Time for ASEAN to get tough on Myanmar
November 11, 2010
Time for ASEAN to get tough on the Military Junta in Myanmar
by Patrick Lee@www.freemalaysiatoday.com
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (APMIC) advised booting Myanmar out of ASEAN if the junta persisted in ignoring the United Nations over human rights violations.
“We call on ASEAN to support a proposal by the UN to establish a Commission of Inquiry to look into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Myanmar,” AIPMC chairman Lim Kit Siang said at a press conference in Parliament today.
“ASEAN cannot be indifferent (towards the matter), and must take action including suspension of membership from ASEAN.”
Lim, the Ipoh Timur MP, also said the recent Myanmar general election was a “fake” as many votes had gone to the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
As the country’s first national polls since the infamous 1988 uprising, the recently-concluded general election has been widely criticised by many organisations worldwide as being riddled with widespread electoral fraud.
Moreover, the absence of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League of Democracy’s general-secretary, from the election has robbed the polls of the stamp of legitimacy. (Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for the past 20 years.)
“The counting process of the votes has not been transparent, and complaints about voting fraud and other irregularities are growing stronger,” Lim said, adding that polling continued despite the outbreak of fighting between government troops and ethnic rebels along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Horrible stories
Lim said that other complaints such as a rigged referendum, a strictly-controlled constitution drafting process and intimidation of political opponents had contributed to the problem.
He also said that the outcome of the election would create greater instability in Myanmar and trigger a possible civil war.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said that the Malaysian government needed to take action against Myanmar in the light of these events. “These are not only in the interest of Myanmar but also in our interest,” she said.
Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran said that he had visited Myanmar’s border areas and had met with many refugees in the area.
“They have told me horrible stories of what is happening in the country, and we propose to the UN to see if war crimes and ethnic cleansing have been committed,” he added.
Lim said that although Myanmar’s recent cooperation with UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights was a step in the right direction, it was insufficient. He also suggested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) take up the Myanmar case, and act against the junta similar to its action against Sudan President Omar al-Bashir. Two arrest warrants against Bashir had been lodged by the ICC over atrocities committed in Sudan. These included charges of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Aiya.. Kit, don’t waste your time la.
It’s just like you, calling for RCIs’ – NFA ++.
Why? Too much vested interests by the hypocritical gomens of Thailand, Singapore and of course Malaysia. Bet you’ve never being there – fantastic gilded pagodas with abject poverty, you know.
Furthermore on a personal side, i’m trying desperately to export second hand decrepit Proton Perdanas to Yangon and Nawpyidaw for them to use as official cars. Who cares about spare-parts!
Meanwhile, i’m also trying to persuade my buddy Semper Fi, to invade Mandalay.. if his jock itch becomes unbearable.
Menyalak-er - November 11, 2010 at 7:22 pm
ASEAN is all about economic interests. They close their eyes to gross human rights abuses, killings and jailing of opposition politicians in Burma.
The shame is also on ASEAN.
In any case, each ASEAN member has its fair share of abuses.
Lawyer - November 11, 2010 at 7:55 pm
How about asking ASEAN to call/sanction Malaysia to abandon its institutionalised and legilsated racial discrimnitaion against its minority citizens and violation of fundamental principles of human rights. Lets start from our own backyard.
Robert K Chelliah - November 11, 2010 at 9:01 pm
“Lets start from our own backyard.”
Can’t do that Robert. As i said, its has to do with all those black Proton Perdanas that can’t gostan. Right now, we are at ‘neutral’, engine ‘setengah mati’. Singapore with a population one tenth of Malaysia, is overtaking us in GNP. Such wonders, eh?
Menyalak-er - November 11, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Menyalak-er
Why would we want to invade Mandalay when we can all stay in luxury at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Is Myanmar that much of a threat to ASEAN? Myanmar has done nothing to its neighbor. It is in isolation. Now why would the ASEAN members be interested in Myanmar ignoring and violating the UN Human Rights. All the ASEAN countries are equally guilty to a certain extent on Human Rights violation except in Myanmar case it involves Suk Yii.
Semua cakap tak serupa bikin. Malaysia itself is a major violater of Human Rights, rights to free speech, rights to assemble peacefully, rights to practice one’s own religion, rights to petition the government to change laws or acts that are not fair. How now
Semper Fi - November 12, 2010 at 3:41 am
How can ASEAN get tough with Myanmar, their hands are not clean either.
