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Burma Solidarity Grp Malaysia, 22 s



Subject: Burma Solidarity Grp Malaysia, 22 sept.




			For Immediate Release
   	 		September 18, 1996


			MEDIA RELEASE


	MALAYSIAN NGOS URGE: SUSPEND BURMA/MYANMAR'S ASEAN APPLICATION


KUALA LUMPUR, Wed:- Thirty-three (33) Non Government Organisations today
presented a memorandum to the government, calling for the suspension of the
application made by Burma/Myanmar's State Law and Order Restoration Council for
ASEAN membership.

Since gaining the Malaysian government's public endorsement for ASEAN
membership in August, the SLORC has renewed its crackdown on pro-democracy
supporters, and threatened to re-arrest democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  In
the past month, a total of 30 activists have been sentenced to jail terms of
between 7 to 10 years each and some political prisoners have had their jail
terms lengthened.

The memorandum was delivered by a delegation of 20 Malaysian activists led by
ABIM (Malaysian Youth Muslim Movement) Secretary General Encik Ahmad Azam Abdul
Rahman.

Encik Azam urged ASEAN member nations to ensure that Burma/Myanmar met certain
conditions before it was allowed into ASEAN.

"It is essential that there be a political space for the people of Myanmar to
express their aspirations for democracy.

"The oppression of Muslims and the denial of citizenship to the Rohingya is a
great source of concern.  We don't want the well-intended efforts of ASEAN
nations to legitimise such violations," added Encik Azam.

The memorandum stated the notorious SLORC are using the guarantee of ASEAN
membership as a license to perpetrate further abuses.  It claimed the recent
violations constitute a slap in the face for the proponents of the policy of
constructive engagement.

Ambassador Encik Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, Under Secretary (South-East Asia/
ANZAP) received the memo and information materials on behalf of Foreign
Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, during a 30-minute private meeting with
Encik Azam, Mr. Fan Yew Teng (CENPEACE), Encik Mohammad Zamri Zakaria (PKPIM/
National Union of Muslim Students Malaysia) and Ms Debbie Stothard (Burma
Solidarity Group Malaysia) at Wisma Putra this morning.

MEMO & LIST OF ENDORSING ORGANISATIONS FOLLOW.

For more information, please contact:
Debbie Stothard
Burma Solidarity Group Malaysia
email:  deb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    or
    suaram@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fax:    ++ 603 732 7325 or 603 794 3526
Postal:  c/o SUARAM,
    11, Jalan 1A/71E
    Jalan Carey
    46000 Petaling Jaya
    Selangor Darul Ehsan
    MALAYSIA

Burma Solidarity Group Malaysia was formed in July to provide a focal point for
activities in support of the movement for human rights and democracy in Burma.
It is a loose network of volunteers with an interest in Burma, many members are
activists working in Malaysian NGOs.  It does not receive any funding or employ
staff - it gets much of its resource support in kind from NGOs or the personal
contribution of members.  The people who formed BSGM have organised various
events and campaigns in the past few months.  Recent activities:

July 10 - Demonstration and presentation of memo to Foreign Affairs Ministry
seeking a clarification of policy on Burma.  Good media response.

August 14: Demo and memorandum protesting the state visit of Gen Than Shwe and
SLORc officials to Malaysia.  Excellent media response which forced the PM to
acknowledge dissent.

BSGM is also active in the planning and implementation of the Alternative Asean
Meeting on Burma, scheduled for October.

______________________________________________________________

September 18, 1996

		
Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
		
Foreign Affairs Minister Wisma Putra 

Kuala Lumpur



Dear Sir

ASEAN MEMBERSHIP FOR THE SLORC OF MYANMAR/BURMA

We are writing to respectfully urge that the Malaysian government reconsiders
its support of the application by Myanmar/Burma's State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) to join ASEAN.

We are convinced that the SLORC has no intention of implementing genuine change
in Myanmar/Burma.  In fact, since the regime gained both observer status at the
ASEAN Meeting in Jakarta in July and your endorsement for membership, the SLORC
has increased its harassment of the people of Myanmar/Burma in general, and
supporters of human rights and democracy in particular.

Within days of returning from his state visit to Malaysia, General Than Shwe
and his regime arrested 19 people.  Many more activists in areas north-west of
Yangon/Rangoon have been rounded up.  Our recent guests have insulted our
hospitality by returning home and imposing lengthy jail terms of between 7 to
10 years on 30 people.  The SLORC have not ruled out the possibility of
launching a further crackdown, perhaps even re-arresting democracy leader and
Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

It is a matter of concern that the forced labour, arbitrary killings, state-
endorsed rape, torture, forcible recruitment of children into SLORC's army and
illegal SLORC incursions into Thailand and Bangladesh continue.  These
violations and harassments have affected both Muslim and non-Muslims alike.
However, we note with grave concern that Muslims, particularly those in Arakan
state, continue to be targeted by the SLORC, despite its public denials.

Clearly, the notorious SLORC are using the guarantee of ASEAN membership as a
license to further perpetrate violations and abuses against our 47 million
neighbours in Myanmar/Burma.  The SLORC has gleefully manipulated the well-
meant intentions, not just of our government, but also the governments of all
ASEAN members.  Its recent violations constitute a slap in the face for the
proponents of the policy of constructive engagement.

Therefore, on this eighth anniversary of SLORC's bloody assumption of power, we
urge you to initiate a suspension of all moves to process the SLORC's
application for ASEAN membership.  We wholeheartedly support the vision of an
ASEAN which will continue to work for social progress and cultural development,
an ASEAN that will continue to grow and work for the welfare of its citizens.
This is why we cannot diminish ourselves by embracing a regime which stands
against these ASEAN ideals.

Yours in peace.

[Endorsing organisations listed overleaf]

Copies to:

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Prime Minister

Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Deputy Prime Minister

LIST OF ENDORSING ORGANISATIONS:

ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia/Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement
ALIRAN
ASA Media Centre
AWAM (All Women Action Society of Malaysia)
Burma Solidarity Group Malaysia
CAP (Consumers Association of Penang)
CENPEACE
Centre for Orang Asli Concerns
Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth
Democratic Action Party Wanita
Ideal
IIFSO (International Islamic Federation of Student Organisations - East Asia)
INSAN
Jammu-Kashmir Forum for Human Rights
JUST World Trust
Majilis Belia Malaysia (Malaysian Youth Council)
Malaysian Gurdwaras Council
MSRI (Malaysia Sociological Research Institute)
PENEROKA (Jawatankuasa Peneroka Bandar / Support Committee for Urban Pioneers)
PERMIM (Association of Indian Muslim Malaysians)
PKPIM (National Union of Muslim Students Malaysia)
SAFDA (South-East Asia Forum for Development Alternatives - Malaysia)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth
Society for Christian Reflection
SUARAM
Tamil Support Group for Human Rights
TENAGANITA
Third World Network
WAMY (World Assembly of Muslim Youth - East Asia)
World Tamil Relief Fund
YATI (Yayasan Wanita Islam / Muslim Women's Foundation)
Youth Centre

Coordinated by
Debbie Stothard
Burma Solidarity Group Malaysia

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