ASEAN Must Wake Up and Take Firm Measures towards National Reconciliation in Burma

By Task Force on ASEAN and Burma • April 11, 2010

The Task Force on ASEAN and Burma welcomes the calls from ASEAN for national reconciliation and free, fair and inclusive elections in Burma. Indeed, this is what the people have been actively working towards for decade; however, brute military oppression has kept these essential needs from being realized.

In order for there to be genuine national reconciliation in Burma, necessary benchmarks must be met in order to show that the Burmese regime’s planned elections to be held in 2010 are substantial: the unconditional release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a cessation of attacks against ethnic nationalities and democracy activists and an inclusive political dialogue with a review of the flawed 2008 Constitution. ASEAN should not hesitate to actively promote these benchmarks and take concerted efforts to see their fulfillment.

“The possibility of free, fair, and inclusive elections has drastically diminished in light of the recently announced election laws that are highly restrictive and ensure military supremacy over the election process. Even before the election laws were announced, throughout the whole process of the regime’s ‘Roadmap to Democracy’ there has been no inclusion of democratic or independent ethnic voices,” said Aung Marm Oo, member of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma and General Secretary of All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC).

The leading democratic party, the National League for Democracy, has said that it would participate in the elections if the military makes genuine steps to open political space; however, after the release of the election law, the NLD recognized that the elections would not be the inclusive elections that Burma desperately needs and decided not to re-register. Ethnic political parties of the 1990 elections, namely Arakan League for Democracy and others have also made the same decision.

ASEAN’s policy of engagement had failed to produce positive democratic progress in Burma that will ensure future stability. The military generals continue to show contempt for the principles of the ASEAN charter. While ASEAN is working to strengthen human rights, rule of law, and good governance throughout the region, the military regime is culpable in possible crimes against humanity.

“ASEAN must wake up and realize that in order to see Burma become a secure, democratic country that stronger efforts must happen. Calling for free and fair elections, and offering to assist monitoring polls on the day of the elections alone merely will not be enough,” said Aung Myo Min, coordinator of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma.

The Task Force on ASEAN and Burma, a network of civil society from Burma, working for peace, democracy, and a people-centered ASEAN are grateful for the attention of ASEAN, but demand stronger, more concerted actions from ASEAN to ensure all essential benchmarks of national reconciliation are met before any elections take place in Burma.

Tags: 2010 Elections, ASEAN, Task Force on ASEAN and Burma

This post is in: ASEAN, Press Release

ASEAN Must Wake Up and Take Firm Measures towards National Reconciliation in Burma

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