Mizzima
24 June 2009

Chiang Mai– The government of Thailand has been urged by Asian lawmakers and activists not to repatriate Karen refugees, who recently fled to Thailand in the wake of fighting along the border.

Kraisak Choonhavan, President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) expressed concern over the situation on the Thai-Burma border where the fighting between the Burmese Army and an ethnic armed group is on, resulting in several thousand Karen villagers fleeing for shelter on the Thai side.

Kraisak insisted that the Thai government should provide humanitarian aid to these villagers and AIPMC will propose to the Thai government, as the current chairman of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), to work with member countries to promote democracy and sustainable peace in Burma.

“We are worried because the situation is still vulnerable. Many more refugees are coming to Thailand and we believe that the Thai government will not send these people back while the fighting continues because it is the principle of the Asean Charter to protect the rights of the people,” Kraisak said.

On Monday, the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) released a statement expressing concern over the current situation of repatriation of families who recently arrived in Thailand in Tha Song Yang of Tak Province.

KWO said these women, if repatriated, will be vulnerable to abuses including sexual harassment and the children are already exhausted from running. Evidence of two Karen teenaged girls raped and killed is proof of a well founded fear of women being abused if they return. The group called on the international community to do whatever they can to stop possible repatriation by the Thai Army.

The group said, the Thai government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should urgently chalk out a procedure to obtain proper consent from the villagers, over the possibility of returning to their villages or to ask if they want to take refuge in Thailand. They should not be forced back in keeping with respect for international law.

“The Thai authorities should at least wait and observe the situation. Forcing back these people during the rainy season and to the place where they still have every reason to fear for their lives is inhuman and a violation of their rights,” said Dah Eh Kler, the Secretary of KWO. “These people just fled to the border a few weeks ago from fear and fresh memories of attacks.”

Similarly, Action Network for Migrants, a network of migrant workers activists and organization also in a statement urged the Thai government and related organizations to reconsider the policy that will not register new refugees to live in refugee camps along the borders. The authorities should allow non government organizations to provide education for the new comers children, which is a basic human right.

Malay Mail
Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Home Ministry: Malaysia has 90 days to answer findings in report

The Home Ministry has set up a team to study the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) annual report issued by the US Department of State, and will submit a speedy response to it findings.

Its secretary-general Datuk Mahmood Adam in confirming that a team was looking into the matter said Malaysia had 90 days to respond to the report that had put the country on Tier 3 of the human trafficking blacklist.

This is the third time Malaysia has been blacklisted. The first was in 2001. But its ranking improved to Tier 2 in subsequent years until 2007.

The 2009 report claimed Malaysia failed not only to “fully comply” with minimum standards to eliminate trafficking but “is not making significant efforts to do so.”

Last year the report elevated Malaysia to a “watch list” from the 2007 blacklist after finding that it was “making significant efforts” to comply with such standards.

The new report said that while the government took early steps to fight sex trafficking, it had yet to fully tackle labour trafficking in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s re-appearance on the blacklist has sparked debate on the matter

Yesterday, it was reported that the Ministry was waiting for an official letter from the US to learn exactly why Malaysia had been downgraded and what the country should be doing about it.

Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, who is also secretary for the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), slammed the various quarters for their rejection of the TIP report.

“This is not the first time Malaysia has been given a poor report on the issue. We have reached the level of committing a repeat offence and the report was detailed. On one side, we have what the report claims. And on another, we have the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and the Deputy Home Minister claiming that the report is unjustifiable. So what is what?” he said.

Yusmadi said the report not only tarnished the name of the country and its people, it also placed civil servants in a bad light as there were allegations that Immigration officers in Malaysia were involved in the human trafficking.

“In Parliament, whenever the topic of human rights (for migrant workers) crops up, the excuse given is that we cannot adopt the standards practised by foreign countries as they do not apply here. However, I believe that there is a need for us to seek the level of standards that they have so that we can satisfy the global ‘litmus test’,” he said.

“Instead of being in denial, we should acknowledge that human trafficking is a global problem. We need to get down to business and start tackling it.”

Last Tuesday, Malay Mail reported that Malaysia made it to the modern slavery list along with Myanmar, Chad, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and others on the US State Department’s 2009 TIP Report.

The report studies efforts of 173 countries in fight ing human trafficking for forced labour, prostitution, military service and other reasons.

Radio Australia
22 June 2009

Myanmar’s opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, last Friday spent her 64th birthday in prison as activists worldwide took to the Internet and staged global protests calling for her release.  Ms Suu Kyi was moved from home detention to the infamous Insein Prison in Yangon last month over a bizarre incident in which an American man swam uninvited to her house.  Dr Suchit Bunbongkarn is a former Constitutional Court judge and Professor Emeritus at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.  I asked him if neighbouring Thailand as the current Chair of Asean might put pressure on the Myanmarese generals to release Ms Suu Kyi:

Dr Suchit:  “I would say that if the rest of Asean members can unite among themselves to force Myanmar, it would be more influential in a way.  But we have to encourage or to convince the other members as well, particularly Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, to cooperate with the original five of Asean to do something more to encourage Myanmar to come back to the world community.”

