CHALLENGE ISSUED TO ASEAN & BURMA J

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: CHALLENGE ISSUED TO ASEAN & BURMA JUNTA

A L T S E A N - B U R M A
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
*tel: [662] 275 1811/693 4515 *fax: [662] 693 4515
*e-mail: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
________________________________________________________________________________

The August 8 Joint Committee
[Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-BURMA)
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma
Campaign for Popular Democracy
Amnesty International - Thailand]

EMBARGOED: For release at 0900 (Bangkok time), August 8, 1997

MEDIA RELEASE:
CHALLENGE ISSUED TO ASEAN & BURMA JUNTA

BANGKOK, Fri.: A network of more than 40 organisations in Asean member
states has challenged the regional grouping to prove that its commitment to
peace, freedom and human rights goes beyond lip service and the contents of
its documents.

A joint statement by the network also challenged Asean's newest member,
Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council regime to cooperate with
Asean and the Asean Regional Forum by promptly commencing dialogue with the
democracy movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic nationality
groups. The statement was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the
formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the 9th
anniversary of the popular uprising in Burma.

The statement expressed deep disappointment that the Asean had betrayed
itself by failing to maintain and meaningfully work towards the achievement
of the aims and principles contained in the Bangkok Declaration of August 8,
1967. It challenged Asean and its dialogue partners to implement a
co-ordinated and comprehensive strategy to ensure the prompt cessation of
human rights violations and the restoration of democracy in Burma.

The statement condemned the Association for favouring the principle of
"non-interference in the internal affairs of one another" over its own key
aims as "a betrayal of the spirit of the Association as well as the
aspirations of the peoples of Southeast Asia".

"We note that the failure of Asean and its member states in this regard has
led to widespread human sufferings and human rights violations in
significant sections of the region," declared the statement. In an apparent
response to recent discussion originating within Asean to review the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the statement pledged its "strongest
commitment to uphold the indivisibility and universality of human rights".

The statement signed by Mr Somchai Homlaor [Asian Forum for Human Rights and
Development (FORUM-ASIA], Ms Laddawan Tantivitayapitak (Thai Action
Committee for Democracy in Burma) and Ms Debbie Stothard [Alternative Asean
Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-BURMA)], was delivered to the Burmese Embassy in
Sathorn Nua Road during a protest this morning. Copies were delivered by
courier to other Asean diplomatic missions.
ENDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO OBTAIN FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT
PLEASE CALL 66 2 275 1811 / 693 4515 or email <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>