December 10, 2008
ASEAN must call for the release of political prisoners in Burma
To:
His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam
H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia
H.E. Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia
H.E. H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laos
H.E. Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
H.E. Alberto Gatmaitan Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
H.E. George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore
H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vietnam
Your Excellencies,
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we, the Working Group members of the Burma Partnership, reiterate our call on ASEAN to demand the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders. As the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be held in Indonesia on December 15, to celebrate the ASEAN Charter coming into effect, we particularly ask you to make the issue of Burma’s political prisoners focal there.
Since adopting the ASEAN Charter, the military junta in Burma has increased its repression. ASEAN’s failure to positively respond to our letter of November 2 (endorsed by 44 organizations) on this matter has emboldened the junta to intensify its crackdown. In November, at least 215 activists were sentenced up to 65 years imprisonment. These prisoners are not violent criminals, but monks, students, bloggers, lawyers, journalists, musicians, poets, and political leaders who peacefully demand a stable government, one that respects the rule of law, as well as people’s rights to life, liberty and security. These are the fundamental principles encompassed by the ASEAN Charter.
On December 3, 112 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 50 countries wrote to the UN Secretary-General asking him to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma by the end of this year. 241 Asian legislators also sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General on December 5 conveying the same message. ASEAN ministers have issued a statement in July this year calling for the release of political prisoners as well as valid progression towards national reconciliation but no visible follow-up action has been taken since.
Therefore, we urge ASEAN leaders to recognize the widespread and increasing problems in Burma, and particularly recognize that it has not improved, and will not improve until strong international action is taken. Burma is already a red stain on ASEAN’s name, and problems of its further instability are already spilling over. ASEAN needs to take significant measures to propel the release of all political prisoners in Burma as well as the return of a proper process of national reconciliation.
Yours Sincerely,
Khin Ohmar
Coordinator
Burma Partnership
On behalf of the Burma Partnership Working Group
Burma Partnership Working Group
- Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma)
- Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia)
- Burma Campaign India (BCI)
- Burma Campaign Korea (BCK)
- Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
- Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Philippines)
- Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil untuk Burma (KMSuB)
- Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF)
- Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)
