THE STATEMENT OF OVERSEAS MON ORGANISATIONS ON THE ASIA-EROPE MEETING ( ASEM 6)
- From: "MRC-USA" <mrcorg@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 10 Sep 2006 11:37:56 -0700
THE STATEMENT OF OVERSEAS MON ORGANISATIONS ON THE ASIA-EROPE MEETING (
ASEM 6)
September 10, 2006
The ASEM 6 Summit to be held in Helsinki on 10-11 September 2006 will
mark the tenth anniversary of the dialogue and cooperation process
between Asia and European countries. ASEM is an informal process of
dialogue and cooperation among partners on all issues of common
interest to Asia and Europe. ASEM serves as an open forum for policy
makers and officials to discuss any political, economic and social
issues of common interest. Therefore, in this important occasion, we,
the overseas Mon organizations, would like to urge ASEM leaders to
passionately discuss and find a solution for Burma.
We also would like to draw to the attention of both Asian and European
leaders that regional stability and prosperity are held at stake by the
political impasses and human rights abuses in Burma. The human rights
and political situation in Burma continues to fall well below the
international law and norms. Many of the domestic laws and directives
criminalize the exercise of certain human rights. The problem of ethnic
nationalities also represents an equally pressing challenge for
Burma's move towards democracy and respect of human rights. While a
series of cease-fire agreements have been reached with some ethnic
nationalities, they have not brought about political, economic and
social improvements on the ground because the military junta has not
honoured the agreement. On the contrary, it has strengthened its
military forces in the region and has much more freehand to do things
at its own will. Consequently, ethnic nationalities such as Mon, Karen
and Shan have to experience more violations of human rights. The ethnic
nationalities have increasingly suffered from forced labour, forced
relocations, confiscations of land without compensations, and closing
of ethnic nationalities schools in their areas. In fact, human rights
violations against our Mon in various forms have neither stopped nor
subsided after the cease-fire agreement. People under these unbearable
circumstances continue to flee abuses to the Thai-Burmese border.
As a way of delegitimizing and, to a lesser extent, destabilizing the
regime Western nations, particularly the US and EU, advocate sanctions
against the junta's human rights and democratic failures. In
contrast, China, India and ASEAN nations advocate a policy of
"constructive engagement" through increased trade, diplomacy, and
foreign linkages in the form of investment and humanitarian aid, which
they argue will gradually encourage the generals towards the path of
democracy. For more than a decade the ASEAN has supported a policy of
constructive engagement with regards to Burma. However, it seems
obvious that the policy of constructive engagement and 'quiet
diplomacy' is not bringing the changes ASEAN member countries are
hoping for, but is instead consolidating the junta's historical
practice of crushing any voices of dissent or opposition within the
country. Today, more and more ASEAN members are convinced that the
Burmese junta has not been at all cooperative with its AEAN colleagues
in efforts to find political solutions in Burma.
Recently, Cambodian lawmakers joined the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations' Inter-Parliamentarian Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), making this
pressure group a powerful instrument to use in pressuring Burma to open
up. Even Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been a strong
supporter of the Burmese junta, has told AIPMC delegates that Burma
needs to implement political reforms. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed
Hamid Albar also wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal
Asia (24 July 2006), in which he highlighted how the junta has failed
to convince not only ASEAN, but also the international community, that
their roadmap to political and economic reforms is on track. Therefore
it is obvious that, while the imposition of sanctions may have limits
in Burma's case, there is still no evidence to support the conclusion
that constructive engagement is achieving more.
Therefore, we strongly urge ASEM leaders to:
(a) Maintain pressure on the Government of Myanmar to respect human
rights and humanitarian law with regard to all minorities in the
country, especially in the Mon State.
(b) Call on the military government in Myanmar to cooperate with ASEAN
and the international community to bring about changes and democratic
reforms in the country through political dialogue with the NLD and
ethnic leaders as recommended by the United Nations
(c) Withhold all bilateral aid to Burma until there is a transitional
arrangement for a nation-building process as a result of meaningful
tri-partite dialogue.
(d) Urge ASEAN and all Burma's neighbouring countries particularly,
China, India, and Japan to review their policy towards Burma and to
take a leading role in the development of the national reconciliation
process towards a meaningful political change in Burma.
The Statement is jointly issued by;
1. The Australia Mon Association (AMA)
2. Finn Mon Association
3. Mon Canadian Society of Alberta
4. Mon Community (Denmark)
5. Mon Community (Norway)
6. Monland Restoration Council (USA)
7. Mon Women's Association of America
8. Mon Unity League (Thailand)
Contact person:
Talaporn Mon, Finn Mon Association talapornmon@xxxxxxxxx GSM +358 40
751 2226
.
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