CALD Resolution No. 5 S. 2009

CALD Resolution No. 5 S. 2009

CALD resolution condemning the guilty verdict against Daw Aung Suu Kyi and demanding her immediate and unconditional release

“The struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma is a struggle for life and dignity. It is a struggle that encompasses our political, social and economic aspirations.”

– Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her 1995 Keynote Address at the APC Conference

Deploring the August 11, 2009 verdict of the criminal court in Rangoon sentencing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Laureate and a beacon of democracy, to three (3) years of imprisonment in violation of her order for house arrest, with a reduced sentence to eighteen (18) months, to be served again under house arrest;

Condemning the fraudulent trial administered by a prejudiced and politically motivated justice system;

Condemning the political maneuvering and unabated repression of the military junta of its own people;

Condemning the fact that the military junta continues to ignore Aung San Suu Kyi’s fundamental right to be free and continues to deny Burma of the political freedom their people are hopeful for;

Concerned that the military junta has derailed the national reconciliation efforts in Burma and has betrayed the hope of the Burmese people and the ASEAN community to include all Burmese stakeholders and ethnic political parties in the process of political development;

Supporting the call of the international community including Hon. Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary general, who “strongly deplored” the verdict and said that “unless she and all other political prisoners in Myanmar are released and allowed to participate in free and fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt;”

Supporting ASEAN’s call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release and strongly acknowledging the statement of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand, the current ASEAN chair, expressing its grave concern about the recent developments relating to Suu Kyi and reminding the military government of Burma that as a responsible member of ASEAN, it has the responsibility to protect and promote human rights;

Calling for ASEAN to take the necessary action vis-à-vis the military regime to uphold the principles of good governance, the rule of law, and the spirit of the ASEAN Charter on human rights, and to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi be fully engaged in the political process;

Believing that Aung San Suu Kyi’s freedom of movement and the release of other political prisoners would be a significant and essential step towards a peaceful transition to genuine democracy;

Be it therefore resolved that the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, a leading alliance of liberal and democratic parties with the mandate to safeguard democracy and promote human rights in Asia, condemn the guilty verdict against Daw Aung Suu Kyi and demand her immediate and unconditional release.

For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:

Dr. Chee Soon Juan

Singapore Democratic Party CALD Chairman

Dr. J.R. Nereus O. Acosta

Liberal Party of the Philippines CALD Secretary General