Committee for Asian Women endorses the following open letter. If you would like to support the demands and endorse this letter, please write to Altsean-Burma (anelyn@altsean.org)by 19 November, 5pm. The letter will be sent off tomorrow (20 November 2008).

OPEN LETTER TO ASEAN HEADS OF STATES
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18 November 2008
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To:
H.M. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang di Pertuan Agung of Brunei Darussalam
H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Republic of Indonesia
H.E. Bounyang Vorachith, Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos
H.E. Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia
H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of Republic of Philippines
H.E. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore
H.E. Somchai Wongsawat, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam
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Your Excellencies,
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We, the undersigned organizations, ask ASEAN to demand the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders. As the ASEAN summit is approaching we particularly ask you to make this issue focal there. We also ask ASEAN to support a UN Security Council special session concerning the situation in Burma.
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The military junta in Burma has increased its efforts in the arrest and sentencing of political prisoners.  These prisoners are not violent criminals, but monks, students, bloggers, lawyers, journalists, musicians, poets, and political leaders who peacefully demand a stable government, one that respects the rule of law, as well as people’s rights to life, liberty and security.  These arbitrary trials and imprisonments are more than just incidences of injustice, but political actions aimed at perpetuating fear and prolonging dictatorial domination in Burma.  These arrests and sentences stand against the ASEAN charter, and will further regional instability.
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So far in November the military regime has sentenced 119 pro-democracy activists, some with sentences up to 65 years imprisonment. More sentences will be given in the following days. Family members of those activists were neither allowed to attend the hearings nor informed by the authorities before and after their sentences.  Defense lawyers were also not present during the sentencing.  The charges are ridiculous, and the sentencing unjust.
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Many international leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and ASEAN ministers have called for the release of political prisoners as well as valid progression towards national reconciliation, especially in the lead up to the 2010 elections.  In the Joint Communique of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, a statement issued in July 2008, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN urged Burma’s regime to “to take bolder steps towards a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future, and working towards the holding of free and fair General Elections in 2010.  While recognising the steps undertaken by the Government of Myanmar to conduct meetings with all concerned parties, including the NLD leadership, we reiterated our calls for the release of all political detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to pave the way for meaningful dialogue involving all parties concerned.”[1]  However, the military junta is avidly ignoring these calls by locking up and harassing any organization or people that question their tyranny.�
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We urge ASEAN leaders to recognize the widespread and increasing problems in Burma, and particularly recognize that it has not improved, and will not improve until strong international action is taken.  Burma is already a red stain on ASEAN’s name, and problems of its further instability are already spilling over.  ASEAN needs to take significant measures to propel the release of all political prisoners in Burma as well as the return of a proper process of national reconciliation. 

[1]  Joint Communique of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.”One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia”. Singapore, 21 July 2008. http://www.aseansec.org/21771.htm

Anelyn de Luna
Program Officer
Altsean-Burma
P.O. Box 296 Lardprao Post Office
Bangkok 10310 Thailand
MP: +668 14034830
Fax: +22 2754261