Kathy - November 12, 2010 at 8:16 am
Singapore , Menyalak-er? As we speak they are negotiating the merger of their Stock exhange with Australia, Americans are bulilding something like 6 Billion dollar complex right in the heart of S’pore. We are “setengah mati”? I dont think we are alive anymore.
Kathy - November 12, 2010 at 8:19 am
(Caveat: I do not use the term Myanmar, out of respect for my friends there, who insist that i call it Union of Burma.)
Yup, Semper none of the Asean nations are ‘bersih’, but none too are as genocidal, maniacal, corrupt, superstitious and paranoid as Burma.
The tragedy that is Burma today has to be lived, to truly understand the magnitude of oppression and the sheer poverty of the populace. They have some 30+ tribes and besides the Bamar, all are suppressed. I have been there several times over the years, and have contacts with some pastors, businessmen and leaders from the Chin, Kachin, Shan, Karen and Lisu tribes. Life for them is mere existence – day to day – without any hope for a better future, security, education and basic health. Many of the churches here are contributing as much as they possibly can, but the pit is infinitely deep. Regular campaigns of terror are instituted like Stalinist ‘pogroms’ to keep the tribes under control. Systematic rape, torture and destruction of property are the norm.
Yes, Burma is a beautiful country with gentle people who have nowhere to turn. They are desperate and they revere Daw Aung San Suu Chi – who will be the only one who can rear in tribal angst and prevent a civil war amongst the tribes, should the oppressive military government fall. I and many Burma watchers, see China and India as the main stumbling blocks to the horror that is Burma, not Asean’s impotence. For those who are interested about news within Burma, kindly click into this website:
http://www.irrawaddy.org/
Menyalak-er - November 12, 2010 at 11:07 am
The best way to “deal” with Myanmar? Leave the country alone to evolve its own way. In the meantime do normal trade with it.
I believe India is among the countries doing just this.
Isa Manteqi - November 12, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Menyalak-er
Burma is at one end of the spectrum of all the ills you mentioned. The ASEAN coutries are on the other end of the spectrum. All share the same traits but on a different scale. So I don’t see ASEAN capable of changing anything in Burma.
Burma fell into that state after the fall of Ne Win. The Burmese would like to see changes in Burma but just like Malaysian with all the power in our hands we have not been successful in changing the BN atrocities come election after election.
Like you I have Burmese friends. I frequently patronize a restaurant run by my Burmese friend and we chat over the past glory of Burma. One of my late cousin even married a Burmese by the name of Noot.
Burma is a human tragedy but how about Somalia, Bosnia and many others around the globe. Human are the most cruel of animals.
semper fi - November 12, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Yup, semper.
As you say, we can’t change things. We can only ‘menyalak’ and do whatever little to ease others who suffer privation and injustice. In a way, i am very glad to have friends like you to share the pain of man’s inhumanity to his fellowman. Sometimes we devolve into sheer cynicsm, out of frustration and ‘impotence’. Perhaps one day, we should meet up – all those who share this compassion for Burma and take a trip there to remind ourselves of our “humaness”. I’m sure Din, Dr Kam, bro. Tean and Kat would like to come along..
While the world seems to relish Voltaire’s: “We are living in the best of posssible worlds.”; i think we appreciate more Schopenhauer’s: “We are living in the worst of all possible worlds.”
Menyalak-er - November 12, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Menyalak-er
The Burmese situation is a catch 22 position. If we adopt any kind of sanction or embargo, the citizen will suffer. If we continue to do business in the normal way the junta will continue to flourish and remain in power just like Fiddel Castro in Cuba.
There’s no correct answer except for the Burmese to adopt “popular sovereignty” i.e. the power to govern comes from the people. The people elect representatives to make laws, and for the government to protect the rights of the people.
Semper Fi - November 13, 2010 at 3:36 am
No sovereignty possible without outright civil strife, buddy.
Let’s watch Daw Aung San’s next move. She should be out in a few hours and i pray for her safety.
Look’s like my trip to Yangon early next month will be delayed.
Menyalak-er - November 13, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Those who live in glass houses cannot walk about naked in thier homes. Bad governance and rivers one common characteristic. In both the lighter materials always wothout fail float at the top.
And if you want to live in glass houses and srill want to walk about naked you have to put your house in order first.
thumblogic - November 14, 2010 at 12:43 pm