By Bryon Wilfert, August 26, 2009

The Embassy Magazine (Canada’s Foreign Policy Newspaper)

I recently had a chance to meet with members of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus in Pattaya City, Thailand. I was there as the head of the Canadian delegation for the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) Asian Inter-parliamentary Assembly Meetings.

During the visit, I had a meeting with Burmese opposition members of parliament and parliamentarians from other ASEAN states, which was useful in highlighting not only the current political situation in the country, but strategies necessary to pressure the government to hold free and fair elections.

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military junta that rules Burma, is not a legitimate, citizen-supported government. The military came to power in 1962 by coup d’état and has ruled in various forms ever since. In the general election held in 1990, the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other democratic parties easily won a majority of votes. Unhappy with the outcome, the junta ignored the election and refused to allow the newly-elected, democratic parliament to form.

Corruption and cronyism is rampant among the junta’s generals and their associates, earning Burma the rank of second most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International’s 2008 annual ranking.

Despite earning billions of dollars from trade of timber, natural gas, gems and other goods, the junta spends only one per cent of the GDP on health and education for its citizens; by contrast, it spends between 30 and 50 per cent of the GDP on the armed forces needed to maintain its grip on power. Approximately 300 to 400 Burmese children die every day from diseases that could have been prevented with proper care and adequate resources.

In addition to its negligence, the junta actively uses threats, intimidation, arrest, lengthy imprisonment, torture, rape and murder to subdue its citizens and quash any potential opposition.

At the conference, I addressed these issues before the assembly and I also spoke with the Honourable Mr. U Htun Htun Oo, deputy chief justice and a member of the government’s Commission for Drafting the Constitution, who I have known for a number of years.

In my discussions with the deputy chief justice, I again stressed that the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the holding of free, fair and transparent elections is critical if Burma is to again enter into normal relations with the international community. He stressed that the constitutional reform process currently underway and the recent release of prisoners demonstrated the government’s commitment to these principles. Clearly, they do not, but they do highlight the outrageous subjugation of a nation by a regime whose only focus is to maintain power at any price.

I have a standing invitation to visit Burma and this is something that I will consider with specific parameters.

The international community, via the United Nations and ASEAN, has repeatedly voiced its concern over the situation in Burma. Calls for dialogue and reform have been met with defiance and underhanded attempts to vindicate the junta’s legitimacy.

The government’s recently announced plans to free political prisoners prior to next year’s election should be viewed with skepticism, as the junta frequently uses such announcements and tactics as ploys to prove that it is working towards reconciliation and to ease international pressure.

Disturbing recent developments concerning evidence of the Burmese military regime’s close co-operation with the North Korean regime, including acquisition of long-range ballistic missile technology, must serve as an urgent wake-up call to members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It is time for the ARF, which brings together ASEAN member states and regional dialogue partners (one of which includes Canada), to move beyond unconditional diplomacy and reduce the Burmese military regime’s capability to threaten the comprehensive security of the region.

Action must include restrictions and greater regulation of transactions and entities implicated in weapons deals with the regime and its proxies. It is particularly crucial that those implicated, such as China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, take effective steps to stem the flow of funds and technology needed for such deals. These sanctions are less likely to hurt ordinary Burmese who do not use the formal banking system because of the prohibitive commissions and rules on retail customers.

ARF members must no longer allow the SPDC to use diplomatic dithering to strengthen its capacity to threaten its neighbours.

Canada, the United States, Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom have placed binding economic restrictions on Burma. Some of these sanctions target specific persons and businesses that facilitate or enable the continued violation of human rights inside Burma. Others restrict specific services and the sales of goods.

Financial entities doing business with the SPDC risk jeopardizing their banking relations with other nations and regional groupings, such as Canada, the United States and the European Union. This is particularly true of the financial sectors in ASEAN, which have faced increased pressure for allowing the SPDC to access their financial systems.

International guidance and encouragement, especially from Burma’s regional neighbours, will play a critical role in bringing the junta to the bargaining table. As Canadian parliamentarians, we need to continue to advocate and work with our ASEAN partners to make this happen.

Bryon Wilfert is the MP for Richmond Hill, vice-chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and head of the Canadian delegation to ASEAN—AIPA.

Jakarta, Aug 22 (Antara News)

The Indonesian government insistently rejected all the activities of the Myanmarese
government in exile in Indonesian territory, and at the same time strongly criticized their court`s decision on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement was made by foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah in Jakarta Friday when asked what he thought of the Indonesian police reaction of cancelling the Myanmarese government in exile`s seminar last Wednesday.

“It was not the caucus, but the Myanmarese government in exile conducting political activities in Indonesian territory,” he said.

Faiza said that apart from Myanmar`s internal problems, the status of that country as a sovereign nation recognized by the international world cannot be ignored.

