Open Letter to ASEAN Nations: Widespread Human Rights Violations In Burma Ignored by ASEAN UPR Delegates

Your Excellencies,

We are writing to you to express our dismay at the statements by ASEAN Member States during the Interactive Dialogue of the Universal Periodic Review of Burma.

On 27 January 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council examined Burma’s human rights record during the country’s first Universal Periodic Review (UPR). This review provided a vital opportunity to highlight the widespread human rights violations in Burma and engage with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) on ways to improve its human rights record […]

Civil Society Criticizes ASEAN for Turning a Blind Eye to Human Rights Violations in Burma

Burma’s civil society today delivered an open letter signed by forty organizations and individuals to ASEAN heads of states expressing their extreme disappointment with the statements presented by ASEAN delegates at the Interactive Dialogue of Burma’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2011 in Geneva.

“Burma remains one of the worst rights violators in the world,” said Aung Myo Min, coordinator of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma and representative of the Burma Forum-UPR. “Despite this, statements from ASEAN delegates failed to acknowledge the severity of rights violations in Burma or the regime’s role as the main perpetrator of widespread and systematic human rights violations.”[…]

Constructive Engagement – Building a People-Oriented Community

The report is an outcome of the region’s stakeholders and government officials meeting in November 2009 and captures key discussions, initiatives and action plans developed. Participants aimed to ensure an ASEAN Community by 2015 that engages and benefits the people of ASEAN […]

Forum for Democracy in Burma’s Response on the ASEAN Proposition to Lift Sanctions on the Burmese Regime

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’s retreat was held on Lombok Island, Indonesia on January 17, 2011 where they called for lifting all sanctions and embargoes currently imposed on Burma. The ASEAN foreign ministers argued that the release of Burma’s opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the November 2010 elections are clear signs that the country is heading towards a more democratic system […]

Hiding Behind Its Limits: A Performance Report on the first year of the AICHR

The establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on 23 October 2009, is a milestone in the history of the regional organisation and deserves congratulations. The Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights (SAPA TFAHR) offers this critical performance assessment of first year of AICHR based on its core documents, structure, appointment process, institution building, mandate implementation, handling of cases and external relations. It examines AICHR’s progress, achievements and shortcomings in addressing the human rights situation in Southeast Asia […]

World Report 2011: Burma

Burma’s human rights situation remained dire in 2010, even after the country’s first multiparty elections in 20 years. The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) continued to systematically deny all basic freedoms to citizens and sharply constrained political participation. The rights of freedom of expression, association, assembly, and media remained severely curtailed. The government took no significant steps during the year to release more than 2,100 political prisoners being held, except for the November 13 release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi […]

ASEAN Ignoring the Facts in Call to End Sanctions

On 16 January, ASEAN foreign ministers at a summit in Lombok, Indonesia, endorsed a reversal of Western sanctions against Burma’s military regime. This disappointing move demonstrates ASEAN’s continued failure to take a strong leadership role in promoting democracy and good governance, and advancing human rights in the region.

ASEAN foreign ministers claimed the November 2010 elections and release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest were “sure signs that the country is heading toward a more democratic system” […]

ASEAN’s new approach to Myanmar is nothing new

ASEAN’s foreign ministers just completed their two-day retreat in Lombok on Jan. 17, wherein Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa outlined the nation’s agenda and priorities for ASEAN as it assumes the association’s rotating chair […]

ASEAN to push Myanmar on democracy, wants sanctions lifted

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wants the U.S. and Europe to lift sanctions against member Myanmar after its recent elections and release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, it said on Sunday […]

Laos supports Burma proposal for Asean summit arrangements

Laos has supported Burma’s proposal to switch the scheduled hosting of the Asean Summit in 2014, with Laos to instead hold the regional summit in 2016 […]