Agenda item

The Town Clerk advised that the Lord Mayor had directed that an urgent motion be put before the Court of Common Council, pursuant to Standing Order 12(4). 

Motion – “That this Honourable Court expresses its deep regret at the ongoing violence in Myanmar and the oppression of that country’s minority Rohingya population. It further expresses its considerable disappointment that Aung San Su Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, Nobel Laureate and Honorary Freeman of the City of London has not appeared to challenge the conduct of her armed forces to end their humanitarian crisis.

The Court notes the concerns expressed by several Honourable Members at the timing of and the process leading to the grant to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor of the honorary freedom.

This Court therefore resolves:

(a)          To instruct its Freedom Applications Committee to Review the process by which proposals for the Honorary Freedom are promulgated and brought before the Court;

(b)          To ensure that any future procedure should allow for wide informal and confidential consultation with Members prior to any proposal being made officially, and certainly before the proposed recipient is sounded out about the honour;

(c)           To establish whether, once awarded, this Honorary Freedom may be removed, and if so, by what procedure;

(d)          In the event the Court does not currently have a procedure to revoke an Honorary Freedom once granted, then the relevant steps are taken to address this lacuna and consideration is given to implementing and documenting such a procedure; and

(e)          To write to the Ambassador for Myanmar, expressing the Court’s profound concern about the current situation in his country and a wish that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, plays a more active role to end the humanitarian crisis.”

The Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Chairman of the Freedom Applications Committee were heard in support of the Motion.

With reference to section (e) of the Motion, a Member suggested that this was arguably a matter on which the Court might wish to seek advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before proceeding.

A number of Members also expressed concern that any move to remove the Honorary Freedom from Aung San Suu Kyi would weaken her political position within Myanmar and would, in the longer term, prove a mistake.

Amendment – That section (e) of the Motion be revised to read:-

(e)     Subject to consideration by the Freedom Applications Committee, to write to the Ambassador for Myanmar, expressing the Court’s profound concern about the current situation in his country and a wish that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, plays a more active role to end the humanitarian crisis.

This amendment was subsequently withdrawn and a further amendment moved.

Amendment – That section (e) of the Motion be revised to read:-

(e)     That the Policy and Resources Committee review whether a letter should be writtento the Ambassador for Myanmar, expressing the Court’s profound concern about the current situation in his country and a wish that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, plays a more active role to end the humanitarian crisis.

Upon the Amendment being put, the Lord Mayor declared it to be carried.

A division being demanded and granted, there appeared:-

Whereupon the Lord Mayor declared the Amendment to not be carried.

Motion – That, in accordance with Standing Order 11(9), the Question be now put.

Upon the Question being put, the Lord Mayor declared the Motion to be carried.

Resolved – That the deep regret of this Honourable Court be expressed at the ongoing violence in Myanmar and the oppression of that country’s minority Rohingya population. Further, its considerable disappointment be expressed that Aung San Su Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, Nobel Laureate and Honorary Freeman of the City of London had not appeared to challenge the conduct of her armed forces to end their humanitarian crisis.

That the concerns expressed by several Honourable Members be noted at the timing of and the process leading to the grant to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, of the Honorary Freedom.

Further resolved – That:-

(a)          The Freedom Applications Committee be instructed to review the process by which proposals for the Honorary Freedom are promulgated and brought before the Court;

(b)          Measures be taken to ensure that any future procedure allows for wide informal and confidential consultation with Members prior to any proposal being made officially, and certainly before the proposed recipient is sounded out about the honour;

(c)           To establish whether, once awarded, this Honorary Freedom may be removed, and if so, by what procedure;

(d)          In the event the Court does not currently have a procedure to revoke an Honorary Freedom once granted, then the relevant steps be taken to address this lacuna and consideration is given to implementing and documenting such a procedure; and

The Ambassador for Myanmar be written to, expressing the Court’s profound concern about the current situation in his country and a wish that Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister and State Counsellor, plays a more active role to end the humanitarian crisis.