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Press Statement on Myanmar |
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Contributed by Ragunath Kesavan
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Tuesday, 02 October 2007 12:49pm |
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Malaysian Bar
condemns suppression of peaceful protests in Myanmar
The Malaysian Bar condemns the violent suppression of peaceful protests in
Myanmar. We deplore the highhanded and brutal response of the military junta to
the peaceful demand of the people of Myanmar, led by Buddhist monks and nuns,
for the end to military dictatorship and introduction of democratic reforms.
It is most unfortunate that peaceful protests have been met by violence and
repression – news reports indicate that scores of people have been killed,
monasteries raided and hundreds of people arrested. We are concerned for the
safety of all those who have been arrested since history has shown that the
regime has no qualms on using torture against political dissidents.
This is a regime that has been in power for more than 40 years, responsible for
the brutal killing of thousands of protesters in 1988 and the regime that
refused to recognise the results of the 1990 general elections.
The Malaysian Bar calls on the military regime in Myanmar to stop the violence,
release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi who has lived under
house arrest for more than 11 years and to initiate open, honest and frank
dialogue with dissident groups to set in motion the peaceful transition to
democracy.
We call on the Malaysian government to support the call of the Asean
Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus that Myanmar be expelled from Asean. It is
clear that Asean’s efforts at constructive engagement have failed and a clear
message must be sent to the regime in Myanmar that there is no place for them in
Asean or the international community if they continue to brutalize their people
and stall democratic reform.
Ragunath Kesavan
Vice President
Malaysian Bar
2 October 2007
Executed: The body of a Buddhist monk floats in a river
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Circular No 304/2008 : Invitation - HR Debate 2008
The military regime has been in power for decades in Myanmar / Burma for many reasons.
A "funny" story is that they have no oil, so the USA is not interested in "freeing" the country.
But seriously, one of the reasons is that the unelected regime gets business investments from entities from Thailand (deposed PM Thaksin's companies, being the main example), Singapore, Germany, and even Malaysia!
Democracy won't come easy or fast - even certain international human rights organisations might have to lay off staff should there be no longer refugees from Myanmar fleeing to neighbouring countries like Thailand, India and Malaysia.
Alex Tan Ken Seng