[asia-apec 172] Urgent Burma Appeal

[Chalida Tajaroensuk. Ms]

URGENT BURMA APPEAL
(please directly respond to <chalida at mozart.inet.co.th>) 

Dear Friends,

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), and Initiatives
for International Dialogue (IID), in co-operation with the Burma Solidarity
Group Malaysia (BSGM), Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB) and
the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), are jointly organising the
"Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma". on October 29-30, 1996 at Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok, Thailand.

The meeting will bring together about fifty human rights activists, trade
unionists and academics from within and outside ASEAN together with
representatives of the
democratic movement of Burma.  The meeting aims to make an ASEAN-based
assertion of solidarity and support with the people of Burma in their
struggle for
human rights and democracy and to develop alternatives to current official
policy
and practice adopted by ASEAN member governments. It will also provide the
launching point for a broader regional campaign through the establishment of an
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK to mobilise grassroots people and civic
organisations.

Another intended significant outcome of the meeting will be the adoption of an
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN DECLARATION ON BURMA. Please read that attached draft
Alternative ASEAN Declaration On Burma for your endorsement and feedback.
We would appreciate if you could distribute this draft declaration amongst your
networks for feedback and endorsement as well.  Your support is urgently needed
and will be greatly valued.

It is anticipated that there will be some amendments and additions to the Draft
Declaration before it is finalised and adopted, however, such changes will only
be made with the acceptance of Burmese groups engaged in the movement, in the
spirit of the principles supporting the restoration of human rights, democracy
and peace in Burma.

Please send your endorsement in the following format:

"I wish to endorse the draft Alternative ASEAN Declaration on Burma and
understand that this draft may undergo amendments which do not contradict the
spirit of its current content.  My details are as follows: 

NAME: 
ORGANISATION:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: 
FAX NO:
EMAIL:
SIGNED (IF SENDING BY FAX):

Please forward your feedback and endorsement by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, to

The Secretariat, Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma
c/- Forum-Asia
109 Suthisarnwinichai Road Samsennok,
Huaykwang Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: 66 2 275 4230 - 3 .
Fax 66 2 276 2183 or 275 4230
Email: chalida at mozart.inet.co.th

Please feel free to contact the Secretariat if you require further information
on the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma.  Thank you.

Yours in solidarity,

on behalf of the organisers.
__________________________________________________________

DRAFT
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN DECLARATION ON BURMA

1. WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE ALTERNATIVE ASEAN MEETING ON BURMA, WISH TO
AFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE 
MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN BURMA, ALSO 
KNOWN AS MYANMAR.

2. WE VIEW WITH GRAVE CONCERN the violations perpetrated by the brutal
military regime in Burma known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) upon the 47 million people of Burma.  These violations are being
inflicted 
in contempt of universal values which recognise and uphold the humanity and
dignity of all human beings. These violations are also in direct
contravention of a
range of international instruments adopted by a number of nations throughout
the 
world, notably:

3.    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

4.    The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

5.    The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading
Treatment and Punishment

6.    The Slavery Convention and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition
of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery

7.    The Convention on the Rights of the Child

8.    The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women

9.    The Vienna Declaration on Human Rights

10.   The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and

11.   The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic,
Religious and Linguistic Minorities

12.    WE ALSO VIEW WITH GRAVE CONCERN the SLORC's flagrant violations of 
the principles encompassed by the International Labour Standards and Conventions
promoted by the International Labour Organisation, including:

13.    The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention

14.    The Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise
Convention

15.    The Forced Labour Convention and the Abolition of Forced Labour
Convention

16.    The Discrimination of Employment and Occupation Convention

17. WE VIEW WITH ABHORRENCE the fact that these principles continue to be
flouted by the SLORC through:

18.    Its long-running harassment of the ethnic nationalities of Burma by
military attacks

19.    Its widespread use of forced labour for so-called development projects

20.    The abduction of people to be used as porters and human mine-sweepers
for military activities

21.    Rapes and sexual assaults perpetrated by military personnel, with the
sanction of their commanding officers upon men, women and children

22.    Tortures, beatings, and other forms of cruel and degrading punishments
inflicted by military personnel with the sanction of their commanding officers
upon men, women and children

23.    The public and secret murders of men, women and children committed by
military personnel acting under orders of their leadership

24.    Maintenance of extremely oppressive conditions and practices in prisons
and camps where political prisoners are detained
25.    The recruitment of child soldiers into the military

26.    The destruction of sources of food and livelihood, including domestic
food crops, to intimidate, harass and force the relocation of communities,
particularly those belonging to ethnic nationalities in the border areas and
members of religious minorities

27.    The perpetuation of the crisis of internally displaced people and
refugees along Burma's borders through attacks, human rights violations and
other forms of intimidation, as well as the orchestration of forced
repatriations

28.    The forced relocations of communities in central Burma to make way for
so- called development and/or to undermine support for the democracy movement

