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PIJAR: Rejecting ASEAN's Justificat



Subject: PIJAR: Rejecting ASEAN's Justification over the Continuous  Repression in Burma

>From Pijar Indonesia via altsean@xxxxxxxxxx

PIJAR Indonesia
Jl. Percetakan Negara C.547, Rawasari, Jakarta Pusat
Ph. + 62 21 420 8433
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Rejecting ASEAN's Justification over the Continuous Repression in Burma


ASEAN's decision to accept Burma as its member, is a neglectful decision.
Their action is very embarrassing. Because it clearly shows that the
rulers of ASEAN countries are closing their eyes from the fact that
violence of human rights and democracy are happening.

As we all know, SLORC - the State Law and Order Restoration Council - is a
regime that is not supported nor acknowledged by the people of Burma. They
distinctly perform a one-sided cancellation over NLD's (National League
for Democracy) election triumph on 1990. They even imprisoned the leader
who is supported by the grassroots, Aung San Suu Kyi. Then fiercely run a
very repressive country. Therefore, accepting Burma into ASEAN means
justifying the SLORC military junta in power. That also means legalizing
the human rights abuses in the country. And it is once again a very
neglectful decision from a "PAN" who called themselves ASEAN.

It totally don't make sense if "ASEAN don't want to interfere with the
internal affairs of a country" is to be the main reason to neglect the
fact of what are happening in Burma. Because the measurement of Human
Rights and Democracy is not based on the perceptions of each country
leaders. Both recognize no country borders. The initiation of ASEAN itself
was based on the necessity for peace and to achieve prosperity in this
region.

The basic idea of a cross-country (people-to-people) relationship that
upholds the solidarity spirit in Southeast Asia is no longer exist. In
exchange, the relationship is now only being upheld by the interest of the
rulers and the economics. To respond that fact, PIJAR Indonesia, as an
organization who fight for human rights and democracy, hereby demand a
strict response from General Secretary of ASEAN to:

1. Suspend Burma's membership into ASEAN; to accept Burma means justifying
the Human Rights abuses and democracy harassment in that country.
2. Actively respond to the people's aspirations to uphold the universal
values (Human Rights and Democracy).
3. Admitting the existence and the triumph of NLD over the 1990 election.
4. To recover the ASEAN's cross-country relationship that was based on
people-to-people relationship, instead of the interests of the rulers and
the economics only.


Jakarta, 5 June 1997

PIJAR Indonesia


B.Y. Widyankristyoko                           Oka Dwi Chandra
Ketua Harian                                   Sekretaris Umum