“Giving the opportunity to their government in exile to conduct political activities on our soil means that we are cheating,” he said.

The foreign office spokesman also pointed out that actually such an attitute was not an Indonesian basic principle. He said that once Indonesian had given a recognition, it will stick to the commitment.

In the meantime, the police cancelled the Asean inter-parliamentary meeting with Myanmarese government in exile representatives following pressure exerted by the Myanmarese representative office in Jakarta.

Myanmar`s opposition representatives had for several times in the past five years held seminars with parliamentary representatives in the capital cities of Asean member countries, also in Jakarta.

The discussions were about the development of democracy in that country, the fate of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

The Myanmarese government in exile led by PM Sein Wien was formed in 1990, since the Myanmarese military junta opposed a free general election won by the National League for Democracy chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi.

A house arrest had been imposed on Aung San Suu Kyi for 14 years already, which on Tuesday (Aug 11) was extended by the court by 18 months, which had obstructed her to take part in the general election scheduled in 2010.

12 August 2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) is outraged at the decision by Myanmar’s authorities to find guilty Burma’s democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and strongly believes it is done so with mala fide.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, together with her colleagues Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, are not threats to national, regional or international security.

In contrast, the military regime has been seriously suspected of exploring nuclear capabilities and has proved that they are human rights violators and a threat to regional peace and security.

The 18-month house arrest sentences on the three ladies is unreasonable and serves only to further silence Burma’s strongest voice of reason and main proponent of true change.

Given this outcome, of the sham trial, AIPMC calls on ASEAN to unequivocally denounce the military’s decision and further calls on the regional bloc to immediately intervene to ensure it sees hope of seeing Burma moving towards national reconciliation, peace and democracy.

ASEAN appears to be lacking sound judgement in allowing the regime to tarnish the body’s hopes of forming a region committed to human rights and peace.

The junta’s latest contemptible move clearly proves its lacks of political will to bring about effective and acceptable reforms in the country. There is no better time for ASEAN and the international community to take clear and effectual action.

AIPMC Parliamentarians want to see an ASEAN region that respects human rights principles, as subscribed to in the ASEAN Charter, and as such should work towards suspend Myanmar’s regime from the body and halt all economic and political support being provided to the junta.

ASEAN will lose the little credibility it may still possess if it stands idly by and allow this travesty of justice to go unchecked. ASEAN cannot claim itself a credible, rules-based and people-centred entity if it fails Burma’s democracy icon and the millions of Burma’s citizens pleading for help.

AIPMC further urges the United Nations, reported due to meet on the matter of Burma, to pass a binding resolution that would ensure Daw Aung Suu Kyi and her female companions’ release.

ASEAN and the UN’s intervention is not merely an option but a necessity.

ENDS

August 13, 2009

The Indonesian government has attempted to stop a delegation of the Burmese government-in-exile from holding a conference in the capital Jakarta after a complaint was lodged by the Burmese embassy. The meeting was convened to officially launch an alternative plan for a transition to democracy. Organizers were forced to find a new venue, after threats from police to lock members of the delegation out of the conference room.

Presenter: Katie Hamann in Jakarta
Speaker: Roshan Jason, Executive Director of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus; Eva Kusuma Sundari, Indonesian MP; Teuku Faizasyah, Indonesia Department of Foreign affairs spokesman; Dr Jason Abbott, expert on Southeast Asian politics at Britain’s University of Surrey

HAMANN: The threats against organizers of the Burma democracy convention started earlier this week, when Jakarta’s local police began shadowing members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus at their hotel.

JASON: He came on Monday when I arrived. Tuesday he came back again with his superiors. And today he came with lots of police; there were about ten police in uniform and about 15 plain-clothes police and they were all taking my photograph.

HAMANN: Roshan Jason is the Executive Director of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus.

JASON: They didn’t give specifics but they threatened the hotel if they go ahead with the event tomorrow morning, we will want your security people or we will ourselves will chain or lock up the room and not allow the participants in.

HAMANN: Members of the Burmese government in exile and a coalition of pro-democracy groups and ethnic leaders arrived in Jakarta this week to officially launch their ‘Proposal for National Reconciliation’ in Burma, an alternative to the Burmese Military Junta’s roadmap to democracy. Among them was the so-called Prime Minister in exile Dr Sein Win, who is also the first cousin of imprisoned democracy hero Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Supporting their efforts is Indonesian Parliamentary member Eva Kusuma Sundari. She says Indonesia’s Department of Foreign affairs was made aware of the conference several weeks ago and made no objections until a letter arrived from the Burmese or Myanmar embassy last week.

SUNDARI: On the 4th of August the foreign ministry accepted a letter, the objection letter from the embassy of Myanmar, asking the foreign ministry to stop this event on the argument that this is illegal and it will potentially damage the relationship between the two countries. So the foreign ministry asked the police actually using the letter from the Myanmar embassy.

