A Burma-event titled ‘Military rule in Burma, its effects on the international community and ASEAN’ will be held at the side-lines of the 116th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly in Bali. The event is co-organised by the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and the AIPMC.

Date: Sunday, April 29, 2007

Time: 14:00 – 18:30pm

Venue: Bali International Convention Center, Nusa Dua

Room: Bouganvillea, Ground Floor

Programme

1. Opening Ceremony: Hon. Bapak Djoko Susilo – Chair of AIPMC Indonesian Chapter

2. Welcoming Remark: Hon. Bapak Agung Laksono – Speaker of the House, Indonesian Parliament

3. Opening Remark: Hon. Mr. Finn Martin Vallersnes – IPU Head of Delegation, Norway

4. Speech: Hon. Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. – Vice-President of AIPMC

Break

5. Burma Video Screening – ‘Shoot on Sight’

6. Presentation: Hon. Mr. Bo Hla Tint – NCGUB Minister – ‘Political Implications in Burma and a Glance at The Future’

7. Presentation: Ms. L. Dwelling – Women’s League of Burma (WLB) – ‘The Plight of Women under Military Rule in Burma’

8. Presentation: Hon. Mr. Win Hlaing – Members of Parliament Union, Burma (MPU) – ‘Looking Inside Burma’

Question and Answer session

9. Closing Remarks: Bapak Desra Percaya – Spokesperson, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia

(translation – Jawa Post)

30 April, 2007, Nusa Dua – The solidarity of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) seems to become more solid in their meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, yesterday.

Their solidarity was shown by the active participation of Indonesia supported by the IPU Human Rights Commission by holding an exhibition and campaign of Human Rights and Democracy for Myanmar.

According to The Chairman of the Indonesian Legislative Assembly, Agus Laksono, the struggle to uphold the democracy and regulations of Human Rights in Myanmar is definite. He added that, up to this very second there are 12 members of Myanmar Parliament being detained by the military regime.

“The 12 legislators were imprisoned for uncertain reasons,” said Agung at Westin Resort, Nusa Dua, Bali, yesterday.

Accordingly, he said, Indonesia and the other members of IPU will find a solution for the political crisis as a solidarity from the neighbouring countries. “Don’t ban the freedom to express. The Regime in Myanmar should uphold the Human Rights principles,” said the Vice Chairman of the Golkar Political Board at Central Level.

The Head of the IPU Human Rights Commission Drilon Franklin said that the members of IPU, especially the ASEAN countries, has a big responsibility in restoring the political and human rights conditions in Myanmar.

The senator of the Philippines also asked the support from everyone to influence the policy character of the regime of the Myanmar government. ”Democracy has to revive, no more tragedies,” he said yesterday.

Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Caucus on Myanmar, Djoko Susilo, said that he has actively consolidated the support from 126 members of the parliament caucus for Myanmar. “Democracy cannot be upheld by weapons,” said the former Jawa Post journalist. Therefore, the freedom to express in Myanmar needs to be upheld.

According to him, a regime that does not go along with the value and principle of democracy in Myanmar has to be strictly compelled. “This needs a firm systematic step” described the member of Commission I of the Legislative Assembly.

Therefore he will present a number of solutions to the UN level.

Among the solution steps that can be taken is freezing all the accounts of the Myanmar government, as well as freezing the assets. Blocking the account is considered strategic, as it is often used for laundering money from narcotics and trafficking transactions.

Besides, added the member of the board of PAN, he will also insist that the Indonesian government communicate and make intensive approach to influence the policy character of the regime of the government of Myanmar. “The President also need to be active in making an approach,” he said.

The Vice President of the ASEAN Parliament Caucus for Myanmar, Aquilino Q Pimentel said that the ASEAN countries have to rise up and be firm in solving the political problem in Myanmar. “ASEAN has to lead to a positive change for the people of Myanmar,” he explained.

Aquilino said that Indonesia is among the countries that have a strategic position to lead the change. Moreover, he added, currently Indonesia is a non permanent member of the UNSC. “This strategic position can be optimized to create peace in ASEAN region,” he said.

If the situation in Myanmar is not taken care of, added the senator of the Philippines, the condition of the people in that country will be worse. “Currently the condition and the quality of life of the people there is very worrying,” he said.

IPU and the ASEAN countries are expected to give hope for the people of Myanmar to live respectably in an ideal democracy.

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The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali (30 April 2007)

Ridwan Max Sijabat,

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar (AIPMC) has asked Indonesia to use its place on the UN Security Council to lobby permanent members, especially China and Russia, to freeze the assets of the Myanmar military junta over rights abuses in the country.

