>From: Sugi Lanús <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "International Herald Tribune" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [AHRC Open Letter] MYANMAR/BURMA: Myanmar's neighbours would >benefit from its political transformationputu fajar arcana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:50:11 +0800 >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138 >------ Forwarded Message >From: AHRC <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:53:26 +0800 >Subject: [AHRC Open Letter] MYANMAR/BURMA: Myanmar's neighbours would >benefit from its political transformation > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >September 26, 2007 >AHRC-OL-033-2007 > >An Open Letter to the leaders of ASEAN, China and India by the Asian Human >Rights Commission >Dear Heads of Government > >MYANMAR/BURMA: Myanmar's neighbours would benefit from its political >transformation >The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you concerning the >dramatic and rapidly worsening events in Myanmar of the last few weeks, >about which you are fully aware. > >Many persons around the world maintain that Myanmar's neighbours are >largely responsible for the propping up of its military dictatorship, >which but for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China >and India, would not have been able to retain power for the last two decades. > >Whether right or wrong, this assertion points to the vital role that your >countries will together have in seeing Myanmar towards a new and brighter >future. > >It is the view of the AHRC that in fact it is in the best interests of all >Myanmar's neighbours to help it through a political transformation, and >that now is the time to do it. > >People throughout Myanmar are downtrodden and hungry. Their best and >brightest have gone abroad or are driving taxicabs and doing odd jobs in >its cities and towns. Farmers are capable of far greater output than they >are able to deliver. Maladministration and corruption have crippled >nascent industry. Bountiful natural resources are being misappropriated. >Private armies run large parts of the frontier regions and internal strife >seems unending. > >Not only is such a country itself unable to progress, but it is also a >burden upon it neighbours. It sells little and buys less. It is the source >of millions of refugees and migrants, and of latent cross-border conflict. >It remains sunken, unproductive and uncreative, not for want of talent and >potential, but due to inept government and aimless repression. > >Thus, there is no sum advantage for any of your countries in the existing >state of affairs. All would benefit from political change. And none need >fear change. Whatever government has power in Burma, the economic and >political weight of India, China and ASEAN would ensure its continued >cooperation and good relations with its neighbours. And were you to >contribute to that change, it would also create much lasting goodwill, >particularly at this historic time. > >As this letter is being prepared, shooting has begun on the streets of >Yangon. Time is of the utmost essence. The Asian Human Rights Commission >calls upon you to do everything within your disposal, unilaterally and >multilaterally, to prevent violence in Myanmar and see the country through >to a new period that will be of benefit both to its own people, to the >people of your own countries, and beyond. Please do not hesitate. > >Yours sincerely > >Basil Fernando >Executive Director >Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong > >Recipients: > >1. Mr. Hu Jintao, President, People's Republic of China >2. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Republic of India >3. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Brunei >Darussalam >4. Mr. Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia >5. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President, Republic of Indonesia >6. Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister, Lao People's Democratic Republic >7. Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister, Federation of Malaysia >8. Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President, Republic of the Philippines >9. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister, Republic of Singapore >10. General Surayud Chulanont, Interim Prime Minister, Kingdom of Thailand >11. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister, Socialist Republic of Vietnam > > > >Asian Human Rights Commission >19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building, >998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong S.A.R. >Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339 Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367 > > >------ End of Forwarded Message
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