It has long been acknowledged that the 10-members group ASEAN (Alliance of Southeast Asian Nations) is a vital player in bringing about change in Burma. To date, despite consistent evidence of human rights abuses in Burma, the organisation has been reluctant to comment in the internal affairs of member states. However, there are early signs of change.
The DVB reports that members of the Southeast Asian regional bloc are meeting in Indonesia to debate whether to call on Burma to release imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Burma has become the thorn in the side of the 10-member association, and its presence in the bloc has been increasingly controversial since the trial and detention of Suu Kyi. Although ASEAN generally follows a principle of non-interference in internal affairs of member states, has become increasingly uneasy over Burma’s membership. Soon after the start of the trial, Thailand, which currently holds the ASEAN chair, voiced concern that Burma was tarnishing the bloc’s image.
Senior ASEAN officials will discuss whether to send a letter to the ruling generals in Burma to pressure for the release of Suu Kyi.
The length of Suu Kyi’s sentence will mean she remains in detention beyond the 2010 elections, scheduled for March next year.
Imprisoned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been found guilty of breaking the terms of her house arrest after an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house and refused to leave. Aung San Suu Kyi was not given the maximum 5 year prison sentence, but instead will serve 18 months under house arrest.
According to the Burma Campaign UK, the regime will try to present this as leniency in order to avoid international sanctions. This period of detention keeps Aung San Suu Kyi in detention during rigged elections due in 2010. The elections bring in a new constitution which is designed to legalise military rule.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been in detention for more than 13 of the past 19 years. The United Nations has ruled that her detention is illegal under international law and Burmese law. According to the dictatorship, her current period of detention was due to expire on 27th May. She was put on trial on 18th May for breaking the conditions of her house arrest after an American man swam to her home and refused to leave.
The Burma VJ coalition is calling for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. Click here to sign the petition to Ban Ki-Moon.
Read the full Burma Campaign press release here.
Aung San Suu Kyi Adress to Supporters
The premiere of Burma VJ has now come and gone and another thank you to all those who came out to support the film.
The signed poster has now been won after one lucky, and very generous person bid £500!!
However, the cause behind the film is as alive and as crucial as ever.
Burma VJ tells the story of the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and their role in the battle for a free and democratic Burma. The DVB and individual activists in this film took a great personal risk to get this story out to the world – as a result of this project, a number of them are currently incarcerated.
Htin Kyaw, Su Su Nway, Ohn Than, Sithu Maung, Ko Win Maw of the DVB are all currently serving prison sentences in Burma but you can help to support these brave men and women in a variety ways.
Visit the Free the VJs section of the site to find out how to write to the United Nations and other ways you can show your support.
You can show your support by making a donation to the DVB, Burma Campaign UK and FilmAid International here and find out other ways to get involved by visiting www.burmavjmovie.com/takeaction.