Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Bali, 9 October 2003:

Regional human rights activists who are campaigning at the ASEAN Summit in
Bali have criticised the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for
conduct amounting, in their opinion, to "swallowing another crop of lies served up by the Burmese junta", regarding Burma's so-called road map toward
democracy.

"By deferring decisive action on Burma, ASEAN has condemned this region to
yet more security threats and instability as a result of the Burmese regime's misrule", said Debbie Stothard from Altsean-Burma at a press conference in Bali yesterday.

"It is not too late for ASEAN and its individual member states to be more decisive and pro-active on Burma. They should support moves to raise Burma at the UN Security Council. Otherwise, Burma's problems will continue to haunt ASEAN and undermine its credibility", she added.

In August, the new Prime Minister of Burma, General Khin Nyunt, outlined a
seven-point "road map" for democratic reforms in Burma.

"ASEAN leaders were prepared to accept General Khin Nyunt's roadmap despite
knowing that it is a rehash of previous excuses for delaying genuine political and economic reforms. He has refused to commit to the involvement of the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi or the ethnic nationality leaders", said Max de Mesa of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).

At the Bali Summit, ASEAN leaders have taken a soft stand on the Burmese
military junta by endorsing General Khin Nyunt's "road map" for democracy
and by welcoming "positive developments" in Burma. In their formal communiqué, the ASEAN leaders made no reference to detained Burmese
democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi yesterday urged the ASEAN leaders
to press the Burmese government to move towards democracy, according to
agencies reports.

Meanwhile, the status of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains unclear. Burmese
foreign minister U Win Aung told the journalists in Bali that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not in detention but merely "recuperating" from her gynaecological operation.

However, her party members insist that party members and supporters could
not meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Only two NLD youths who are assigned to look after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
could enter her compound", said U Thein Nyunt, a NLD Member of Parliament in
an interview with a Burmese overseas radio.

"As long as her members and ethnic opposition parties (including cease-fire
groups) cannot meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi freely, we declare that Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi is under arrest, said Thailand-based Assistance Association
for Political Prisoners (Burma) in a statement today. "To be able to bring back political normalcy in Burma, we believe that the SPDC regime must stop all human rights violations and release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally", it added.