Oxford from Aung San Suu Kyi.
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