http://dapmalaysia.org  

A second but separate urgent motion on Burma situation – US warning to boycott ASEAN meetings when Myanmar takes over the ASEAN Chair for 2006

 

Media Statement
 by Lim Kit Siang

(Parliament House, Wednesday): I have given notice to the Speaker, Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib to move an urgent motion of definite importance tomorrow, Thursday December 9, 2004 on the United States warning to boycott ASEAN meetings when Myanmar takes over the ASEAN Chair for 2006 unless the military junta improves its human rights record. 

The second but separate urgent motion on the Burma situation stressed:   

“Malaysia and the other ASEAN countries have an urgent and vested interest to ensure that ASEAN’s relationship with the rest of the world do not escalate to a new level of deterioration, not only with the United States but also with the European Union and other countries, with grave adverse impact on economic and international ties,  and should not allow Myanmar to become an increasingly  intolerant burden on ASEAN all because of the recalcitrant and  intransigent attitude of the Myanmar military junta to continue to backtrack from its promises on democratization and national reconciliation. 

“As Malaysia is triple Chairman of Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Conference and ASEAN, Malaysian Parliament must be in the forefront to closely monitor and evaluate progress of the seven-step roadmap to democracy proclaimed by the Myanmar military junta, including: 

  • the immediate and unconditional release of Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi and over 1,300 political prisoners;
  • meaningful tripartite political dialogue and not like the holding of the present unrepresentative and illegitimate  National Constitution Convention;
  • holding of free and fair election; and
  • the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General Tan Sri Razali Ismail and the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights  Paulo Sergio Pinheiro should be allowed entry into Myanmar with free movement and access to all Burmese political and human rights activists.

“Malaysian Parliament, representing ordinary Malaysians,  as well as other ASEAN Parliaments,  must be heard loud and clear that the economic and national interests of individual ASEAN countries must not be harmed or undermined because of the refusal of the Myanmar military junta to act responsibly and return to the mainstream of international relations .”

(8/12/2004)

* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman