07 March 2008

Activists Call for Rejection of Burma Constitutional Referendum

Conference declaration warns ASEAN risks undermining its own credibility

U.N. Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari has Burma's upcoming referendum on his agenda for talks with regime leaders. (© AP Images)

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington -- Burmese and international civil society activists are calling upon the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reject the Burmese government's planned referendum on a new constitution unless it allows universal participation and meaningful dialogue with opposition groups.

In a joint declaration issued March 7 after their two-day meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, the activists warned that an unfair referendum "could lead to social unrest and political instability within Burma," that would have ramifications beyond the country's borders.

According to the declaration, the unrest "could intensify the economic crisis and massive population flows to neighboring countries which already are compromising the region's ability to protect its borders, prevent spread of infectious diseases and combat trans-national crime."

Citing the need for changes to Burma's current laws that cover how it would hold the referendum, as well as for proposed general elections in 2010, the declaration warned that "[i]f ASEAN goes along with such an illegitimate process, it risks undermining its own credibility."

Specifically, the civil society activists called upon ASEAN, the United Nations and others in the international community to insist that the May referendum and 2010 elections be conducted in a transparent manner with monitors from both organizations.  They said conditions for a free and fair process include a nationwide cease-fire, the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the repeal of laws that curtail the freedoms of expression, opinion, association and movement.

ASEAN also was asked to initiate a Commission of Enquiry into the Burmese government's violent September 2007 crackdown against pro-democracy activists.

The activists noted that ASEAN leaders already have called upon the Burmese government to include democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the 2010 elections, but their requests have been ignored.

BURMA ATTRACTING INCREASED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

The conference, which was convened to discuss the role that civil society in ASEAN countries can play to support human rights and democracy in Burma, was attended by more than 160 people.  It also coincided with U.N. Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari's third visit to Burma since the September 2007 crackdown. 

The declaration urged support for Gambari's mission to promote meaningful dialogue between government leaders and Suu Kyi "with a view towards eventual tri-partite dialogue leading towards national reconciliation."

To promote human rights, the activists urged the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to establish a permanent presence in Burma to monitor human rights, and for the U.N. Human Rights Council to send a substantive fact-finding mission to Burma.

The activists also sought U.N. Security Council action, particularly its endorsement of a global arms embargo against Burma and targeted financial sanctions.

In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said March 7 that the Bush administration was anticipating Gambari's report to the Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.  Casey reminded reporters that the United States put Burma on the Security Council agenda for the first time in 2007.

"It's an issue that we continue to be very concerned about and many others in the international community are concerned about.  And I expect that you will see ongoing discussions about this, not only in the region itself but also in New York," Casey said.