Due to the appalling human rights record and unfulfilled promises of political changes by the military junta ruling Burma, the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), a Philippine NGO advocating justice and democracy in Burma, today urged the Philippine government to instead take over the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, a position scheduled to be given to Burma.
Due to the appalling human rights record and unfulfilled promises of political changes by the military junta ruling Burma, the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), a Philippine NGO advocating justice and democracy in Burma, today urged the Philippine government to instead take over the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, a position scheduled to be given to Burma.
The Philippines is scheduled to be ASEAN chair in 2007. “We are appealing to the members of Asean to consider the assumption of the Philippines as ASEAN chair next year. We know perfectly well that despite internal changes in the military junta in Burma last year, substantial political changes have not followed. How can our conscience allow Asean be ruled by a gang of human rights violators? The Philippines being next in line should instead assume that responsibility in the region,” said Gus Miclat, IID Executive Director.
“To allow Burma to steer the region in 2006 is tantamount to hiring a goat to guard a plantation of cabbage. To surrender the Asean seat to Burma is to disregard the injustice and human rights abuses happening in that country. The Asean countries should not allow themselves to promote an inherently illegitimate government,” Miclat added.
A military junta called the State Peace and Development Council or SPDC has ruled Burma for 43 years. The junta allowed national elections to be held in 1990, but voided the results after the opposition got a majority of congress seats. Burma became an ASEAN member in 1997.
IID recently expressed support to Sen Aquilino Pimentel’s proposal in the senate that seeks suspension of Burma’s chairmanship of the Asean in 2006. Pimentel in his speech entitled “Myanmar Does Not Deserve to Chair Asean in 2006” said that Myanmar’s failure to institute democratic political reforms makes it unworthy to lead the region in 2006. Pimentel also expressed disappointment over the continued house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the most prominent leader of Burma’s opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
“Be very alarmed if Burma will become chair of the Asean in 2006,” Miclat continued. “The junta will use the ASEAN imprimatur not to hand over power to the civilians in the future. The generals in Rangoon will regard the Asean seat as a license to further cover up their undemocratic style of governance. If that happens, no one is to be blamed but the Asean members themselves.”
IID asserts that Burma has not improved its human rights record since joining the ASEAN seven years ago. IID also criticizes the ASEAN’s constructive engagement policy in dealing with Burma, saying that this non-confrontational policy has failed to push the junta to adopt democratic reforms.
“With continuous violations of the rights of their own laborers, women and girls, ethnic nationalities and disregard for existing international laws, Burma’s capacity to lead the ASEAN is in grave doubt. Asean members only have a year left to block Burma from chairing this region,” Miclat concluded.
Recent Comments