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All talk, no traction

Asean ministers do not seem interested in solving region’s problems. The Irrawaddy.

Published

15 years ago

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Report from The Irrawaddy:

International gatherings like the ones held on the Thai resort island of Phuket last week are seldom much more than talk shops. The ministers who attended the Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) went there to be seen and heard, not to solve any of the region’s problems.

That’s why no one was particularly surprised or disappointed that there were no great breakthroughs in resolving the perennial problems of Burma and North Korea, which, as expected, dominated discussions at the high-level meetings.

As usual, ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reiterated their call for Burma to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and pave the way for national reconciliation through “inclusive” general elections in 2010.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda acknowledged, however, that the Burmese regime was unlikely to budge much under pressure. The junta, he said, changes “too slowly and often a little change at a time.”

But this did not prevent his Thai counterpart, Kasit Piromya, from offering to facilitate the process of change. “Asean as well as members of the ARF would like to work with Myanmar [Burma] and are ready to assist Myanmar in its efforts to promote democracy, human rights and well-being among her people,” he said.

In his capacity as chairman of the 16th Asean Regional Forum, Kasit added that the Burmese foreign minister had been asked “to convey this sentiment to the Myanmar leadership. It is hoped that Myanmar will be responsive to the international community’s concerns.”

At least one person—Vitavas Srivihok, the director-general of the Asean-Thailand office of Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs—seemed to think that Asean’s message would get a receptive hearing in Naypyidaw.

He told reporters, “The first time I saw Myanmar’s reaction, I thought it was very positive…. They fully understand and appreciate the offers of help by Asean colleagues.

Meanwhile, others were asking what Asean might do if Burma does not comply with calls for reform. Although no clear answer to that question emerged, at least one option—throwing Burma out of the regional grouping—was ruled out as a possibility.

“There are not enough grounds to do that,” Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in response to a comment made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who suggested that expulsion should be considered if the Burmese regime continues to flout Asean’s rules.

“We have already done what we can under the Asean mechanism,” said Abhisit. “If Burma is expelled it will further isolate the regime, and would that solve the problem?”

Clinton, for her part, seemed prepared to take strong action, although she did not specify what form it might take. When she arrived in Thailand, she immediately made it clear that her government was not taking the latest developments in Burma lightly.

“We know that there are also growing concerns about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously. It would be destabilizing for the region,” she said. “It would pose a direct threat to Burma’s neighbors. And it is something, as a treaty ally of Thailand, we are taking very seriously.”

The next day, however, she struck a very different note, holding out the possibility of a fundamental shift in US-Burma relations in exchange for the release of Aung san Suu Kyi.

“If she were released, that would open up opportunities, at least for my country, to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma. But it is up to the Burmese leadership,” Clinton said.

This was followed by a rare meeting between US and Burmese officials on the sidelines of the ARF. The American delegation again urged the Burmese leadership to review its treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi and also asked Burma to cooperate with UN sanctions on North Korea.

The Burmese said they would respect the UN resolution imposing a strengthened arms embargo on Pyongyang—a wise move that will probably win the regime some support in Washington.

Clinton said she was “gratified by Burma’s statement and those of many other countries announcing an intension to implement the UN resolution.… Burma’s statement is significant because in the past, North Korea has provided Burma with materials now barred by Resolution 1874.”

Despite the Burmese regime’s claims that it is willing to cooperate with the UN, it has often allowed North Korean ships to dock in Rangoon to deliver ammunition and weapons.

——

In April, while speaking in the United States, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo, said:

“”Unfortunately, ASEAN today looks a little patchy… The last summit that was held in Pattaya was disrupted in a manner which caused us, in ASEAN, great humiliation.” (Channel NewsAsia)

——

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Media

RSF launches support project for Myanmar journalists

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched the Myanmar Press Freedom Project, providing critical support to exiled and in-country journalists. The initiative, unveiled in Chiang Mai, Thailand, offers equipment and training to help Myanmar media professionals continue their work despite the military junta’s oppressive crackdown on press freedom.

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2 days ago

on

21 October 2024

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has initiated a new project aimed at supporting Myanmar journalists who have been forced into exile or are continuing to work under oppressive conditions imposed by the military junta.

The Myanmar Press Freedom Project was launched on 19 October 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a key base for many exiled media professionals.

Led by RSF Director General Thibaut Bruttin, the initiative seeks to provide essential tools and training to Myanmar journalists.

The project will equip them with laptops, mobile phones, solar batteries, and digital security tools.

In partnership with Exile Hub, RSF also plans to offer comprehensive training programs to bolster the skills of these journalists, who remain committed to reporting on the dire situation in Myanmar, despite the constant threat of arrest and violence.

RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau representatives, Cédric Alviani, Director, and Shataakshi Verma, Project and Development Manager, played a significant role in identifying these needs during previous missions along the Thai-Myanmar border. Both were present at the launch event in Chiang Mai.

Thibaut Bruttin underscored the resilience of Myanmar’s journalists and the critical importance of their work.

“The media from Myanmar have shown great resilience over the past years and the reporters themselves have shown great bravery. This project is a testimony of RSF’s renewed commitment to supporting journalists at risk,” Bruttin said.

He emphasised the urgency of continuing to support these professionals, stating that without their reporting, Myanmar risks becoming “a black hole for information.”

The launch of the Myanmar Press Freedom Project follows a brutal period of repression in Myanmar since the military coup on 1 February 2021.

The junta has cracked down mercilessly on press freedom, leading to the arrest, imprisonment, and execution of journalists.

RSF reports that seven journalists and press freedom advocates have been executed since the coup, while at least 150 have been arrested. Sixty-four remain in detention.

The hostile environment has prompted a mass exodus of Myanmar’s media outlets, with at least 60 relocating to operate from abroad, particularly in Thailand.