The recommendation came Sunday at the conclusion of a one-day seminar and exhibition on Myanmar organized by AIPMC, prior to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s general assembly.

Chairman of AIPMC’s Indonesian chapter, Djoko Susilo, said in its capacity as a member of the Security Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia could play a constructive role in urging the UN body to freeze assets belonging to the military regime in Myanamr believed to have been gained through criminal activities, including the illegal drug trade.

“Before taking the UNSC leadership in November, Indonesia still has six months to lobby China and Russia to win their support for harsher sanctions against the repressive (Myanmar) military regime. With the full support of ASEAN, Indonesia could do it,” said Djoko, a lawmaker from the National Mandate Party (PAN).

A U.S. sponsored draft resolution calling for an economic embargo on Myanmar was rejected by the Security Council last. Permanent members China and Russia opposed the resolution, as did India.

AIPMC vice president Aquilino Q. Pimentel called on all parliamentarians, especially those from Southeast Asia and democratic countries, to do more to end the human tragedy in Myanmar.

“Besides encouraging their own governments, all delegations to the IPU assembly should ask Indonesia to play a constructive role in the UNSC to pass a resolution that will allow for peaceful internationally sanctioned action on Burma (Myanmar). Indonesia has the credibility and the capacity to assert its leadership role as chair of the UN security body,” he said.

Aquilino, a Philippine senator, asked the parliamentarians to empower their governments and groupings like ASEAN to act decisively to push for democracy in Myanmar and put an end to the repressive military regime there.

He told parliamentarians participating in the assembly not to turn their back on the people of Myanmar and the abuses in the country, including the detention of Noble Peace laureate Au Sang Suu Kyi, politicians and pro-democracy activists.

“Burma is home to the world’s longest-running war and is third largest source of refugees after Afghanistan and Iraq. Thousands of families from minority ethnic groups have been under attack by numerous diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. And it has been the second largest opium producer in the world,” Aquilino said.

He said the people of Myanmar have endured a humanitarian crisis since the military seized power in 1990.

Large numbers of people from minority groups and religions, rising child mortality rates, malnutrition and rape and violence against women and children have been hallmarks of the military’s rule, he said.

The call for tough action on the military regime drew full support from European parliamentary delegations.

Fin Martin Vallersnes, head of the Norway delegation, asked ASEAN to lobby India and China to step up pressure on the military junta to free all political prisoners and promote democracy.

Win Hlaing and Bo-Hla-Tint, members of the Myanmar parliamentary delegation, welcomed the gestures of the AIPMC and IPU in response to the military dictatorship and their solidarity with the people of Myanmar and the pro-democracy movement.

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Bernama

NUSA DUA (Bali), April 30 (Bernama) — A seminar on Myanmar held on the sidelines of the 116th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting here had the delegates openly acknowledging that the Myanmar military junta’s misrule had a negative spill-over effect on the region and its stability.

Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament Agung Laksono said that all parliamentarians had a genuine and unique role in encouraging the restoration of civil, political and democratic rights of the Burmese.

“It is very clear that our destinies as neighbouring countries are to seriously address Myanmar’s deteriorating crises without delay,” he was quoted as saying in a press release by the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today.

The half-day seminar attended by about 60 parliamentarians was jointly organised by the AIPMC and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB).

The participants also urged Indonesia and Asean to support a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Myanmar.

Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr of the Philippines, who is also AIPMC vice-president, called on Asean to repair the damage to its reputation, which he said was caused primarily by the renegade policies of the Myanmar junta.

“Asean has to make a strong stand on Burma (Myanmar); a stand that would not allow the military any room to manoeuvre. Don’t buy into what is touted to be the road map to democracy’ and the junta’s sham National Convention which has gone on for years and is non-inclusive of all relevant parties,” Pimentel said.

Asean must adopt a realistic, coordinated and no-nonsense position on Myanmar, he said.

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League of Democracy (NLD) party were expelled from the Myanmar junta’s National Convention, which had been drafting a constitution in a process that has spanned almost 15 years.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian IPU head of delegation, Finn M. Vallersnes, said he was concerned about the lack of progress in the promised transition in Myanmar towards a legitimate civilian government.

“I believe that time is running out for the military regime. The world does not want such undemocratic regimes any more and more importantly, people don’t want them anymore. People want security, human rights and democratic values,” he told the seminar, which was co-sponsored by the Indonesian and Norwegian IPU delegations.

Prior to the start of the seminar, an exhibition on Myanmar’s detained Members of Parliament, organised by the IPU Human Rights Committee on Parliamentarians, was launched by the its chairman, Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

– BERNAMA

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

April 30, 2007 – The Burmese military junta’s misrule has had a spillover effect in terms of negative impact on the region and its stability, said Southeast Asian Parliamentarians and officials of the Inter Parliamentarian Union.