29.    Use of quotas and coercive mechanisms to deny access to equal
opportunities to education and employment to a range of people on the basis of
gender, religion, ethnicity and political beliefs

30.    The statelessness imposed by the SLORC upon a significant proportion of
the people of Burma through military harassments and the denial of their rights
to citizenship

31.    Deliberate harassment and persecution of supporters of the movement for
human rights and democracy through illegal arrests, detentions, torture,
perversions of justice and impositions of lengthy jail terms on activists,
particularly those belonging to the National League for Democracy

32.    Promulgation of laws and regulations to inhibit and threaten people to
prevent their engagement in legitimate and peaceful actions to effect positive
change in Burma

33.    The manipulation of the process of formulating a new Constitution in
Burma, including the harassment and unreasonable pressure calculated to deny
democratic forces their rightful influence and input into such deliberations

34.    Widespread censorship and the imposition of onerous penalties on those
seeking to legitimately disseminate information of national and international
significance in Burma

35.    The manipulation and perversion of the judicial system and other
mechanisms aimed at upholding justice and legal redress

36.    The diversion of funds away from public education, which has contributed
to plummeting literacy rates amongst children in Burma.

37.    The diversion of funds away from public health, which has contributed to
the tragic growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Burma

38.    The maintenance of conditions which prolong the continuing illicit
production and trafficking of heroin and opium

39.    The maintenance of conditions which make many communities vulnerable to
the trafficking of women and children

40.   The obstructions maintained by the SLORC to prevent international
humanitarian agencies, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma,
International Committee of the Red Cross and the UNHCR, from freely engaging in
legitimate fact-finding, monitoring and relief work

41.    The SLORC's continuing refusal to acknowledge or uphold the human and
political rights of the peoples of Burma and

42.    The SLORC's refusal to recognise the outcome of the 1990 elections which
it conducted and which saw the National League for Democracy win 82% of the
seats.

43. WE NOTE that the above-mentioned violations, degradations and harassments
perpetrated by the SLORC have been extensively documented by a number of
well respected organisations, including agencies of the United Nations.

44. FURTHER, WE VIEW WITH ABHORRENCE the SLORC's initiation of projects and
practices which pose a severe danger to the ecological stability of the
country, including the unsustainable exploitation of Burma's marine and forest
resources in return for foreign exchange and the proposed Salween River
project, and the ensuing human costs of such short-sighted endeavours which are
aimed at extracting short-term maximum profit.

45. WE ALSO VIEW WITH ABHORRENCE the activities of foreign companies
operating in co-operation with the SLORC to extract profits from the
oppression of 
the people of Burma. WE ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED that such activities, have
in some situations contributed to human rights violations.  WE ARE ALSO
GRAVELY CONCERNED that the foreign exchange and material profits gained by
the SLORC from such exploitative activities provide the notorious junta with the
means to further oppress the people of Burma.  WE SUPPORT the efforts of
peoples' organisations in the international community to implement selective
buying 
campaigns and to seek legal action to hold such foreign investors
accountable for 
their complicity in the abuses taking place in Burma.

46. WE VIEW WITH DEEP CONCERN the growing phenomena of migrant workers from
Burma who, in their desperation to flee the harsh conditions of their country,
are being subjected to exploitative conditions in countries where they have
sought work.  WE NOTE that the Burmese authorities' refusal to take
responsibility for them has rendered them illegal migrant workers in most of
the countries they are seeking work.  THEREFORE, WE RESPECTFULLY URGE these
countries to apply the principles contained in the International Convention on
the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their
Families in their dealings with these people.

47. WE RECOGNISE AND SUPPORT the aspirations of the people of Burma for a
peaceful, democratic society which respects the civil and political rights of
all its members.

48. WE RECOGNIZE that the prerequisites for a just peace in Burma include:

49.    The recognition of the outcome of the 1990 election, including the
handing over of power to a democratic, civilian government

50.    The reconstitution of the composition and processes of the National
Convention for the drawing up of a new Constitution to reflect the aspirations
and desires of the peoples of Burma

51.    The unconditional release of all political prisoners, including those
held under house arrest

52.    The formation of a genuine Federal Union of Burma which recognises the
rights of all communities and ethnic nationalities

53.    The cessation of human rights violations against the peoples of Burma,
including killings, torture, rape and sexual assault, forced labour and other
forms of persecution and violations as described above

54.    The cessation of harassments, attacks and discrimination targeted at the
ethnic nationalities of Burma

55.    The cessation of all forms of harassments and the abolition of unjust
laws aimed at inhibiting the formation of a democratic, civil society which
values human rights

56.    The re-organisation of the economic system of Burma and a re-
prioritisation of the national budget to reflect the true needs and desires of
its population, and

57.    A continuing, genuine dialogue between all the key political groups of
the country as part of the process to achieve long-lasting reconciliation

58. WE RECOGNISE AND SUPPORT the desire of the people of Burma for a
democratic, civilian government as expressed through the results of the 1990
election.

