By Naw Thay U (AIPMC Intern) for Mizzima News
Decades of war and all pervasive military oppression in Burma have affected our people’s lives. We live with worry, in fear, depression, sadness and are engulfed in a sense of helplessness. Most of the time, we suffer from feelings of hopelessness, arguably, because we cannot change our situation or see a brighter future and are living out our lives under the oppression of the military junta. However, with the support of Members of Parliament (MPs) or law-makers from the ASEAN region who are willing to speak up on our behalf and defend our rights, we can regain hope.
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) is a network formed in November 2004, by and for parliamentarians in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), both from the ruling and non-ruling parties with the aim of advocating for human rights and democratic reforms in Burma.
These MPs volunteered to step across national and party boundaries to fight for the restoration of freedom and democracy in Burma. National caucuses, parliamentary groups and individual MPs from India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia and other countries worldwide are also affiliated with AIPMC.
AIPMC has called on ASEAN to review its policy on Burma, while calling for the denial of Burma’s ASEAN chairmanship last year. It has called on ASEAN governments to protect and help ethnic Karen civilians displaced by the ongoing Burma military’s violent onslaught against them, and for the suspension of Burma from ASEAN unless Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners are released.
AIPMC has clearly stated that progress towards democracy should be made through negotiations. It should involve tripartite participation of the military junta, Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy and representatives of various ethnic nationalities.
At a press conference in July 22, 2006 after its conference on Burma and Democracies in Transition, AIPMC’s chairperson Datuk Zaid Ibrahim read out AIPMC’s statement to reporters saying that AIPMC, with the support of civil society, has led the way for a paradigm shift in ASEAN thinking. He said AIPMC has pressured and influenced ASEAN to review its policy of “constructive engagement’ and “non-interference in the affairs of member states.”
Last year, Burma eventually had to withdraw from taking over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006 because of the advocacy and pressure from the international community, including in ASEAN, which was critically and mainly led by AIPMC.
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim also told reporters that ASEAN has its limitation, but AIPMC urged ASEAN to find a common position to pressure Burma to reform. AIPMC believes that change has to come to Burma.
According to AIPMC’s secretary Teresa Kok, AIPMC would also work with the international community, including ASEAN countries to engage China and India to pressure Burma for democratic and human rights reforms.
As an intern with AIPMC, I was in the secretariat team of the July 2006 conference on Burma and Democracies in Transition. There, I experienced a different strength and hope as the conference proceeded. People from all walks of life, MPs (including some Burmese MPs elected in 1990 General Election, but in exile now), foreign missions, Burma’s government-in-exile, civil-society, and media attended the conference. The participants discussed Burma issues and tried to take on various activities related to Burma issues, including the continuing calls for the suspension of Burma from ASEAN and the United Nations Security Council to act on Burma by passing a substantive resolution.
I learnt that AIPMC has created interest and excitement in the media and the international community, so they observe and report on what AIPMC does. AIPMC has also created hope and support for the civil-society, Burma movement and members of Burma’s government-in-exile. As a result, many of them want to observe the conference and support AIPMC. Through Teresa Kok, I learnt that AIPMC has created caution and a shift in thinking among ASEAN members when dealing with Burma because they feel they are being watched by MPs who were elected by the people to speak up on their behalf and defend their rights. I learnt that we are not alone in the struggle.
This paper is part of my internship. My supervisor Roshan Jason, Executive Secretary of AIPMC, asked me to write a report on my understanding of AIPMC. Since the grassroots inside and outside Burma may not have an idea of this network, I, with the encouragement of AIPMC, would like to share it with them.
In conclusion, with MPs from the ASEAN region who are willing to speak up on our behalf and defend our rights, and also to fight for the restoration of our freedom and democracy, we must not give up hope. We should sustain our hope despite all the war and military oppression which create a sense of hopelessness, and turn it into our strength to fight for our freedom and against injustice, together with these honourable MPs who are concerned about our suffering.
Reference:
1. AIPMC, “Welcome to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC)”, Available http://www.aseanmp.org/.
2. AIPMC, “Asian Voices: Myanmar’s Threat to Regional Security”, AIPMC Booklet, 2006.
Kuala Lumpur
