Activists: Expel Burma from Asean
Published: Nov 4, 2004 12:35 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Activists from nine Asian countries have urged Asean to expel Burma from the regional bloc, in the absence of irreversible steps to achieve national reconciliation, political and economic reforms in the country.
Activists from nine Asian countries have urged Asean to expel Burma from the regional bloc, in the absence of irreversible steps to achieve national reconciliation, political and economic reforms in the country.
In a recent press statement, participants of a regional strategic meeting held in Bangkok last week, declared the recent changes in Burma's ruling military regime known also as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the ascension of hardliners as a "slap in the face of Asean".
"While the hardliners have claimed that they remain committed to the roadmap for democracy, this is another delay tactic until they have totally neutralised all sources of dissent within the regime and completed the purge of the former prime minister's associates. Besides, the roadmap itself lacks credibility," said the activists.
Burma's former prime minister Khin Nyunt (photo) - who was also the Burmese Military Intelligence head - was removed from his post on Oct 18 for 'health reasons'. He was also accused of being involved in corruption.
However, analysts claimed that a power struggle had ensued between SPDC chief commander General Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt.
Act immediately
In June, a similar regional meeting of activists urged Asean to disqualify Burma from chairing the body in 2006.
"Asean's failure to assert itself has encouraged the regime to become more hardline. It is deplorable that Asean is content to render itself impotent on Burma.
"The regime's continued membership will continue to castrate Asean's ability to act decisively on Burma," said the activists in the statement.
The participants from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Philippines and Burma strongly urged Asean to act immediately or risk allowing the human rights situation to deteriorate further once the hardliners consolidate their hold in the country.
Asean's member countries are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, who played a large role in securing Burma's place in the bloc.
In a recent press statement, participants of a regional strategic meeting held in Bangkok last week, declared the recent changes in Burma's ruling military regime known also as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the ascension of hardliners as a "slap in the face of Asean".
"While the hardliners have claimed that they remain committed to the roadmap for democracy, this is another delay tactic until they have totally neutralised all sources of dissent within the regime and completed the purge of the former prime minister's associates. Besides, the roadmap itself lacks credibility," said the activists.
Burma's former prime minister Khin Nyunt (photo) - who was also the Burmese Military Intelligence head - was removed from his post on Oct 18 for 'health reasons'. He was also accused of being involved in corruption.However, analysts claimed that a power struggle had ensued between SPDC chief commander General Than Shwe and Khin Nyunt.
Act immediately
In June, a similar regional meeting of activists urged Asean to disqualify Burma from chairing the body in 2006.
"Asean's failure to assert itself has encouraged the regime to become more hardline. It is deplorable that Asean is content to render itself impotent on Burma.
"The regime's continued membership will continue to castrate Asean's ability to act decisively on Burma," said the activists in the statement.
The participants from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Philippines and Burma strongly urged Asean to act immediately or risk allowing the human rights situation to deteriorate further once the hardliners consolidate their hold in the country.
Asean's member countries are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, who played a large role in securing Burma's place in the bloc.
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