Despite the harsh conditions, some journalists have continued working within the country, often in secret and under constant threat of persecution.

RSF’s Myanmar Press Freedom Project builds upon previous emergency assistance provided by the organisation.

Over the past few years, RSF has supported around 100 journalists from Myanmar with equipment, funding, and safety training.

This ongoing support includes both physical and digital security training, designed to help media professionals navigate the dangerous landscape of reporting under the military regime.

RSF’s global commitment to press freedom extends beyond Myanmar.

In response to major crises, the organisation has established Press Freedom Centres in conflict zones to provide journalists with the resources they need to continue their work.

Recent examples include centres in Lviv and Kyiv, Ukraine, set up in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and a centre in Beirut, Lebanon, aimed at assisting journalists affected by the war in Gaza.

According to RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, Myanmar ranks 171st out of 180 countries, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.

The country currently holds the grim distinction of being the second-largest jailer of journalists globally, behind only China, with 64 media professionals currently imprisoned.

As the situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, RSF’s support for its journalists remains crucial.

The Myanmar Press Freedom Project represents a significant effort to ensure that these brave reporters can continue their essential work, despite the dangers they face.

By providing them with the necessary tools and training, RSF aims to empower Myanmar’s exiled and domestic journalists to keep the flow of information alive, both for the people of Myanmar and the international community.

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Civil Society

Forum-Asia condemns execution of Myanmar pro-democracy activists and warns of further killings by junta

FORUM-ASIA and ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) condemned Myanmar’s military junta for executing activists Maung Kaung Htet and Chan Myae Thu. They urged ASEAN ministers and the international community to act swiftly to prevent further executions, warning of human rights violations and the ongoing repression of dissent.

Published

4 weeks ago

on

24 September 2024

By

Maung Kaung Htet and his wife, Chan Myae Thu

Editor’s Note (updated 26/09/2024): In a previous version of this article, we reported allegations regarding two executions in Myanmar, based on statements from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and Forum Asia. Recent reports from The Irrawaddy suggest that these allegations may be part of a disinformation campaign by the Myanmar junta. We urge our readers to approach this information with caution.

FORUM-ASIA and ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) have strongly condemned the Myanmar military junta for the execution of pro-democracy activists Maung Kaung Htet and his wife, Chan Myae Thu, on 23 September 2024.

The couple was executed at 4:00 AM Myanmar time for their alleged involvement in the October 2022 Insein Prison bombing in Yangon. These executions are part of an escalating crackdown on dissent under the military’s rule.

Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA, criticized the use of the death penalty as a tactic to instill fear and silence opposition, noting that the executions were carried out without due process. She called for immediate international action to hold the junta accountable for its ongoing human rights abuses.

Echoing these concerns, APHR also condemned the executions, expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims.

Mercy Chriesty Barends, Chairperson of APHR and a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives, urged ASEAN foreign ministers to take a stronger stance. “Break the silence now. ASEAN foreign ministers must speak up against the SAC execution policy,” Barends said. She highlighted that Chan Myae Thu was the first woman executed by the junta since its February 2021 coup, according to the Women’s Peace Network.

APHR Board Member and Philippine parliamentarian Arlene D. Brosas voiced grave concerns about the death penalty being used to suppress dissent in Myanmar.

“We are gravely concerned that the death penalty is being used to silence persons with dissenting views in Myanmar,” she said, pointing to the broader implications for human rights in the country.

Both FORUM-ASIA and APHR expressed alarm over the junta’s plans to execute five more political prisoners—Kaung Pyae Sone Oo, Kyaw Win Soe, San Min Aung, Zayyar Phyo, and Myat Phyo Pwint—on 24 September 2024.

These individuals were sentenced to death in May 2023 following a closed-door civilian trial at Yangon’s Insein Prison. The five were accused of involvement in a 2021 shooting on the Yangon Circular Railway that resulted in the deaths of four police officers. APHR reported that these prisoners were subjected to brutal torture and sexual violence and denied access to legal counsel during their detention.

APHR Co-Chairperson and former Malaysian parliamentarian Charles Santiago called for immediate action. “This must stop. ASEAN foreign ministers must denounce such an unjust act. They must be united to push the SAC to terminate their execution and release them from prison,” Santiago urged.

The planned executions come amid a broader wave of repression in Myanmar. Since resuming executions in 2022 after a 40-year moratorium, the military junta has increasingly used the death penalty as a tool to suppress dissent.

That year, four pro-democracy activists were executed following convictions on terrorism charges, with their trials condemned for their lack of transparency and due process.

According to APHR, the military junta plans to execute over 120 more detainees in the coming weeks, many of whom are activists and human rights defenders.

APHR reports that 15 of those facing imminent execution are women human rights defenders. The organization highlighted the arrest and detention of more than 27,000 people since the junta seized power in February 2021, alongside allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even genocide committed by the junta.

As Myanmar’s crisis deepens, both FORUM-ASIA and APHR have called for the international community, particularly ASEAN, to step up efforts to end the impunity under which the junta operates.

Barends and Santiago emphasized that merely condemning the junta’s actions is no longer enough. There is an urgent need for concrete international measures to hold Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) accountable and prevent further atrocities.

The Myanmar military has faced mounting criticism for its widespread human rights violations since the February 2021 coup, which toppled the democratically elected government.

The junta has cracked down violently on protests, arresting thousands of political opponents, activists, and civilians in what rights groups describe as a campaign of terror aimed at stifling all forms of dissent.

FORUM-ASIA and APHR’s calls for intervention focus on preventing further executions and ensuring that the international community holds the junta responsible for its human rights abuses.

Both organizations have stressed the importance of united action by ASEAN and global powers to prevent the Myanmar crisis from escalating further.

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