5-11 April: ASEAN All Talk, No Action on Burma

Dear Friends and Supporters,

ASEAN held their 16th Summit this past week in Hanoi, Vietnam, where they discussed enhancing economic cooperation and inaugurated the Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC). The ASEAN leaders were also forced to discuss the issues of Burma’s human rights situation under the military regime and it’s manipulation of the electoral process in the lead up to this year’s polls.

The collective statement issued at the conclusion of the summit said that the leaders had “underscored the importance of national reconciliation in [Burma] and the holding of the general election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.” Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the elections should be “free and democratic with the participation of all parties.” However, one can recall that last week Dung visited Burma where he signed seven contracts and joint agreements without discussing human rights or the elections.

The ASEAN bloc has failed yet again to take any concrete actions to help ensure the junta meets essential benchmarks towards national reconciliation, despite calls from Burmese and international civil society, and 105 Members of Parliament from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC). Burma’s junta is doing everything in its power to ensure their victory in these elections. If ASEAN really wants to move forward with its regional development plan, it must take strong and effective actions to pressure the regime now. Time is running out.

In Solidarity,

Burma Partnership Secretariat

Please Note: Due to Burmese, Thai, Lao and Cambodian New Year holidays this week, we will not be sending Weekly Highlights on April 19th, but will return with an edition covering two weeks on April 26th. To all our Burmese, Thai, Lao and Cambodian friends and supporters, we hope you have a fun and relaxing Water Festival!!

News Highlights

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi briefly admitted to hospital

Czech Republic announces its support for a UN inquiry into war crimes in Burma

Inside Burma

National League for Democracy (NLD) apologizes to its supporters for “the unsuccessful struggle for democracy” that it has waged for more than 20 years

NLD takes Than Shwe lawsuit to chief justice after the Supreme Court refuses to handle the case

NLD calls for an end to the use of landmines

Landlord closes NLD Mandalay office under pressure from local authorities

US Embassy officials meet with NLD in Rangoon

Difference and Peace Party, New Era People’s Party, Kachin State Progressive Party, Myanmar New Society Democratic Party; Karen People’s Party, Pa-O National Organization; and the Chin National Party register with the Election Commission

PM Gen Thein Sein may leave his post to head the Union Solidarity and Development Association political party

Identity cards are being issued to Rohingyas in Arakan State

Junta extends BGF deadline for Shan State Army (North), United Wa State Army and Mongla ceasefire groups

SPDC Army dispatches tanks and trucks to Myitkyina, Kachin State

Junta blocks the flow of food into Shan State, targeting the United Wa State Army

Burma celebrates a watered-down Thingyan amidst restrictions

Regional

Indonesia will replace Brunei as next ASEAN chair

105 MPs call on ASEAN to take tough action on Burma

Indonesian Foreign Minister calls on Burma to live up to its promises to hold open, free and democratic elections

Activists criticize ASEAN human rights body over failure to establish working guidelines

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary rejected UNHCR’s proposal to register undocumented Rohingyas from Burma

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Czech Republic announces its support for a UN inquiry into war crimes in Burma

UN Security Council has not included Burma on its agenda for April due to lack of consensus

USAID is accused of breaching US sanctions

Norwegian State Secretary visits Burma and says the country “will remain rich, poor and controversial”

Belarus delegation visits Burma to discuss bilateral military-technical cooperation

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