Speeches and Presentation during the seminar

Session 1 : The Case of Burma/Myanmar

Aung Myo Min – Children in Armed Conflicts

Tate Naing – Political Prisoners

Pranom Somwong - Migrant and Refugees

Session 2 : The Future of Burma/Myanmar

Dr. Vorawit Suwanvanichkij – Humanitarian Outlook

Dr. Naing Aung – Elections 2010

Session 3 : ASEAN Role, Responsibility and Mechanisms

Ana Theresia Hontiveros – Baraquel – Some Ideas to treat a Troubled Partnership

Bios of the speakers

27 February 2009

The Nation (Supalak Ganjanakhundee)

Parliamentarians from Asean countries yesterday urged leaders attending the Asean Summit from today until Sunday to seek solutions to pushing Burma toward democracy and social justice.

The junta-run country will hold a general election next year but the poll might not be inclusive enough to have participation from all stakeholders, notably ethnic minorities, said Charles Chong, a parliamentarian from Singapore.

A group of parliamentarians from Southeast Asian countries under the Asean InterParliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) gathered yesterday at a Bangkok hotel to discuss social justice in Burma.

They met Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as Thailand holds the chairmanship of Asean, to highlight key issues of the current situation in Burma, including humanrights suppression and the 2010 juntasponsored general election.

The issue of Burma has dominated Asean meetings since the country failed to reform politics and release key opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Kasit told the parliamentarians that his government would address the issue of Burma a lot more seriously and with more engagement of civil society, according to an Asean MP who attended the meeting.

The minister was quite open as he allowed former elected MPs from Burma who are now in exile to see him yesterday, said AIPMC president Kraisak Chonhavan.

“It [more open discussion] would be like turning to a new chapter, but how to put it into political practicality in Burma is another question. This is the most open preAsean meeting I have ever seen,” he said.

Asked whether the foreign minister, as the representative of Asean, had promised any action towards change in Burma, Kraisak declined to be specific, saying that the Asean charter had set out the standard for human rights in the region.

“The point is that countries which are dictatorships, or countries which are democratic in name only, can no longer dictate the Asean theme. Human rights is now an open horizon and will not stop,” he

26 February 2009

VOA (Ron Corben)

A group of Southeast Asian politicians promoting human rights and justice in Burma say this week’s ASEAN summit on political reform in Burma will be a vital test for the 10-member group.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Burma says that country’s human rights record and steps to political reform should be foremost on the agenda for the Association of South East Asian Nations summit that begins Friday.

Philippine Parliamentary Human Rights Committee Chairman Lorenzo Tanada says how ASEAN leaders approach the issue will test the organization’s international standing.

“The integrity of the organization is put into question if nothing is done with regard to Burma, especially with the 2010 elections coming around the corner,” he said. “We know for a fact that these elections will be used by the junta to legitimatize itself.”

The inter-parliamentary caucus has strongly advocated political and human rights reform in Burma, adding to the international pressure on that country, which is also known as Myanmar. However, the summit is expected to focus mainly on the global economic crisis.

ASEAN has faced criticism from inside and outside Southeast Asia for not putting more pressure on Burma to reform since it joined the regional body in 1997.

But a major step came with an ASEAN charter – adopted in December by all 10 member states, including Burma – setting out provisions addressing human rights.

Thai government representative Buranat Samutrak says he is confident the key elements to promote change in Burma are in place, especially the charter.

“I think at this point it cannot be a more opportune moment to see these collective results by representatives met by collective action by leaders and governments,” he said.

Burma government-in-exile representative, Teddy Buri, says the pressure against the government, known as the State Peace and Development Council or SPDC, is leading to change. But Buri says ASEAN also has to take a united stand on Burma.

“The fact that they plan the 2010 elections is because of the pressure,” he said. “In other words the SPDC is really feeling the pinch. Maybe we will have to start with ASEAN itself to speak in one voice, to work in a concerted manner and then to get the international key players to work together.”

The 2010 elections are part of the military government’s so-called road map to democracy that had earlier included drafting a new constitution.

Malaysian Parliament Member Nurul Izzah Anwar says Burma’s government needs to be held accountable.

“Of course in ASEAN it sounds very nice to have elections at long last in Myanmar, but it does not negate the wrong that they have committed and continue to commit,” he said. “So I believe the program we have had today is a beginning of how to right the wrong.”

Human rights advocates fear the 2010 elections will not be “free and fair” and just a way for the military to extend its power. Burma’s military government has ruled since 1988.

Rights group Amnesty International is also pressing ASEAN to ensure human rights are at the top of the summit’s agenda. This week the military released 24 political prisoners, but rights groups say more than 2,100 political prisoners remain in jail.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) will be hosting the above-titled seminar on 26 February 2009 at the JW Marriot Hotel in Bangkok from 9am onwards.

This seminar aims to highlight the key issues of current concern in Myanmar/Burma in advance of the ASEAN Summit meeting in Hua Hin.

The seminar will bring together politicians, members of parliament from some ASEAN countries, leaders of the Burma democracy movement, Thai civil society and academics. Presentations and discussions will look at the current social, political and economic problems the country faces as well as the role of ASEAN in the country’s crisis.

The seminar will conclude with the opening of a photo exhibit on political prisoners in Myanmar.

