DAP: Asean must suspend Burma
Athi VeerangganPublished: May 18, 2009 4:39 AM | Updated: May 18, 2009 12:24 PM
The DAP wants Asean to suspend Burma from the regional caucus until democracy was restored in the country and called on the Malaysian government to lead the way by expediting the suspension process
The DAP wants Asean to suspend Burma from the regional caucus until democracy was restored in the country and called on the Malaysian government to lead the way by expediting the suspension process.
DAP international bureau secretary Liew Chin Tong pointed out that the latest charge constituted by Rangoon military junta against popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly sheltering an American man who swam to her home was the last straw for Asean member-states to suspend Burma.
"She now faces a fresh charge, trial and possibly a new term of detention. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," said Liew, the Bukit Bendera member of parliament.
Burma became an Asean member in 1997, but Liew believed it was timely to end the country's membership with the regional grouping.
Liew wants Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, to engage in constructive deliberations on the happenings in Burma and suspend the country immediately from Asean.
The 63-year-old Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if convicted on the charge, which would keep her behind bars during controversial elections planned by Burma's generals for next year.
Suu Kyi is been held under house arrest since her National League for Democracy won a landslide in 1990 in Burma's first multi-party elections in 30 years.
Following this, thousands had marched peacefully through the streets of Rangoon demanding her freedom.
A move to keep her detained
Recalling this, Liew said the ‘saffron revolution' was a testament to the power of peaceful opposition, a sign of strength on the part of the Burmese people who erstwhile had let their voices of dissent remain silent.
"The subjugation experienced by a nation ruled by a violent and oppressive military junta was witnessed by the virtually powerless international community.
"The military junta's extreme restrictions on foreign aid and intervention saw the people of Myanmar (Burma) suffer explicitly," he said in a statement.
Blaming the tight control on key industries by military-run enterprises, Liew said corruption and mismanagement have become traits of Burma's black-market driven economy.
He expressed dismay that Suu Kyi, a legitimate leader of Burmese non-governing ruling party, was arrested for breaching the conditions of her detention under house arrest, which she had endured for past 19 years.
He pointed her detention was due to expire at the end of this month, but now she faces a fresh charge just days before her freedom.
"The move is a pretext to keep Suu Kyi detained until the elections in 2010," he added.
Regional group condemns Burma
In a related development, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) also similarly condemned the Burmese military junta for slapping the new charge against Suu Kyi.
The Bangkok-based Forum-Asia, which represents 42 member organisations in Asia, called on the Asean leaders to immediately take a firm stand by urging Burmese authorities to release Suu Kyi unconditionally.
"What happened to Suu Kyi is very upsetting. Moreover, the basis of the new charge is outrageous" said Yap Swee Seng, Forum-Asia executive director. He added that her imprisonment was illegal under international law.
He said that Forum-Asia had received reports that Suu Kyi was in poor health and has recently been on an intravenous drip. He added that her doctors have been repeatedly prevented from giving her the care that she required.
Her personal physician was also arrested a few weeks ago, he said.
"The behaviour and abuse of the military authorities is totally unacceptable and must be urgently terminated without delay. The regime must be held accountable.
"Asean country leaders have the responsibility to protect the rights of Burmese people by sending an envoy immediately to Burma to ensure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
"The Burmese government must observe the protection of human rights spelt out in the Asean Charter," he stressed.
DAP international bureau secretary Liew Chin Tong pointed out that the latest charge constituted by Rangoon military junta against popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly sheltering an American man who swam to her home was the last straw for Asean member-states to suspend Burma."She now faces a fresh charge, trial and possibly a new term of detention. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," said Liew, the Bukit Bendera member of parliament.
Burma became an Asean member in 1997, but Liew believed it was timely to end the country's membership with the regional grouping.
Liew wants Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, to engage in constructive deliberations on the happenings in Burma and suspend the country immediately from Asean.
The 63-year-old Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if convicted on the charge, which would keep her behind bars during controversial elections planned by Burma's generals for next year.Suu Kyi is been held under house arrest since her National League for Democracy won a landslide in 1990 in Burma's first multi-party elections in 30 years.
Following this, thousands had marched peacefully through the streets of Rangoon demanding her freedom.
A move to keep her detained
Recalling this, Liew said the ‘saffron revolution' was a testament to the power of peaceful opposition, a sign of strength on the part of the Burmese people who erstwhile had let their voices of dissent remain silent.
"The subjugation experienced by a nation ruled by a violent and oppressive military junta was witnessed by the virtually powerless international community.
"The military junta's extreme restrictions on foreign aid and intervention saw the people of Myanmar (Burma) suffer explicitly," he said in a statement.Blaming the tight control on key industries by military-run enterprises, Liew said corruption and mismanagement have become traits of Burma's black-market driven economy.
He expressed dismay that Suu Kyi, a legitimate leader of Burmese non-governing ruling party, was arrested for breaching the conditions of her detention under house arrest, which she had endured for past 19 years.
He pointed her detention was due to expire at the end of this month, but now she faces a fresh charge just days before her freedom.
"The move is a pretext to keep Suu Kyi detained until the elections in 2010," he added.
Regional group condemns Burma
In a related development, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) also similarly condemned the Burmese military junta for slapping the new charge against Suu Kyi.
The Bangkok-based Forum-Asia, which represents 42 member organisations in Asia, called on the Asean leaders to immediately take a firm stand by urging Burmese authorities to release Suu Kyi unconditionally.
"What happened to Suu Kyi is very upsetting. Moreover, the basis of the new charge is outrageous" said Yap Swee Seng, Forum-Asia executive director. He added that her imprisonment was illegal under international law.
He said that Forum-Asia had received reports that Suu Kyi was in poor health and has recently been on an intravenous drip. He added that her doctors have been repeatedly prevented from giving her the care that she required.
Her personal physician was also arrested a few weeks ago, he said.
"The behaviour and abuse of the military authorities is totally unacceptable and must be urgently terminated without delay. The regime must be held accountable.
"Asean country leaders have the responsibility to protect the rights of Burmese people by sending an envoy immediately to Burma to ensure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
"The Burmese government must observe the protection of human rights spelt out in the Asean Charter," he stressed.
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