US Senate asks ASEAN leaders to suspend Burma's regime

Friday, November 16, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) encouraging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take action to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma.

Recently, hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens led by courageous Buddhist monks risked their lives in demonstrations to demand a return to democracy and respect for human rights in their country. The repressive military government in Burma responded with force and brutally cracked down on the peaceful protesters. The junta continues to arrest and detain Burmese activists.

Next week, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meets in Singapore for the 13th ASEAN Summit. The Boxer resolution states that Congress “would welcome a decision by ASEAN, consistent with its core documents and its new charter, to review Burma’s membership in ASEAN and to consider appropriate disciplinary measures, including suspension, until such time as the Government of Burma has demonstrated an improved respect for and commitment to human rights.”

Boxer said, “I appreciate the strong comments from ASEAN member nations condemning the junta’s violent suppression of peaceful protesters in Burma. It is now time for ASEAN to back its words with actions.”

Boxer, who is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, held a hearing on Burma last month.

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US Senate asks ASEAN leaders to suspend Myanmar
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate unanimously adopted a resolution Friday urging an upcoming ASEAN summit to suspend military-ruled Myanmar from the group for its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests.


The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had issued a rare rebuke to Myanmar's generals following the September crackdown, expressing "revulsion" and demanding that the ruling military junta immediately stop the use of violence against protesters.


"It is now time for ASEAN to back its words with actions," said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer from California, whose resolution was adopted Friday ahead of next week's ASEAN summit to be held in Singapore.


"I appreciate the strong comments from ASEAN member nations condemning the junta's violent suppression of peaceful protesters in Burma (Myanmar)," said Boxer, chairwoman of a Senate panel on East Asian and Pacific affairs.


The Boxer resolution said the US Congress "would welcome a decision by ASEAN, consistent with its core documents and its new charter, to review Burma's membership in ASEAN and to consider appropriate disciplinary measures, including suspension, until such time as the Government of Burma has demonstrated an improved respect for and commitment to human rights."


ASEAN leaders are planning to sign a landmark charter which seeks to promote human rights and democracy but rights groups say there is no clear mechanism for the grouping to take action against Myanmar.
Fourteen people were killed in the main city of Yangon during the military suppression of pro-democracy protests in September led by Buddhist monks described as the biggest anti-government demonstrations in nearly 20 years.


Amnesty International has estimated that 700 people arrested over the protests were still in detention, although the government has said only about 90 of the nearly 3,000 originally rounded up are still being held.
The crackdown was condemned globally, with the United States and European Union stepping up sanctions against Myanmar.


ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.