Myanmar’s prison of an election will also be ASEAN’s

By U Win Tin

In Myanmar’s last elections, twenty years ago today, the people of Myanmar voted for a democratic change by overwhelmingly electing the National League for Democracy (NLD). However, the people’s desire was never honored […]

Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of Restoration Council of the Shan State

1. The Constitution which was written by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 2008 is not recognized and endorsed by Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) because it does not coincide with the desires of the Shan State people. Thus the planned 2010 elections based on the 2008 constitution is also not supported and accepted by RCSS.[,,,]

ASEAN All Talk, No Action on Burma

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 […]

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

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.[…]

ASEAN leaders should act over Myanmar’s appalling rights record

Myanmar’s appalling human rights record is a serious breach of the ASEAN charter and should be at the top of the agenda for Southeast Asian states attending the organization’s summit in Ha Noi on 8 April, Amnesty International said today […]

Over 100 ASEAN Legislators Petition for Tough Action on Myanmar’s Regime

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has today communicated a message from lawmakers in the ASEAN region to ASEAN leaders attending the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam to urgently take tough action on Myanmar’s military regime should its negotiations and engagement to obtain a clear and tangible commitment for a free and fair elections in the country fails.

105 Members of Parliament from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Singapore endorsed a petition urging discussion and robust action on the issue of Myanmar.[…]

Parliamentarians Issue Petition to ASEAN Leaders

To ASEAN Leaders attending 16th ASEAN Summit (Hanoi, Vietnam) to take action on the issue of Myanmar should further engagement fail to yield desirable concessions/ results.

On 8 March 2010, the military government of Myanmar published new laws governing the electoral process for the nation’s general elections planned for later this year. Numerous provisions in the laws guarantee that the elections will not be open and inclusive of Myanmar’s diverse population, notably excluding participation of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Myanmar’s leading pro-democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners who form a substantial share of the leadership of non-military-aligned movements and political parties. […]

ASEAN Must Step Up on Human Rights and Burma

The ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR) held its first meeting in Jakarta from 28 March to 1 April. Delegates discussed the Rules of Procedure (RoP), the guidelines according to which the body will operate, and the first 5-year work plan, both of which will be taken up at the 16th ASEAN Summit that begins today in Hanoi. Civil society from throughout ASEAN gathered to raise important human rights cases, including that of Burma, only to be ignored by the new body. As representative[s] of a human rights institution, the refusal to meet with civil society is in itself a contradiction of the spirit and principles of human rights,” said Yap Swee Seng, co-convener of Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy Task Force on ASEAN Human Rights and the Executive Director of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia). […]

ASEAN human rights commission stumbles at first hurdle

Amnesty International has expressed disappointment at the refusal by the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to look into complaints brought by victims, families and civil society organizations of human rights abuses in ASEAN member states.[…]

Civil Society Condemns AICHR for Refusing to Meet, Calls for Draft Rules of Procedure to be Made Public and Hold Wider Consultation

Today at Jakarta, the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission for Human Rights (AICHR) rejected the request of civil society organisations from the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy Taskforce on ASEAN Human Rights (SAPA TFAHR) to meet with them. The purpose of the requested meeting was to present the civil society proposal for the AICHR Rules of Procedures (RoP) as AICHR meets to draft the RoP […]