Nearly 60 ASEAN parliamentarians, IPU official country delegates and Indonesian government officials, during a seminar on the sidelines of the 116th IPU Assembly in Bali said, ” Myanmar [ Burma] military junta’s misrule has had a negative spillover effect on the region and its stability.”

Speaking at the half-day seminar titled “Military rule in Burma, Its Effects on the International community and ASEAN,” Indonesian Parliament Speaker, Agung Laksono said, “It is very clear that our destinies as neighbouring countries are to seriously address Myanmar’s [Burma's] deteriorating crises without delay.”

Agung Laksono further reiterated the need for all parliamentarians to play a unique role in encouraging the restoration of civil, political and democratic rights of the Burmese people.

Philippines senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. during his speech said, “ASEAN has to take a strong stand on Burma; a stand that would not allow the military any room to manoeuvre. Don’t buy into what is touted to be the road map to democracy’ and the junta’s sham National Convention which has gone on for years and is non-inclusive of all relevant parties.”

He said in repairing ASEAN’s damaged reputation, which has been caused by the Burmese military junta, ASEAN must adopt a realistic, coordinated and a no-nonsense position on Burma.

Jointly organized by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and the Burmese government in exile, -National Coalition government of Union of Burma – participants also urged Indonesia and the ASEAN to support a United Nations Security Council resolution on Burma .

29 April 2007

AIPMC-NCGUB Burma Seminar, IPU Bali

Speech by IPU Head of Delegation from Norway, Mr. Finn M Vallersnes

It is a pleasure to be given the opportunity to make some remarks at this meeting. The Norwegian parliament is actively engaged in the situation in Burma and it is on behalf of all my colleagues at home that I welcome this opportunity. Burma has indeed many friends in Europe, but the most important is that the region, in particular the ASEAN countries continue to play an active role.

The ASEAN countries play a very constructive role. They should be impatient for results, even more impatient then today. There should be no room for a regime such as the military regime in Burma in this dynamic region.

Our host country, Indonesia is very active, and many others here present. I hope that other influential countries in the region, China and India also will step up and put pressure on the regime. The situation in Burma is too serious for it to be a part of a strategic power puzzle in the region. As parliamentarians we can play our part and the IPU Conference gives us all an opportunity to meet and exchange views.

All of us are concerned about the human rights situation and humanitarian situation in Burma. Although the recent release of some prisoners is good news, the overall situation for the opposition is very difficult. Serious violations of human rights and difficult conditions for human right defenders, both national and international, remain common.

It is important that the international community continues to protest against human rights violations in Burma and continue to ask for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

We are all concerned at the lack of progress in the promised transition towards a legitimate civilian government. We hope for progress towards national reconciliation and that it soon will be possible to have a meaningful and inclusive dialogue between all political parties and ethnic groups in the country.

Burma was put on the Security Council’s agenda for the first time in the autumn of last year. This gave increased international attention to the situation in Burma. However, the outcome of the vote showed the continued challenge of a common international approach towards the regime. Still, as far as I understand, there seems to be an increasing international consensus that the situation is unacceptable.

The Norwegian government supports the EU’s common approach to Burma, including limited and targeted sanctions, weapons embargo, no visas and freeze of assets to members of the military regime. In addition to the support to the EU, comes the recommendation from our government to Norwegian citizens and organizations not to trade with, invest in or travel to Burma. Norway will continue to support the common approach of the EU.

This year the human rights activist Charm Tong got a students peace prize back in Norway, for her work for refugees on the Burmese/Thai border. Thanks to people like her, the hope for a better future is kept alive and reminds the international public opinion about the serious situation. It s also encouraging that the 88-generation of students continues to work, with much courage, for reform from within.

We must continuously work to find the best possible way to contribute to a positive development in Burma. We are very concerned about human rights violations in the country, and we express this concern in many international fora.

The humanitarian situation is serious and life for ordinary people is difficult. Norway has increased our humanitarian aid to 44 million kroner in 2006. WE need to focus on contributing to building a civil society in Burma that can demand change. These are difficult challenges, but we cannot give up. At the same time we recognize that 16 years of sanctions and isolation has led to very little. We are interested in ideas on how we can contribute to much needed change in Burma and I hope that this meeting can give us some ideas on how to move forward.

I believe that time is running out for the military regime. The world does not want such undemocratic regimes any more, and more importantly people don’t want them anymore. People want security, human rights and democratic values. Time will come for peaceful political change and Burma will indeed have a lot of friends to assist in such a process.