Where is the Benefit for the People of Burma?

The international community’s praising of the Burma government continues amid serious problems in the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commended Burma’s “unprecedented reform” as President Thein Sein accepted the long-awaited ASEAN helm on 10 October in Brunei, an opportunity the country’s leaders were forced to give up in 2006 because of the dire human rights situation at the time.

Despite the ongoing serious violations of fundamental human rights throughout Burma, ASEAN made the decision of granting Burma the chairmanship in 2011. The grouping of ASEAN itself is shaky and suffering from a big gap in the level of democratization among its member states. ASEAN is also quickly approaching its 2015 deadline for economic integration. Handing the chair in this very important time to a member state in transition can create opportunities for the region as Burma reengages with the West, but on the other hand, the decision is also risky, especially when it entails a chair who will predictably be influenced by China, at least on the matter of the disputed South China Sea […]

Myanmar Prepares for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014

As Myanmar continues preparations to assume the role of chair of ASEAN for the first time in 2014, a U.S.-supported event brought Government officials together with senior officials from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Indonesia, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, to present Myanmar with an opportunity to learn from past ASEAN chairs […]

AIPMC Welcomes Cambodia as ASEAN Chair but Urges Rapid Reforms on Human Rights and Democracy

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus today welcomed Cambodia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but made clear it wanted to see increased focus and improvement in the protection of human rights and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Myanmar and across the region […]

Myanmar must be ready to act as face of ASEAN to the world

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) today called on the Myanmar government to fulfill its obligations to continue on its path of democratization and improve its human rights standards ahead of taking the ASEAN
Chair in 2014 […]

Statement by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission whole-heartedly welcomes the decision by the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of ASEAN that the Republic of the Union of Myanmar […]

Statement on ASEAN’s Decision to Grant Burma the Chair in 2014

We call for ASEAN to keep its options open on reversing its decision on Burma’s chairing the regional bloc if the military-led government back-slides on promises concerning human rights and democracy.

The decision made last week to grant Burma the 2014 chair is premature as the authorities have failed to fulfil key promises of reform. The decision might even embolden them to continue committing human rights abuses with total impunity […]

Naypyidaw’s Lies and Disinformation Illustrate Lack of Willingness to Make Real Change

This week, Naypyidaw’s public relations games reached a new low with Information Minister Kyaw Hsan’s interview in the Wall Street Journal. For the first time in years, a regime official met with a major Western news organisation in a three-hour-long interview only two days before the opening of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, where the bloc was to decide on Burma’s bid for the chairmanship in 2014. Kyaw Hsan’s interview was a last attempt at charming ASEAN member states and strategic partners. The regime’s disinformation campaign paid off with ASEAN ultimately making the decision to grant Burma the Chair, the EU welcoming positive moves in the country in an official statement, and US President Barack Obama announcing the first visit to the country in 50 years of an American Secretary of State.

However, a simple glance at this week’s interview is enough to see through the military-led government’s public relations campaign and realize that the regime under President Thein Sein is not ready for genuine change […]

In a Premature Nod to Burma, ASEAN Misses a Chance to Drive Real Change

Last weekend, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions on the Damascus regime. The vote came after Syria ignored the regional institution’s calls for the release of prisoners, an immediate end to killings and violence and talks with opposition forces.

While the Arab League took such a strong decision, another regional group, ASEAN, has shied away from its responsibility to protect civilians and promote peace, security and justice in one of its member states […]

It is Too Early to Support Burma as ASEAN Chair in 2014: Significant and Substantial Change has not been Evidenced

The decision of ASEAN Leader to consensually support Burma to become ASEAN Chair in 2014 on the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (17th November 2011) was in a hurry and without considering factual and substantial reality which occurred in Burma. Such decision could […]

ASEAN Rewards Burma for Human Rights Abuses

ASEAN has missed an opportunity to push for improvements for human rights in Burma, according to Burma activists in Australia. ASEAN leaders attending a meeting in Indonesia agreed to allow Burma to chair the regional bloc in 2014 […]