Civil Society Groups Call on Asian Governments to Support the Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry for Burma

By Burma Partnership • September 7, 2011

Individuals and civil society groups around Asia have called on their governments to support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

In letters to their respective governments, civil society groups from Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand stressed that: “A Commission of Inquiry would be an impartial investigation to establish the truth about serious international crimes in the country.” The letters also pointed out that Asian countries have a special role to play, stating that as regional states, we “are uniquely placed to encourage positive change in Burma” and that if their country “ignores and conceals the regime’s role in perpetrating human rights violations in Burma, it tacitly sanctions such acts and allows them to continue unabated.”

Meanwhile, more than 200 individuals and civil society representatives sent letters to the Indonesian government. Indonesia is an example of a successful transition to democracy and Indonesia’s former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda made a public statement expressing the view that Indonesia should play an active role in encouraging genuine democratic reform in Burma. Thus, these individuals argued, Indonesia should take the lead among ASEAN nations to foster progressive compliance with the human rights obligations set out in the ASEAN Charter by supporting the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry for Burma.

“Despite the significant support already expressed for the Commission of Inquiry from inside and outside Burma, Asian governments have remained silent. Being witnesses to the suffering of the people of Burma, it is critical that Asian governments take a public position in support of this commission to help end human rights violations and prevent future violations so that all the people of Burma can live in peace and security” said Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership.

The Burma’s regime has been trying to win over the international community by organizing meetings with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and inviting the UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana to visit the country. At the same time the Burma Army continues to perpetrate grave human rights violations against civilians in Burma’s ethnic areas. Observing those crimes, Asian civil society groups reminded their governments of the urgent need for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry for Burma.

For more information, please contact:
Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership: +66818840772

Tags: ASEAN, Civil Society Organizations, Commission of Inquiry

This post is in: Press Release

Civil Society Groups Call on Asian Governments to Support the Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry for Burma

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