| (April 7, 2005/ Manila) The Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats (CALD) signed today the resolution of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus declaring ” No ASEAN chairmanship for Myanmar without freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi!”In a widely attended press conference held during the 112th Interparliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, members of parliament from the ASEAN countries of the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia—as well as parliamentarians from the European Union—called for the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and for political reforms in Maynmar (Burma).
“As Members of Parliament and on behalf of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, we are aware that Myanmar committed to abide by certain principles of democratic governance specified by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as prerequisite of membership in the organisation in 1997” stated Ms. Saumura Tioulong, MP, of Sam Rainsy and member of the CALD executive committee in behalf of the organization.
“We recall the resolution on Myanmar passed by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus on the issue of the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 during its conference in Manila on 2 April 2005. We acknowledge that there is a political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar brought about by gross violations of the basic human rights of the people of this country, including the detention of Members of Parliament and the denial of their civil and political rights.”
“We stress that elections of representatives of the people and the institution of parliament are an integral part of democratic government and we deplore the absence of this institution in Myanmar.”
In conclusion, Ms. Saumura declared that “the Chairmanship of ASEAN cannot be given to Myanmar in 2006 without systematic and irreversible political reform, as it will negatively affect ASEAN and its members. Therefore, we support the call of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, in particular Members of Parliament, as well as substantial and measurable political reform as prerequisites for Myanmar’s accession to the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006.”
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