59. WE ASSERT that the crisis in Burma is a matter of grave concern to the
international community, particularly to the citizens of ASEAN nations and do
no accept that it is an "internal matter".

60. WE ASSERT that the on-going crisis in Burma is a threat to the long-term
peace, economic growth and security of the world, in particular, the ASEAN and
South- Asian regions. The prolongation of the long-term crisis in Burma will
have severe destructive effects on the citizens of the region.

61. WE BELIEVE that ASEAN is in a position to ensure that genuine positive
change takes place in Burma.

62. WE DO NOT AGREE with ASEAN's current policy known as "constructive
engagement" on the grounds that such a policy has done nothing to promote
genuine reconciliation in Burma, in fact, it has given the SLORC legitimacy to
perpetuate its rule of terror over our neighbours in Burma, as demonstrated by
the junta's renewed crackdowns on democracy activists in the past six months.

63. WE OPPOSE ASEAN membership for the SLORC on the grounds that:

64. The SLORC is not the legitimate government of that country

65. ASEAN membership would provide the SLORC with a de facto licence to
continue its
attacks on the peoples on Burma, and

66. The SLORC's activities are a direct contradiction to the aims and
objectives of ASEAN

67. WE BELIEVE that ASEAN and the international community, including regional
and international groupings such as the European Union and the United Nations
and its agencies have, at their disposal, the means to support, encourage and
facilitate the restoration of human rights, democracy and ultimately, peace, to
Burma

68. WE CALL UPON ASEAN, as a grouping, and member nations of ASEAN, as
sovereign states to exercise their right to review their position vis-a-vis
Burma, and formulate a progressive position to support genuine dialogue and
reconciliation in Burma

69. WE CALL UPON members of the United Nations, European Union, the ASEAN
Regional Forum and other governments who have dealings with ASEAN as a
grouping, and individual member nations of ASEAN, to exert their good offices
to encourage a positive change in ASEAN's approach to the crisis in Burma.  WE
BELIEVE that change is possible, with sufficient support and a willingness to
dialogue in the spirit of international co-operation and goodwill

70. WE FURTHER CALL UPON the aforementioned members of the United Nations,
European Union, the ASEAN Regional Forum and other citizens of the
world, including Non-Governmental Organisations and international agencies to
renew their commitment and efforts to support, encourage and facilitate the
restoration of human rights, democracy and ultimately, peace, to Burma through
engaging in all forms of firm, peaceful, diplomatic strategies, including the
application of diplomatic and trade sanctions against the SLORC

71. TO THIS END, we urge the aforementioned groups and individual countries to
provide concrete support towards activities undertaken by organisations and
groups working within and without Burma in support of human rights and
democracy in that country through prioritising the flow of information and
resources, the free movement of activists in their work, and commitment to the
implementation of cross-border relief work and humanitarian assistance.

72. FURTHER, WE URGE the citizens of the world not to support the SLORC's
Visit Myanmar campaign, by postponing plans to visit the country until the human
rights situation improves in that country, further that they communicate the
grounds for their decision to representatives of the SLORC and their local
travel industry.

73. WE ALSO URGE THAT the United Nations, as the ultimate body of world
authority, take immediate steps to eject the SLORC from the UN General Assembly
on the grounds that the SLORC is not the legitimate government of Burma,
further that its continuing brutality and oppression of the people of Burma are
anathema to the values and vision of the UN.

74. WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE ALTERNATIVE ASEAN MEETING ON BURMA,
RE-AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT to support the movement for human
rights and democracy in Burma. 

WE WILL DO THIS by working in co-operation with Burmese and non-Burmese
peoples' organisations working within and without Burma to further the cause of
the movement.  WE WILL DO THIS through the formation of the Alternative ASEAN
Network on Burma, as an expression of the support of the peoples of ASEAN for
the struggle in Burma.  WE WILL ENGAGE in activities on the local, national and
regional levels to raise awareness of and mobilise support for our 47 million
neighbours in Burma.

75. WE MAKE THIS COMMITMENT with the understanding that we are diminished as
human beings and as supporters of human rights if we fail to act to alleviate
the tragic crisis taking place in Burma. WE UNDERSTAND THAT our support for
human rights, democracy and peace in Burma is also support for human rights,
democracy and peace in our communities.

76. THEREFORE, WE CALL UPON our home governments and other members of the
international community to support us in our endeavours and allow us to freely
engage in legitimate activities which are informed by the universal values for
human rights, democracy and peace, held dearly by all peoples of the world.

77. WE MAKE THIS DECLARATION ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1996, AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ALTERNATIVE ASEAN MEETING ON BURMA, CHULALONGKORN
UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND.

SIGNED: (Participants)

ALSO ENDORSED BY: (Endorsing organisations who could not attend meeting)

Draft: Alternative ASEAN Declaration on Burma, as at 10/14/96