Q:  “The core members, the founding members certainly, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, they’re all very keen to see some movement towards democracy in Myanmar.  So, why is that the Indochina caucus, if you like, why do you think they have such a loud voice within the grouping?”

Dr Suchit:  “I don’t know exactly, but if you look at the previous system of Laos and Vietnam, these two countries are governed by the one party system, not very democratic.  So, they might share some view with Myanmar in terms of democratization, apart from that they are new members.  But they want to raise their voice that they don’t want to be dictated by the so-called original members.”

Q:  “And certainly, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus wants tougher action against Myanmar and these include parliamentarians from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia.  Why are these Asean governments ignoring their successive recommendations?”

Dr Suchit:  “Well, they might think more in terms of how to implement the policies because those who are in the Parliament don’t have to carry out government policies.  So, they can say anything what they see fit, but as a government, they have to take other things into consideration as well.  But I would say that now it’s about time to do something more.”

Q:  “Indeed, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, I think, has suggested that Asean as a grouping suspends Myanmar’s membership until it shows some movement.  What do you make of this suggestion?”

Dr Suchit:  “I tend to disagree.  This procedure is too harsh of a measure.  I will say…”

Q:  “Too harsh a measure?  The people of Myanmar might think differently.  I mean, they have been suffering for the past ten years?”

Dr Suchit:  “Yeah, I know that, but why don’t we try something first, like to encourage them to become more democratic?  Let them submit their roadmap or their time-table, what kind of election that they would like to see next year, whether it’s free, it’s fair, it’s…”

Q:  “How can it be free and fair without the participation of Aung San Suu Kyi?”

Dr Suchit:  “First of all, they need to release Aung San Suu Kyi first.  I will say that we should encourage them or try to make some sort of ultimatum that Aung San Suu Kyi must be released as a precondition and then the roadmap towards democracy so on and so forth.  This measure should be encouraged before you just simply just force Myanmar to be out because it’s not very good for Asean at all.”

Q:  “Is it conceivable that Thailand, perhaps, might put some pressure here on the generals in Myanmar because Thailand, for instance, buys over 40 per cent of Myanmar’s exports each year, I understand.  That’s a lot.  Do you think Thailand might use perhaps some economic influence on the Myanmarese generals?”

Dr Suchit:  “I don’t know why we cannot make a deal with Myanmar, but we have to rely on the gas and oil from Myanmar.  But we should not be happy with that.  I think we need to do more in terms of raising our level in negotiating with Myanmar.”

Q:  “So, you do think that the Thai Government can actually take a tougher approach to Yangon?”

Dr Suchit:  “I think so and they better do that.”

Mizzima News
20 June 2009

Chiang Mai – Representatives from regional Parliaments have urged ASEAN to reconsider Burma’s membership in the bloc, while activists, academics and civic groups in Thailand organized several activities calling for the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Kraisak Choonhavan, President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said in a conference on Friday at Thailand’s Chiang Mai University that it is time for ASEAN to revise the status of Burma in the group because Burma’s military government has failed to respond to repeated calls by the international community to improve the human right situation in the country.

“ASEAN is in a difficult time because it is pursuing a progressive and developed image by trying to set up a charter to protect human rights in the region. However, Burma’s problems have limited dialogue with other regional blocs because the counterparts are unlikely to talk at the same table as the Burmese regime.”

Kraisak also said more than 3,000 ethnic Karen villagers have fled to Thailand in the wake of recent fighting in the east of Burma between government forces and their allies and the Karen National Army.

“We are ashamed of Thai companies operating and investing in Burma, particularly in the energy sector, leading to a worsening of the situation and allowing the Burmese junta to further suppress ethnic people such as with the forced relocation of villagers in Karen State to build dams on the Salween River,” he added.

Additional speakers at the conference calling for ASEAN countries to take a stronger stance regarding the Burmese junta were AIPMC Senior Adviser Loretta Ann P. Rosales from the Philippines, AIPMC Vice-President Charles Chong from Singapore and AIPMC Member M. Kulasegaran from Malaysia. The AIPMC representatives were joined by academics, activists and interested parties.

At a similar gathering at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, Sriprapa Petchmisri from Mahidol University commented that the human rights problem in Burma is not only about political rights and freedom of the people but also concerns other problems such as accessing food, water and other supplies.

She added that the failure of regional countries such as China, Russia and Indonesia to support U.N. Security Council Resolutions on the crisis in Burma is troublesome.

“This is a worrisome comment from Burma’s neighboring countries,” she conjectured.

The events were timed to coincide with the 64th birthday of the detained Burmese opposition leader.

