Members of Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) today held a
press conference in Manila and urged ASEAN to begin monitoring the human
rights situation of each ASEAN member states starting with
military-ruled Burma (Myanmar).
press conference in Manila and urged ASEAN to begin monitoring the human
rights situation of each ASEAN member states starting with
military-ruled Burma (Myanmar).
The ASEAN already announced the inclusion of a provision in the ASEAN
Charter that mandates the creation of a human rights body. Activists who
advocate for the restoration of genuine peace and democracy in Burma
urged the 10-member regional bloc to start engaging its member Burma on
the issue of human rights.
The FBC-Phils presscon is in line with today's 14th Asean Regional Forum
(ARF). The group explained that "human rights monitoring" must be
started immediately to prime up the regional bloc for an effective and
credible human rights body that is yet to be set up by the ASEAN.
Gus Miclat, convenor of the FBC-Phils said, "We challenge the ASEAN to
start monitoring the human rights situation in Burma. The ASEAN should
send teams inside Burma and around the borders to look into the real
situation of the people; talk to the villagers, political prisoners and
activists; and investigate state mechanisms that perpetuate human rights
violations. It must directly engage the military junta in mapping out
incidences of human rights violations and upgrading the policy
environment that will protect and promote human security."
"This way, ASEAN members can assert their credibility and commitment to
the goals of the human rights body," he added.
The group also urged delegates of the 14th ARF Meeting to talk about the
human rights status in Burma. "All the ASEAN processes and mechanisms
including ARF should go beyond the usual agenda of simply forging new
trade and security agreements. The ARF should likewise put on table
matters that involve human rights," Miclat stressed.
The Philippines is hosting the series of regional meetings at the
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City from
July 29 to August 2. This will be the last big ASEAN meeting the
Philippines is hosting as it ends its term as ASEAN Chair.
FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI
The group also reiterated the international community's demand for the
immediate and unconditional release of Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi saying that Aung San Suu Kyi has a vital role to play in
bringing back peace and democracy in Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi, 62, has spent 11 of the last 17 years of her political
life under house arrest in Burma, this, amid increasingly vocal
international demands for her immediate and unconditional release. She
has been under detention since May 2003.
"The continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi shows of the junta's
cowardice to face the leader of the opposition in Burma. But the junta
is digging its own grave because this action will surely spark more
disgusts inside Burma and more protests worldwide," Miclat stressed.
"Though she remains a prisoner of Burma's military regime, Aung San Suu
Kyi remains a powerful symbol of her country's struggle. She retains
moral high ground through her use of peaceful non-violent methods of
struggle and her courage continues to inspire legion of followers inside
Burma and throughout the world," Miclat explained.
Free Burma!
ReplyDeleteInternational Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October
International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.
www.free-burma.org