HAMANN: A Jakarta police source also told Radio Australia that the Department of Foreign Affairs had requested their help in preventing the meeting because of the complaint.

Department of Foreign affairs spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, acknowledged the police were asked to intervene, but said it had nothing to do with the government of Burma.

FAIZASYAH: As a matter of principle the Indonesian government cannot allow its territory to be used for activities by the so-called government in exile while Indonesia and other ASEAN countries as well as the members of the United Nations recognize Myanmar as well as the government of Myanmar. So its not in our tradition to allow such political activities, political campaigns in our territory.

Earlier this year Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda stood shoulder to shoulder with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in the capital Jakarta and pledged to work closely with the US and ASEAN partners in pressuring the Burmese leadership to yield to demands for greater human rights and democracy.

Dr Jason Abbott, an expert on Southeast Asian politics at Britain’s University of Surrey, says a very different message was sent this week.

ABBOTT: It does seem to suggest that support for progress and dialogue within ASEAN has weakened somewhat in the last few months, given that the original sort of initiatives behind the American government’s statement was supported by Indonesia. So it is a setback.

Despite police threats the delegation met yesterday with Indonesian members of Parliament, diplomats and the media at the Indonesian House of Representatives. The convention continues today at the National Commission on Human Rights.

(Translation from Thai to English)
Source – “Kom Chad Luek” newspaper
Link: http://www.komchadluek.net
August 04, 2009
 
“Surin” believed no Red Shirts’ protest at AIPA’s 30th General Assembly, denied rumors about AIPA’s objection to grant a membership to Myanmar and stated “no reason” to doubt Myanmar’s membership to ASEAN.  
 
(4th Aug.) Before attending the AIPA general assembly at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Pattaya, Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General, talked about the Red Shirt movement. Mr. Surin said, he hoped that the ASEAN Summit incident would be an invaluable lesson that the Thai people should take it seriously and work together to prevent this kind of scene to happen again. Such situation had shaken the whole world, he said, that it ruined Thailand’s confidence and economic system, which required time to be restored. If AIPA and AFM meetings were successfully held, it would be definitely a good sign for the upcoming ASEAN Summit to be held in October 2009, Surin said.
 
          Mr. Surin said that he had not yet heard about the meeting between Kraisak Choonhavan, a Democrat Party MP, and some AIPA delegates nor their agreement to object granting Myanmar AIPA membership due to the fact that Myanmar was not a democratized country and, therefore, lacked a democratically established parliament. Mr. Surin exclaimed, as he was ASEAN General Secretary, he could not express an opinion toward the topic. However, he said, since Myanmar was an ASEAN member country, there was no reason to object their membership to AIPA.
 
          When he was asked if it was true that delegates from the Republic of Philippines would raise the particular topic in the meeting today, Surin said that he believed there would not be any delegates raise such topic in this meeting since the meeting aimed to enhance cooperation among the country members in developing democracy in the region.

3 August 2009

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and the Members of Parliament Union (Burma) today expressed disappointment at the move by the 30th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Executive Committee to defer the decision to accord special observer status to Burma’s elected Parliamentarians, to the institution.

This decision does not augur well with AIPA’s aim of closer cooperation among respective legitimate legislatures and parliaments to promote regional economic, social and cultural development and to safeguard political and economic stability.

The AIPA Executive Committee’s lack of in-depth discussions and decisions on the issue of participation of Burma’s elected parliamentarians, from the 1990 Burma election, as special observers, does not complement ASEAN’s assertions of being a people-centred regional body.

Regional MPs from AIPMC and MPU strongly urge AIPA to include discussions and resolutions, over the next few days, on the topic of representation of Burma’s elected parliamentarians and to pass resolutions to address Myanmar’s reconciliation and democratic reform process, as part of the 30th AIPA agenda.

AIPMC and MPU further call on AIPA’s commitment to promote the principles of human rights, democracy, peace, security and prosperity in ASEAN by holding accountable the abuses by Myanmar’s military dictators.

Legislators at the AIPA cannot ignore the continued gross human rights violations in attacks on civilians in Eastern Burma. AIPA cannot remain silent on the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma. Further, the AIPA cannot afford to turn a blind eye to reports of nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Burma, which if indeed factual, will result in regional instability and threats to peace.

In the immediate, AIPA has the opportunity to play a role as a possible channel to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and dialogue in Burma. The MPU and AIPMC hold hope that the AIPA will urge Myanmar’s junta representatives to engage in reconciliation dialogues with all concerned stakeholders including the National League for Democracy and other parties.

Further, for the long-term, the AIPA should not allow the Myanmar military to be an obstacle to the institution’s advancement in moving towards the creation of an ASEAN Parliament that protects regional welfare, human rights, democracy and rule of law.