19 June 2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) calls on ASEAN leaders to urgently meet to deliver new and effective policies and mechanisms that are desperately needed vis-a-vis Myanmar’s military junta that will enable a tangible and lasting solution to the country’s crisis.

Members of Parliament from various ASEAN countries, at a forum co-organised and co-hosted by the AIPMC, ‘Friends of Burma’, the Regional Centre for Social Science and Sustainable Development, and the Centre for Ethnic Studies and Development of the Chiang Mai University delivered strong messages to ASEAN leaders calling for change in the dire situation in the military ruled nation.

“There has been a considerable increase in military offensives and armed fighting in ethnic states especially in the Karen State over the past few weeks. Ethnic communities are fleeing their villages into Thailand while some remain as internally displaced persons in Burma,” said AIPMC President Kraisak Choonhavan.

“Where is the intervention and assistance by ASEAN’s leaders? Recent reports indicate soldiers in Eastern Burma have recruited up to 200 civilians as slave labourers and more than 4,000 civilians have been forced to abandon their homes while 4,000 more are at risk.”

AIPMC Senior Adviser Loretta Ann P Rosales added that in the Shan State, acts amounting to systematic sexual violence are used by Myanmar’s military as weapons of war.

“Testimonies and documentation by Shan people, fleeing their homes, indicate that women and children are subjected to rape and torture by soldiers,” said the former Philippines Congresswoman adding that since 2001 till now, there have been 297 rape cases in Shan State alone.

“This is outrageous and unacceptable. AIPMC condemns such acts by the regime and armed groups. We insist that ASEAN uses its human rights charter to investigate and put a stop to such atrocities,” stressed Loretta at the sidelines of the event marking Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday. 

Parliamentarians M. Kulasegaran and Charles Chong, from Malaysia and Singapore respectively, reminded ASEAN that its ‘constructive engagement’ with the military regime has failed.

“It’s all about dollars and cents at the end of the day for governments such as Malaysia whom invest with a military that uses the money to repress and harm its leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi and its citizens and not help them at all,” said Kulasegaran.

Participants at the event, primarily from Chiang Mai University’s academia, delivered messages of support and solidarity to Aung San Suu Kyi who celebrates her birthday once again in detention.

Wall Street Journal Asia

17 June 2009

Sanctions can help bring down the junta

According to the new charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, member states are required to act in accordance with certain principles: the rule of law, good governance, democracy, constitutional government, respect for fundamental freedoms, protection of human rights and the promotion of social justice.

By anyone’s measure, the military government of Burma, which has been a member of Asean since 1997, has failed in these responsibilities. The farcical trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is only the latest incident in a long history of violence, corruption, ineptitude and complete disregard for the lives and rights of Burma’s citizens.

Asean member states, especially Indonesia, must assume a leadership role in putting pressure on the Burma regime with strict and targeted sanctions. Asean members are in a prime position to cut the junta’s financial lifeline. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are among the junta’s top trading partners. Thailand alone purchases more than 44% of Burma’s exports each year. Sanctions by Asean member states would deprive Burma’s generals of a large portion of the more than $11 billion they earn from foreign trade annually.

Ms. Suu Kyi and members of Burma’s democracy movement have repeatedly called for international sanctions on the junta. If the people of Burma, who suffer daily under the junta, are asking us to do so to help them, why are we not listening? The United States and the European Union have extensive sanctions in place, but their effectiveness is limited because neither the U.S. nor the EU ranks among Burma’s top trading partners.

Some Asean members argue that sanctions would only hurt the Burmese people, who are already among the poorest in Southeast Asia. But that is not the case: Export revenues, particularly from natural gas, have created enormous budget surpluses over the last five years. But much of this goes toward the personal enrichment of the generals and their cronies, or toward ill-conceived large-scale projects. The construction in 2005 of a brand new administrative capital in Naypyidaw is but one example of the junta’s incompetent and erratic use of state funds.

While the generals relish life in their new capital, the rest of Burma’s citizens languish in poverty. The junta spends just 1.4% of GDP on health and education. The public education system in the country has decayed so badly that many parents rely on free, local monastic schools for their children’s education. Infectious diseases, including AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are rampant. How much longer is Asean willing to be dictated to by Burma’s human-rights violators?

Strong leadership is necessary to bring about a change, especially because Asean insists on working with its “consensus and collectiveness” approach to resolving regional issues. Trade with Burma’s regime is a clear sign of a lack of seriousness in wanting to resolve the country’s human-rights problems and it contradicts commitments of enforcing principles found in the Asean Charter.

Asean states will forever have to assume blame for Burma’s crisis if they continue to contribute to the regime’s political and economic strength. There is no time like the present for Asean to take action and spur the junta into starting the process of national reconciliation.

Ms. Sundari is a member of the Indonesian parliament and a committee member of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, an independent organization of Asean parliamentarians