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ALT-ASEAN BURMA



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PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR RELEASE ON FEB. 12

1. ASEAN-BURMA POSTER LAUNCH
2. OPEN LETTER TO ASEAN-EU MINISTERIAL MEETING
3. ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
4. TEXT OF OPEN LETTER (ATTACHMENT)

1. ASEAN-BURMA POSTER LAUNCH

ASEAN-based activists will launch a poster opposing Slorc's
proposed membership in ASEAN on February 12, Burma's Union Day.  It
will also be the eve of the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in
Singapore.

The regional launch of the poster will take place in the
Philippines, to tie in with the launch of their national campaign. 
The poster will also be launched at activities in Cambodia,
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

If you are opposed to Slorc's membership in ASEAN, please send a
copy of the poster to the diplomatic mission every ASEAN member
state in your country, with a polite letter stating your
opposition.  We can afford to post you small numbers of the poster
if you email us at <chalida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>.  Even better, you
may try to organise an appointment with the diplomatic missions for
an INFORMAL meeting to discuss the matter.

ASEAN member states are: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Singapore,Brunei, Philippines and Vietnam. Observer states: Laos,
Cambodia, Burma.  Malaysia and Indonesia are the strongest
supporters of Slorc membership.

2. OPEN LETTER TO PARTICIPANTS OF ASEAN-EU MINISTERIAL MEETING,
FEB. 13-14, SINGAPORE

Attached is the text of the Open Letter sent by the Alternative
ASEAN Network on Burma, representing 50 ASEAN-based organisations
which support peace, human rights and democracy in Burma.

3. ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA

The Network was formed out of the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on
Burma last October in Bangkok.  Participants at the Meeting came
from more than 45 organisations from 20 countries.

While the Network is mainly focused on mobilizing support from
ASEAN-based organisations, it is open to organisations and
individuals from other regions who support human rights and
democracy in Burma, and who have an interest in Burma in the
context of ASEAN.  Just email us with your details if you wish to
be considered a member.

-------------------------------------------------
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
tel: 66 2 276 9846 - 7 fax: 66 2 276 2183
<chalida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
c/o FORUM-ASIA  109 SUTHISARNWINICHAI RD  SAMSENNOK  HUAYKWANG 
BANGKOK 10320
-------------------------------------------------

Open letter to Participants of the 12th ASEAN - EU Ministerial
Meeting

Your Excellencies,

The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, comprising individuals and
50 organizations from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, respectfully urges the
participants of the 12th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting to work in
focused cooperation for an immediate cessation of human rights
violations by Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council
(Slorc).

The latest documented violations took place only last week on
January 28th, when Slorc and the Slorc-organized Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army (DKBA) violated Thailand's borders and attacked 3
Karen refugee camps, in the Thai border area near Mae Sot.  They
killed a Thai national and a Karen baby, robbed the refugees and
burned their homes, clinics and schools.

This action follows on the January 3rd mortar attacks and military
raid on the Karenni refugee and student camps near Mae Hong Son, on
the North-West border of Thailand.  Two people were killed and many
injured.  More attacks are expected.

These human rights abuses violate the very spirit and letter of
Burma's Union Day national holiday, which falls on February 12th. 
Union Day marks the anniversary of the 1947 Panglong Agreement
between ethnic nationality leaders and independence hero Aung San
to form a Union of Burma, which recognized the equality and
integrity of the ethnic nationalities.

In reality, there is not much for the peoples of Burma to celebrate
on Union Day.  The Slorc has severely abused the Panglong
Agreement, by violating the human, civil and democratic rights of
ethnic nationality people, as well as majority Burmans and
religious minorities.  The program of harassments, extra-judicial
killings, military attacks, rapes, torture and other forms cruel
and inhuman treatment, as well as forced labour and forced
relocations, have been well-documented by international
organizations, including agencies of the United Nations.

It is extremely urgent that the participants of the 12th ASEAN - EU
Ministerial Meeting use their good offices in both formal and
informal meetings, to effect the Slorc's immediate cessation of
human rights atrocities.

In the spirit of Burma's 50th Union Day on February 12th, we call
upon member states of ASEAN and the EU to give their strongest
encouragement to the commencement of dialogue between Slorc, the
democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic nationality
leaders, to achieve the peaceful resolution of the long-term crisis
plaguing Burma.  It is only after this that Burma should be
welcomed as a member of ASEAN and the world community.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Yours in solidarity with the peoples of Burma,

Debbie Stothard
Coordinator

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