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Press statement of Mr. Lim Kit Sian



Subject: Press statement of Mr. Lim Kit Siang on Burma (18-7-97)

Media Conference Statement - the launching of the book "From Consensus to
Controversy - ASEAN's Relationship with Burma's SLORC" by Lim Kit Siang -
Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party
Secretary-General & Member of Parliament for Tanjong
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(Petaling Jaya, 18 July 1997, Friday): It is most regrettable that despite
the failure of ASEAN's "constructive engagement" policy on Burma and
widespread objections in the region,  ma would be admitted into ASEAN next
week, although it would not be ASEAN-10 but ASEAN-9, in view of the the coup
d'etat by Cambodian second Prime Minister, Hun Sen, which made a complete
mockery of the 1993 UN-organized election to restore democracy and
legitimacy to the Cambodian Government.

In giving legitimacy to the repressive military junta in Burma, ASEAN stands
the risk of undermining its international credibility and legitimacy,
especially if the State Law and Restoration Council (SLORC) uses it
new-found legitimacy to crack down on
the National League for Democracy and Burmese opposition leader, Aung San
Suu Kyi.

Tomorrow, July 19, is the 50th anniversary of Martyrs' Day in Burma. On that
day in 1947, Suu Kyi's father, Burma's independence hero, Aung San and six
of his Cabinet Ministers were assassinated by a political rival. Aung San
advocated democracy for his country but his death plunged Burma into a
period of instability and insurgencies that culminated in the 1962 military
coup.

It is very sad that on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Matyrs Day,
Burma is no nearer to a new democratic beginning. On the contrary there are
ominous signs that the Burmese military rulers might be setting the scene
for a new wave of repression after Burma had been officially admitted into
ASEAN next week.

Two weeks ago, for instance, Lieutenant-General Tin Oo, one of the country's
four most powerful elements, warned that the military government had been
watching "destructive elements" - SLORC's code word for NLD and Aung San Suu
Kyi - and would take action against them if they did not mend their ways.

ASEAN governments must make it very clear to the SLORC leaders next week
that admission into ASEAN is not a licence for gross violation of human
rights and that although ASEAN countries do not interfere in each other'
domestic affairs, SLORC should not undermine ASEAN's international image,
credibility and legitimacy through a new wave of repressions against
pro-democracy activists.

In fact, ASEAN should learn from the failure of its "constructive
engagement' policy on Burma and craft a new pro-active approach to protect
ASEAN's international credibility by helping Burma embark on the road of
democratic reforms, national
reconciliation and a more open polity instead of being a very closed society.

The time has also come for ASEAN to give greater meaning to the regional
grouping on its 30th anniversary by showing the world that South East Asian
nations could not only become economic powerhouses, but also become human
rights models.

There is no more meaningful way to mark ASEAN's 30th anniversary than the
establishment of an ASEAN Commission of Human Rights to uphold human rights
in the region and address regional concerns that Burma's admission would be
a setback
for democracy and human rights, not only in Burma, but also for the other
ASEAN nations.

The ASEAN Commission of Human Rights should ensure that with Burma's
admission, Rangoon does not set the benchmark to become the region's
lowest-common-denominator on democracy and human rights.

With Burma's admission into ASEAN, both Thailand and Malaysia have been
talking about the replacement of the highly-embarrassing ASEAN "constructive
engagement" policy on Burma with a more comprehensive policy, now that Burma
had become a member of the regional grouping.

The ASEAN Commission of Human Rights should be animportant plank of a
"comprehensive ASEAN policy on Burma" to help Burma embark on the road
towards democratisation and national reconciliation.