The Thai Parliamentary Caucus on Democracy in Myanmar was formally launched on 2 March 2005. This national-level caucus however, has been in development and operating since August 2004. Its founding members, Senator Kraisak Choonhavan and Senator Jon Ungphakorn have been advocates for democratic change and human rights in Burma for a long time.

As a member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), the Thai Caucus, acknowledges that:

• Since Myanmar became member of ASEAN in 1997 until today, political, human rights, and humanitarian crises in Myanmar have caused massive suffering to the people of Myanmar. These problems, including refugee and drugs flows from Myanmar, also have a spill-over effect on its regional neighbors, seriously affecting political stability as well as economic and social well-being.

• Collaborations from all sectors in Myanmar’s neighboring countries are necessary to address the gravity of the situation in Myanmar and to work towards lasting solutions to the country’s serious problems. It is evident that the “Constructive Engagement” policy which serves as the basis of relations between ASEAN governments and Myanmar cannot produce concrete results in solving the political crises, the human rights crises, economic problems, drugs problems, and people’s hardships in Myanmar.

• The Myanmar government has failed to fulfill its commitments with neighboring countries, ASEAN, and the international community to truly solve the political crises, the human rights crises, economic problems, drugs problems, and people’s hardships in the country. The “Roadmap” and the “National Convention” currently conducted by the Myanmar government are not recognized by the democratic movement inside and outside Myanmar, or by the international community, as a path towards genuine peace, democracy, and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

• It is therefore necessary for us, as elected representatives of the people of Thailand, to initiate legislative actions in the parliament and to work with civil society to offer suggestions and monitor policy of the Thai government, as well as to monitor the policy direction of ASEAN governments and the international community in order to ensure genuine solutions to the above problems in Myanmar.

We note that:

* Myanmar’s chairmanship of the 2006 ASEAN meeting is taken as an issue of urgency and importance.

* The Chairmanship of ASEAN cannot be awarded to Myanmar in 2006, without fulfilling a prerequisite of genuine peace, democracy, and national reconciliation, particularly the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. In addition, the Myanmar government is required to ensure that democratic movements and ethnic nationalities in Myanmar can engage in the political process safely, freely, and with dignity based on the principles of democracy, inclusiveness, and equality.

We recognize that:

* Aung San Suu Kyi is a legitimate political leader with an integral role in the achievement of the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar, as expressed in the results of the 1990 general elections but has been denied this role by the Myanmar government.

* It is contrary to the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar and the position adopted by the international community that the Thai government concentrates only on forging relations with the Myanmar government.

We urge that:

* The Thai government should reconsider its position to support democracy and peace in Myanmar as an “honest broker”, and begin to consult and listen to opinions and concerns of the National League for Democracy and the ethnic nationalities to pave the way for genuine tripartite dialogue between the Myanmar government, the National League for Democracy, and the ethnic nationalities.

* The Thai government should strongly urge ASEAN to reconsider Myanmar’s chairmanship of the 2006 ASEAN meeting pending its compliance with its promise seven years ago, and also to explore the possibility of implementing such ASEAN mechanism as the “Troika” to facilitate tangible democratic reforms in Myanmar, starting with the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners.