The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), a Philippine-based human rights NGO advocating genuine peace, justice and democracy in Burma, today described the scheduled resumption of the national convention that would draft the constitution in military-ruled Burma as “worse than a tsunami.” The convention resumes on Feb. 17.
“The national convention is a man-made disaster that will put the lives of the 52 million people of Burma in great danger. A tsunami hits very rarely, but a military-influenced constitution will cause lifetime damage in the lives of the already oppressed Burmese people,” Miclat explained.
The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), a Philippine-based human rights NGO advocating genuine peace, justice and democracy in Burma, today described the scheduled resumption of the national convention that would draft the constitution in military-ruled Burma as “worse than a tsunami.” The convention resumes on Feb. 17.
IID Executive Director Gus Miclat said that the national convention is meant to institutionalize the brutal military regime of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) which has ruled Burma for 42 years.
“The national convention is a man-made disaster that will put the lives of the 52 million people of Burma in great danger. A tsunami hits very rarely, but a military-influenced constitution will cause lifetime damage in the lives of the already oppressed Burmese people,” Miclat explained.
It will be remembered that the SPDC started charter talks in Burma last May 17 after forming a national convention from mostly “handpicked” delegates of the military government. The National League for Democracy (NLD), the biggest opposition party in Burma led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi boycotted the convention and the international community including the United Nations has described the proceedings as a “sham”.
“The junta bragged that the charter talks is the first step in their roadmap to democracy. But the convention is undemocratic and unrepresentative and is being pursued without the consent of the majority of the people in Burma,” Miclat added.
Among other issues, the national convention is defining the military regime’s role in future governments. “This is absurd. The SPDC came to power through a coup and is therefore an illegitimate government. And now it is seeking a legal mandate using the national convention,” Miclat stressed.
Burma’s chairmanship of the Asean in 2006 should be blocked IID also reiterated their stand to block Burma’s scheduled chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2006, saying that Burma’s failure to address its poor human rights record makes it unworthy to chair the regional grouping.
IID also supports Senator Aquilino Pimentel’s position not to allowing Burma’s chairing of the Asean until significant democratic reforms are instituted inside Burma. Pimentel, in a public hearing held in the senate on January 18, asked the Philippine government to make a strong stand against the military generals in Rangoon.
“We only have a year left to block Burma from chairing the Asean. Time is running out. We urge the Philippine government to throw out the Asean’s policy of non-interference in the matter of Burma,” Miclat concluded.
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