Burma Advocacy in ASEAN

By Burma Partnership & Task Force on

ASEAN and Burma (TFAB)

Targets:

•Government officials

•Members of Parliaments

•Media

•Academia/Institutions

•Civil society (HR Orgs, Trade Unions, Lawyers, etc….)

•General Public

Means:

•Reports, policy papers, briefers, leaflets, brochure

•Protests, vigils, forums, seminars, conferences, documentary screening, statements, open letters

•Petitions, letter writing, diplomatic briefing

•Press conferences, press releases and opinion-editorial

•Lobbying at individual gov’ts, UN, and international & regional forums

Outcomes -

Increased awareness:

• among MPs and support for the democracy movement hearings, resolutions, statements, etc..

• among civil society demonstrations, petitions, open letters, statements, press releases, etc.

• among media more news coverage, opinion-editorial

Outcomes

At Individual Gov’ts & ASEAN Level:

•Burma is a regional issue

•Burma agenda reached to ASEAN Summits

•ASEAN called for the release of DASSK

•Some ASEAN members called for the release of political prisoners and all inclusive political process.

•Some condemned the 2010 elections as sham

ASEAN and Burma (2011-2012)

• ASEAN States praised Burma during the Burma UPR session in June 2011.

• Indonesia FM Marty Natalegawa visited Burma in October 2011

• In November 2011, Burma was accepted as the Chair of ASEAN.

• In Dec. 2011 Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa urged to allow a free and fair by-election, to make peace with ethnic minorities, to release all remaining political prisoners, and to continue further its democratization process.   Indonesia volunteered to offer advice from the Election Commission of Indonesia, the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia and the Indonesian Institute of Science to establish contact and cooperation with their counterparts in Burma.

ASEAN and Burma (2011-2012)

• 24 December 2011, ASEAN States voted against and abstention on the UNGA Resolution on Burma in 2011 (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam are against)

• In Jan 2012, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said. “Myanmar’s FM has requested Asean to call for the lifting of economic sanctions against Myanmar,”

• On 17 January, the Philippines called on the global community to lift sanctions on Burma

ASEAN and Burma AdvocacyCSO engagement

• ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum

• Cambodia 2012

Burma as Chair 2014

• What position we stand for?

• Boycott? Engagement by ourselves? By regional network? By inside CBOs?

• How can we ensure the people’s participation and people orientated ASEAN in 2014?

• Urge the ASEAN to keep its option open on reversing the decision on Burma Chairing the bloc if the military- led government back-slides on promises concerning human rights and democracy

2012 ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum

• June , 2011

• Jakarta, Indonesia

• Burmese in organizing Com

• Burma session in workshops

• GONGO

• Interface representative

• Daw Suu’s message/attention

• March 29-31, 2012

• Cambodia

• Visa for exiled groups? Role ?

• Agenda on Burma?

• GONGO conspiracy

• Interface representative

• Solidarity with ASEAN friends?

What do we do for ACSC?

• Position paper/message/ talking points to the government/MPs/ Media and CSOs in ASEAN

• Strong delegates to ASCS and good preparation for delivery of message

• media bliz on issues

• Consultation with the groups who we already have coordinated on the issues and strtegies

• Collaboration with inside genuine groups for delegation

Current Situation Strength/Opportunity

•More CBOs and more space in the country 

• Increase social/political activism inside Burma

• Increase cooperation + coordination with inside

• Increase hope and awareness among people 

•More awareness on civil war Calls for Peace increase How do we mobilize for larger peace movement (inside + outside)

Opportunities of Being Chairship

• regional friends have more understanding of the issues and concerns inside Burma

• increased cooperation among NGOs and other networks

• more opportunity to shed light on HRVs in Burma

• opportunity to organize and mobilize among the CSOs in Burma and the general public will become more aware of the situation because of increased visitors,

• opportunity for awareness raising among the general public general public to become more politically aware, and become more actively involve in the nation’s political life

• more chance for people to have more information

• More chance to inform the general public of what ASEAN is and what roles the Burmese peoples can play during the chairship

• chance to push further the agenda of democracy and human rights as Myanmar will be very conscious of its image in the international arena

• chance to get in touch with the regional and international media organizations

• Better collaboration among the Local Burmese CSOs for ACSC/APF

Challenges of being Chairship

• possibility of restrictions of regional CSOs in 2014

• Deception by the government that now they are doing good things as they are recognized by the international community

• 2008 Constitution will be more difficult to challenge because of the international and regional organizations’ recognition of Myanmar as chair of ASEAN

• Possibility of more GONGOs to be involved in the ACSC process

• With the recognition of Myanmar it may lead to more HRVs as it will embolden them, there might be other forms of HRVs like the ones brought by big international development projects

• Window dressing representation of CS, other legitimate organizations may not be represented increase conflict between peoples, civil society and government NGOs

• Information channel might be cut down and more surveillance on CSOs

• ODA, AID might lead to creation of more NGOs that will not focus on democracy and human rights agenda and will just focus on other ‘soft issues’

Burma As Chair 2014What do we do?

• stakeholder mapping

• Consultation between inside/outside groups and exchange ideas for ASEAN engagement

• Identify effective CSOs that can engage in national and regional consultation

• Organize the sectoral consultations inside Burma for different network for identify issues and recommendations

• Provide information about ASEAN and it principle of people participation to media and public

• Provide exposure for the ACSC/AFP to learn the process and organizing

• Create space for genuine CSOs in organizing Committee

ASEAN and UN HRC

• Indonesia and other ASEAN continue their efforts not to extend or make revisions to the SR mandate in March The recent developments in Burma are being perceived positively

• the EU mission wants to maintain much of the stronger paragraphs from the resolution in 2011particularly paragraphs relating to impunity and the review of all national legislation to bring them in line with international human rights standards

Action

- Joint letter to the ASEAN and UNHCR calling for extension of SR mandate

- - provide cases and message to the UNHCR