Asean protest

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

For immediate release: October 1, 1998

MEDIA RELEASE
ASEAN ACTIVISTS CARAVAN PROTEST HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS

A delegation of human rights activists from Burma, Malaysia, Philippines
and Thailand today held delivered an Open Letter to Asean Heads of State to
several Asean embassies in Bangkok.

The action is a response to the growing human rights crises in the region,
notably in Burma and Malaysia.

The human rights caravan, bearing yellow placards which said "Justice",
"Freedom" and "Reform" in Burmese, English, Malay, Tagalog, Thai and
Vietnamese kicked off at the Burmese Embassy and then proceeded to the
Embassies of Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. The memorandum was
faxed to other Asean embassies not visited by the group.

The Malaysian Embassy came in for special treatment when the protesters
used placards bearing a large questionmark asked "Why the Madness Dr. M?"
and "We Question Your Judgment Dr. M!".

The Open Letter expressed its "whole-hearted support" for the NLD?s
"Committee representing the 1990 Multi-Party General Elections People's
Parliament" and urged the governments of Asean to recognize it?s "moral and
legal legitimacy".

The Open Letter also "strongly condemned" the serious abuses of human
rights and state powers taking place in recent weeks in Malaysia. It called
for all the governments of Asean to ratify the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Text of Open Letter follows.

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OPEN LETTER TO ASEAN HEADS OF STATE


1st October, 1998

Your Excellencies,

We wish to express our gravest concern at the deteriorating human rights
situation which has seen the severe violation of the civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights of the peoples of this region. 

We, a delegation of people from Asean member states:

1. Strongly believe that it is essential that governments prioritize their
duty to meet the needs and aspirations of their population during the
current economic crisis. The peoples and the government cannot afford
continued violations and abuses.
 
2. Remain convinced that human rights protection and democratic governance
which is accountable and responsive to the people is a prerequisite to
sustainable development and genuine security.
 
3. Are outraged at the recent developments in a number of Asean countries
which have seen escalating human rights abuses which continue to hurt our
brothers and sisters in the region.
 
4. Believe that the continued violations and the manipulation of state
machinery and legal institutions in the furtherance of these abuses AS WELL
AS the failure of Asean members to work together to effectively resolve
these serious problems, greatly erode the credibility and moral authority
of the governments and leaders involved. The Southeast Asian region appears
to be degenerating into a political and economic basket-case, led by people
gripped in a moral paralysis.
 
5. Remain deeply concerned at the apparent lack of Asean members? capacity
to genuinely engage with each other to resolve these human crises which
have far-reaching consequences on us all.

In the case of BURMA, we:

· Express our whole-hearted support for the "Committee representing the
1990 Multi-Party General Elections People's Parliament" which has been
empowered by two hundred and fifty one elected Members of Parliament to
legally act on behalf of the People's Parliament until such time that the
democratically-elected Parliament is convened.
 
· Condemn the continued arbitrary arrest, detentions and restrictions
imposed on Burman and ethnic NLD members and democracy activists who have
engaged in peaceful and legitimate actions for the rights of the peoples of
the country. We understand that more than 900 NLD members and hundreds more
non-party members are in detention because of their work to fulfill the
aspirations of the peoples of Burma.
 
· Strongly urge the Burmese junta to unconditionally free these political
prisoners, including those subjected to criminal charges for political
activities. We also urge the regime to cease its harassment and
restrictions upon elected MPs and those working for the human rights of
their fellow citizens.
 
· Strongly condemn the continued attacks and violations of the rights of
peoples living in the border areas, including forced labour, forced
relocation and military attacks, particularly on the basis of ethnicity
and/or religion.
 
· Urge the governments of Asean to recognize the moral and legal legitimacy
of the "Committee representing the 1990 Multi-Party General Elections
People's Parliament", and work with the Committee, the Burmese military
regime and ethnic groups to achieve a peaceful, political resolution.

In the case of MALAYSIA, we:

· Strongly condemn the serious abuses of human rights and state powers
taking place in recent weeks.

· Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
political activities.
 
· Strongly support the spirit and content of Forum-Asia?s Open Letter to
Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, particularly the demand to free all
political prisoners, and to abolish the draconian Internal Security Act.

In the case of INDONESIA, we: 

· Call upon the government to accelerate the political and economic reforms
needed to ease the suffering of millions of our brothers and sisters in the
country.
 
· Urge the implementation of justice without fear or favour, particularly
with regard to corrupt practices and profits gained corruptly during the
Suharto regime.
 
· Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
political activities, including East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao.
 
· Urge the government to accelerate it efforts for a peaceful, political
solution to the human rights crises in its diverse territories, such as
Acheh, Kalimantan, West Papua. Further, we urge Mr. Habibie's government to
take genuine steps to acknowledge the rights self-determination of these
peoples and the people of East Timor.

In the case of the PHILIPPINES, we:

· Support the efforts of the Philippines' people to oppose the Visiting
Forces Agreement on the grounds that it will contribute to the violations
of peoples'  rights and well-being.
 
· Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
political activities.

In the case of SINGAPORE, we:

· Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
prisoners, including those who may be jailed under criminal charges for
their political activities. Further, we urge the government to lift any
restrictions imposed on former political prisoners, including Chi Thye Poh.
 
· Urge the government not to restrict the people's rights to freedom of
expression, assembly and association as enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
 
· Urge the government to cease its harassment of opposition politicians
through exploitation of the judicial process. While technically working
within the limits of the law, such vindictive and petty pursuits only serve
to undermine the moral authority and credibility of the government.

FINALLY, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, we urge all governments of Asean to ratify the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Yours in solidarity with the peoples of Asean
and on behalf of the delegation,

(signed)
Debbie Stothard




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A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel: 66 2 275 1811 * Fax: 66 2 693 4515
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