SOME GOOD NEWS : Open Letter to ASE

[hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx]

>X-PH: V4.1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Cornell Modified) 
>From: sy54@xxxxxxxxxxx (Siew-Kee Yong)
>Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 23:06:32 -0400 (EDT)
>X-Sender: sy54@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx (Htun Aung Gyaw)
>Subject: SOME GOOD NEWS : Open Letter to ASEAN Heads of State (fwd)
>
>Htun
>
>Some encouraging news for both of us, and other countries as well 
>(forwarded below) - and perhaps let us forget about these Cornell's ISS for 
>now, and utilise our precious limited energy for something more productive. 
>
>FYI, on tommorrow Fri. Statler Hotel auditorium, free talk starting 7.30 
>pm on human rights & American Indians by an American Indian human rights 
>activist in conjunction with anti-celebration of Columbus Day.  
>
>For the above talk, I will not attend the Kahin Center gathering.
>
>Frank S.K. Yong
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
>Message From: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
>
>For immediate release: October 1, 1998
>
>MEDIA RELEASE
>ASEAN ACTIVISTS CARAVAN PROTEST HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS
>
>A delegation of human rights activists from Burma, Malaysia, Philippines
>and Thailand today held delivered an Open Letter to Asean Heads of State to
>several Asean embassies in Bangkok.
>
>The action is a response to the growing human rights crises in the region,
>notably in Burma and Malaysia.
>
>The human rights caravan, bearing yellow placards which said "Justice",
>"Freedom" and "Reform" in Burmese, English, Malay, Tagalog, Thai and
>Vietnamese kicked off at the Burmese Embassy and then proceeded to the
>Embassies of Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. The memorandum was
>faxed to other Asean embassies not visited by the group.
>
>The Malaysian Embassy came in for special treatment when the protesters
>used placards bearing a large questionmark asked "Why the Madness Dr. M?"
>and "We Question Your Judgment Dr. M!".
>
>The Open Letter also "strongly condemned" the serious abuses of human
>rights and state powers taking place in recent weeks in Malaysia. It called
>for all the governments of Asean to ratify the International Covenant on
>Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic,
>Social and Cultural Rights on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
>Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
>
>Text of Open Letter follows.
>
>-----
>
>OPEN LETTER TO ASEAN HEADS OF STATE
>
>
>1st October, 1998
>
>Your Excellencies,
>
>We wish to express our gravest concern at the deteriorating human rights
>situation which has seen the severe violation of the civil, political,
>economic, social and cultural rights of the peoples of this region.=20
>
>We, a delegation of people from Asean member states:
>
>1. Strongly believe that it is essential that governments prioritize their
>duty to meet the needs and aspirations of their population during the
>current economic crisis. The peoples and the government cannot afford
>continued violations and abuses.
>=20
>2. Remain convinced that human rights protection and democratic governance
>which is accountable and responsive to the people is a prerequisite to
>sustainable development and genuine security.
>=20
>3. Are outraged at the recent developments in a number of Asean countries
>which have seen escalating human rights abuses which continue to hurt our
>brothers and sisters in the region.
>=20
>4. Believe that the continued violations and the manipulation of state
>machinery and legal institutions in the furtherance of these abuses AS WELL
>AS the failure of Asean members to work together to effectively resolve
>these serious problems, greatly erode the credibility and moral authority
>of the governments and leaders involved. The Southeast Asian region appears
>to be degenerating into a political and economic basket-case, led by people
>gripped in a moral paralysis.
>=20
>5. Remain deeply concerned at the apparent lack of Asean members=92 capacit=
>y
>to genuinely engage with each other to resolve these human crises which
>have far-reaching consequences on us all.
>
>In the case of BURMA, we:
>
>=B7 Express our whole-hearted support for the "Committee representing the
>1990 Multi-Party General Elections People's Parliament" which has been
>empowered by two hundred and fifty one elected Members of Parliament to
>legally act on behalf of the People's Parliament until such time that the
>democratically-elected Parliament is convened.
>=20
>=B7 Condemn the continued arbitrary arrest, detentions and restrictions
>imposed on Burman and ethnic NLD members and democracy activists who have
>engaged in peaceful and legitimate actions for the rights of the peoples of
>the country. We understand that more than 900 NLD members and hundreds more
>non-party members are in detention because of their work to fulfill the
>aspirations of the peoples of Burma.
>=20
>=B7 Strongly urge the Burmese junta to unconditionally free these political
>prisoners, including those subjected to criminal charges for political
>activities. We also urge the regime to cease its harassment and
>restrictions upon elected MPs and those working for the human rights of
>their fellow citizens.
>=20
>=B7 Strongly condemn the continued attacks and violations of the rights of
>peoples living in the border areas, including forced labour, forced
>relocation and military attacks, particularly on the basis of ethnicity
>and/or religion.
>=20
>=B7 Urge the governments of Asean to recognize the moral and legal legitima=
>cy
>of the "Committee representing the 1990 Multi-Party General Elections
>People's Parliament", and work with the Committee, the Burmese military
>regime and ethnic groups to achieve a peaceful, political resolution.
>
>In the case of MALAYSIA, we:
>
>=B7 Strongly condemn the serious abuses of human rights and state powers
>taking place in recent weeks.
>
>=B7 Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
>prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
>political activities.
>=20
>=B7 Strongly support the spirit and content of Forum-Asia=92s Open Letter t=
>o
>Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, particularly the demand to free all
>political prisoners, and to abolish the draconian Internal Security Act.
>
>In the case of INDONESIA, we:=20
>
>=B7 Call upon the government to accelerate the political and economic refor=
>ms
>needed to ease the suffering of millions of our brothers and sisters in the
>country.
>=20
>=B7 Urge the implementation of justice without fear or favour, particularly
>with regard to corrupt practices and profits gained corruptly during the
>Suharto regime.
>=20
>=B7 Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
>prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
>political activities, including East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao.
>=20
>=B7 Urge the government to accelerate it efforts for a peaceful, political
>solution to the human rights crises in its diverse territories, such as
>Acheh, Kalimantan, West Papua. Further, we urge Mr. Habibie's government to
>take genuine steps to acknowledge the rights self-determination of these
>peoples and the people of East Timor.
>
>In the case of the PHILIPPINES, we:
>
>=B7 Support the efforts of the Philippines' people to oppose the Visiting
>Forces Agreement on the grounds that it will contribute to the violations
>of peoples'  rights and well-being.
>=20
>=B7 Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
>prisoners as well as those jailed under criminal charges for their
>political activities.
>
>In the case of SINGAPORE, we:
>
>=B7 Strongly urge the government to unconditionally release all political
>prisoners, including those who may be jailed under criminal charges for
>their political activities. Further, we urge the government to lift any
>restrictions imposed on former political prisoners, including Chi Thye Poh.
>=20
>=B7 Urge the government not to restrict the people's rights to freedom of
>expression, assembly and association as enshrined in the Universal
>Declaration of Human Rights.
>=20
>=B7 Urge the government to cease its harassment of opposition politicians
>through exploitation of the judicial process. While technically working
>within the limits of the law, such vindictive and petty pursuits only serve
>to undermine the moral authority and credibility of the government.
>
>FINALLY, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal
>Declaration of Human Rights, we urge all governments of Asean to ratify the
>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International
>Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
>
>Yours in solidarity with the peoples of Asean
>and on behalf of the delegation,
>
>(signed)
>Debbie Stothard
>
>