Attendance for the seminar is by invitation only. Further information on the seminar / participation/ media contact, please contact the AIPMC via email at info@aseanmp.org or via phone to: -

Theerada Suphaphong (AIPMC Coordinator) at +66-81-637-4567 or +66-85-666-7002, Roshan Jason (AIPMC Executive Director) at +6-012-3750974.

There will be an open press conference for all media representatives at 12.45pm at the Salon B (3rd floor) room at the JW Marriott at the end of the seminar.

AIPMC is a network formed by and for Parliamentarians from ASEAN countries to advocate for human rights and democratic reform in Myanmar.  Its members represent both the ruling and non-ruling political parties of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia.

Renewed ASEAN Leadership Towards Social Justice in Myanmar

26 February 2009

JW Marriott, Bangkok, Thailand

On 26 February 2009, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus will hold a seminar entitled “Renewed ASEAN Leadership towards Social Justice in Myanmar” in Bangkok, Thailand. This seminar will highlight the key issues of current concern in Myanmar/Burma in advance of the ASEAN Summit meeting, which Thailand is hosting later that week.

Bringing together politicians, members of parliament from many ASEAN countries, leaders of the Burma democracy movement, Thai civil society and academics, the presentations and discussion will focus on current social, political and economic problems the country faces.

Also expected from the seminar are discussions and recommendations on concrete actions to be taken by ASEAN in relation to the long-standing regional problem of Myanmar. In light of the military regime’s ‘Roadmap to Democracy’, this year is essential for forward movement and new leadership on the issue of Myanmar. If there is to be progress towards the restoration of civil liberties and democracy in Myanmar, ASEAN must ensure that the military regime releases all political prisoners, reviews its constitution with the participation of all legitimate democratic and ethnic leaders, and ceases all attacks against opposition forces, ethnic and religious groups. Topics for in-depth discussion will include social justice concerns such as the use of child soldiers, human trafficking, the on-going humanitarian crisis and the fate of a steeply increasing number of political prisoners.

The seminar will conclude with the opening of a photo exhibit on political prisoners in Myanmar.

A delegation of AIPMC members will then hold meetings at the ASEAN summit to communicate these concerns directly to ASEAN leaders.

The AIPMC is a network formed by and for Parliamentarians from ASEAN countries to advocate for human rights and democratic reform in Myanmar. Its members represent both the ruling and non-ruling political parties of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia.

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus

‘Renewed ASEAN Leadership towards Social Justice in Myanmar’

Seminar and Exhibition

JW Marriott Hotel, Bangkok, 26 February 2009

09:00 Welcome Speech: Hon. Kraisak Choonhavan, AIPMC President

09:15 Keynote Speech: Hon. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Minister of Justice, Thailand

09:30 The Case of Burma/Myanmar

· Children in Armed Conflicts: Mr. Aung Myo Min, Executive Director, Human Rights Education Institute of Burma

· Political Prisoners: Mr. Tate Naing, Secretary, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

· Migrants and Refugees: Ms. Pranom Somwong, Advisor, Action Network for Migrants, Thailand

Q & A

10:30 Coffee Break

10:45 The Future of Burma/Myanmar

· Humanitarian Outlook: Dr. Voravit Suwanvanichkij, Research Associate, Institute of Health Sciences, Thailand

· Elections 2010: Dr. Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma

Q & A

11:30 ASEAN: Role, Responsibility and Mechanisms

· Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn, Assistant Group Editor, The Nation

· Ms. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, AIPMC Committee Member

· Mr. Weerawit Weeraworawit, Deputy Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand

Q & A

12:30 Exhibition launch: Myanmar’s Political Prisoners

12:45 Press Conference & Lunch

Seminar moderators: Mr. Roshan Jason – Executive Director, AIPMC; Ms. Khin Ohmar – Coordinator, Burma Partnership; Mr. Rafendi Djamin – Coordinator, Human Rights Working Group

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) strongly encourages the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Prof. Ibrahim Gambari to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi during his current visit to Myanmar.

To ensure that the UN mission has tangible outcomes, Prof Gambari’s agenda must include a meeting with the Myanmar democracy movement leader followed by an opportunity for her to make a public address, at the very least, while mediating her release.

AIPMC asserts that the UN mission can only be deemed meaningful if Aung San Suu Kyi is allowed her right to speak her views publicly on a wide range of issues on Myanmar, including the UN process.

Prof. Gambari must also meet and discuss key-issues on democracy and human rights with junta leader Senior-General Than Shwe.

Among the dire-issues that need addressing are the detention of political prisoners, the handing down of unprecedented lengthy prison sentences to human rights defenders and the need for a constitutional review with the participation of all political parties, ethnic group representatives and members of independent civil society organisations.

Further, Prof. Gambari must make it clear that any of the UN’s proposals and deals with the military can only be offered when Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners are released immediately and key democratic reforms are adopted.

In recent weeks, there has been an increase of migrants from Myanmar to other ASEAN countries. Prof. Gambari must, during his mission, stress that Myanmar and its neighbouring countries deal with the matter expediently and effectively in the spirit of international conventions and practise.

AIPMC reiterates its commitment to assist the UN in whatever manner necessary to ensure its mission is effective and stresses the need for the Myanmar stalemate to be dealt with in all possible expediency.

The AIPMC is an organisation comprising Parliamentarians from various ASEAN member-states.