Open letter to ASEAN Ministers

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written  6:07 AM  Jul 12, 1994 by atiah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:soc.cult.burma */
/* ---------- "Open letter to ASEAN Ministers" ---------- */
OPEN LETTER TO
FOREIGN MINISTERS of the
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
at the July 1994 ASEAN POST-MINISTERIAL MEETING
in Bangkok, Thailand.

8th July 1994

Dear Sirs,

	Re: ASEAN POLICY ON BURMA (MYANMAR)

On behalf of the 45 million people of Burma whose voice cannot be heard at 
the ASEAN meeting, we wish to convey their message and ask you to consider 
the following points in regard to your policy development:

	SLORC is not a legitimate government

Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) ignored the 
results of the national 1990 elections and has not changed its original 
military objectives to incorporate political reform.  The SLORC is not the 
legitimate government of Burma.

We ask that you look closely at activities in Burma, and not only listen 
to the opinions of the SLORC.

	SLORC is a threat to regional security

The SLORC is expanding its military capacity.  We ask you to question why 
they are doing this? What is their real purpose?  Is it more than just 
maintaining control over the Burmese people?

Until there is political change in Burma, the situation will continue to be 
a serious threat to regional security.  We believe ASEAN needs to be clearer 
in its policies of "constructive engagement" to ensure that ASEAN does not 
create a long term security and military problem as a consequence of pursuing 
short term economic benefit.  The SLORC uses money earnt through trade and 
investment to further build up the military which threatens the stability of 
the South East Asian region.

	SLORC does not respect ASEAN

If ASEAN members are considering admitting the SLORC as a representative of 
Burma, we urge you to think of the long term consequences of this action and 
reject SLORC in favour of strengthening the international democracy movement.

ASEAN should not welcome Burma as a member because the SLORC does not respect 
ASEAN.  The SLORC refused to accept a visit from an ASEAN representative and 
the Philippine Foreign Minister was only permitted to meet with the SLORC in 
his capacity as a representative of the Philippine Government.

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	Consider long term benefits for the people of ASEAN and Burma

Policy decisions should be made in order to achieve benefits in the long 
term - not only for the people of Burma but for the people and economies of 
your countries.

Some ASEAN countries derive benefit from their relationship with the SLORC.  
These actions are short-lived, myopic and detrimental for the people of 
Burma. 
We urge companies in your countries to stop engaging in exploitative 
ventures with the SLORC.

We hope "engagement" can be constructive with the people of Burma in order 
to bring long term benefits to the whole region, that we can achieve greater 
regional stability, more sustainable economic development, and better 
relations in the long term for mutual benefit.

The situation in Burma is a regional issue, not an internal matter.  Burma's 
economic, social, political, military and environmental situation affects the 
situation in other countries in South East Asia, in our region.

We urge you to implement a constructive policy on Burma for the whole region.

Yours respectfully*,


PO Box 286
Broadway  NSW  2007
AUSTRALIA

*  On behalf of the participants at the seminar "Burma's Democracy Movement" 
at Sydney University on July 8, 1994, including individuals and 
representatives of Burmese community groups, academics, students, trade 
unionists, human rights activists, journalists, government officials, and 
non-government organisations in Australia.

cc/-	the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister
	all diplomatic missions in Australia
	the SLORC representative in Australia
	the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Burma
	the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Australian House of 
            Representatives
	the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
	the Democratic Alliance of Burma
	the All Burma Students Democratic Front
	the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar (Burma)
	Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
	Australian and international media

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