6:36pm Fri Aug 8th, 2003

On the anniversary of the 1988 democratic uprising and civilian massacre in Burma, exiled Burmese leaders together with human rights NGOs today presented Asean members with a ‘birthday card’ calling for the expulsion of Burma from the association.

"Expulsion of Burma from Asean has been raised as an option for the military regime's refusal to heed Asean’s call,"said the coalition in a open letter to Asean.

"It is an option that Asean can wield now if the call for Aung San Suu Kyi's release and the path to dialogue remain unheeded," said the eleven groups signatory to the letter.

Groups represented included non-governmental organisation Forum-Asia, student representatives from the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, and the elected Burmese government of 1990.

In Bangkok, the coalition this morning paid visits to the embassies of Laos, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia to hand over the memo. However, representatives of the Singaporean and Burmese embassies refused to meet the group.

Today marks the anniversary of the August 8, 1988 people’s strike in Burma which ended with the massacre of civilians by the military junta. Ironically, August 8 is also the 21st anniversary of Asean.

Political oppression not tolerated

While the coalition expressed happiness that the association is not longer silent over Burma, it also said that Asean must put forward clearer expression that it will no longer tolerate any form of political oppression.

According to the group, Asean’s responsibility to the democratic wishes of the people is especially crucial since the association gave "great boost" to the junta’s legitimacy when it admitted the regime as member in 1997.

"Asean admitted this regime, but did not even pay lip service to the elected government of 1990 or to the political party which should have had the overwhelming majority in Parliament.

"We note that recent events and declarations indicate that Asean member states themselves are now beginning to reconsider this position," said the group. It added that Asean should dismiss old hopes that Burma’s entry into Asean would soften the junta’s stance towards human rights and democracy.

"With the violent attack on the National League of Democracy procession and the incarceration of Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta has made sure that no doubt remains regarding its intention to prolong its iron-fist rule," it said.

The coalition said the most "fitting gift" Asean could give itself, would be to take steps towards eventual recognition of the elected leaders of Burma - National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma - and invite these "rightful leaders" to sit in Asean as legitimate representatives of the Burmese people.

It also urged Asean to suspend the supply of military equipment and training to the junta, stressing that Burmese military expansion has shown to go "hand in hand" with malnutrition, displacement and drug trafficking.

Despite calling for an expulsion, the group also invited Asean play the role of mediator in a dialogue between the democratic opposition, the various ethnic nationalities of Burma and the military junta.

MINN Kyaw ( + 6019-3624395 )
Burma Democracy Movement Committee
P.O.Box 10383 ,
50712 Kuala lumpur,
Malaysia. Fax : + 603 907 469 03.