ASEAN’s continued engagement with Myanmar junta risks legitimizing illegal regime, Southeast Asian MPs say

ASEAN’s continued engagement with Myanmar junta risks legitimizing illegal regime, Southeast Asian MPs say

JAKARTA – ASEAN’s continued and increasing engagement with the Myanmar military junta risks legitimizing the illegal regime and betraying the efforts of pro-democracy forces, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said today.

Despite the abundant and irrefutable evidence that the junta has perpetrated grave human rights violations against its own citizens, ASEAN continues to collaborate and engage with them,” APHR Co-Chair and former Malaysian member of parliament Charles Santiago said today.  “This is a slap in the face for the Myanmar people and their valiant resistance in the face of the junta’s brutal oppression.”

The ASEAN chairmanship, currently held by Laos, has evidently sought to bring Myanmar back to meetings despite an agreement that barred top-level generals from participating. An official from Myanmar most recently attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held in Luang Prabang, Laos, where representatives called for a “Myanmar-owned and led solution.” 

APHR is also concerned by recent remarks from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about Thailand’s involvement in the Myanmar crisis. In an interview with Time Magazine, he said that “ASEAN has agreed that Thailand will take the lead” on peace talks with Myanmar. Thailand has a history of trying to bring Myanmar back into the ASEAN fold, despite the junta showing no interest in adhering to the Five Point Consensus or ending its ongoing hostilities against the civilian population.

“There is no clear mandate within ASEAN that makes it acceptable for Thailand to lead on Myanmar, given that it is neither the current Chair nor part of the ASEAN troika. The Thai Prime Minister’s comments undermine the credibility of the bloc and ASEAN centrality,” said Santiago. 

Most recently, a junta-affiliated media outlet has praised ASEAN for “seeing the light”. The Myanmar military junta has led a brutal campaign of violence against civilians with impunity since its attempted coup, with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) estimating that at least 8,000 civilians have been killed since February 2021. According to the local organization Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the junta has also arbitrarily arrested 26,244 people, with 20,112 of them still currently in detention. As such, any praise from the junta should be seen as a dire warning sign that ASEAN is going in the wrong direction.

As countries that claim to uphold democracy and human rights, Indonesia and Malaysia must use their position within the ASEAN troika to end any and all engagement with the junta and take action to hold them accountable for their crimes,” said Santiago. “Anything less will only diminish their credibility and relevance – as well as ASEAN’s – on the global stage.”

Southeast Asian MPs condemn Myanmar’s newly enforced national conscription law

Southeast Asian MPs condemn Myanmar’s newly enforced national conscription law

BANGKOK – ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) strongly condemns the decision by the Myanmar military to enforce a national conscription law that would mandate all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for at least two years in the armed forces. 

We are deeply concerned about the impact the Conscription Law will have on the young people of Myanmar. This is yet another disgraceful attempt by the military junta to rule through fear and sabotage,” APHR Board Member and former Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya said today.

The People’s Military Service Law was enacted in 2010 but never enforced or repealed under the National League for Democracy, despite calls to do so from civil society organizations. Nearly two decades later, the law is being implemented as the Myanmar junta’s bases and territory are rapidly being lost to the armed resistance forces. It is apparent that the junta is seeking to make up for the casualties it has lost  at the cost of the future of Myanmar’s youth. 

“This law seeks to undermine the youth-led struggle against the dictatorship and knowingly pits them against the opposition forces so many of them have supported. Its enactment also shows the utter cowardice of the Myanmar junta; they – quite literally – cannot fight their own battles,” Kasit said.

The announcement has caused widespread uncertainty for young people and their families who have no desire to serve under the military’s corrupt and violent dictatorship, which is deeply unpopular throughout the majority of the country. Myanmar’s young people have shown exceptional bravery in the wake of the military’s increasing violence and have done so to ensure their generation does not inherit another era of authoritarian rule. In a brutal and coordinated attempt to silence those efforts, the junta is forcing them to the frontlines. 


We urge ASEAN member states and the wider international community to help provide access, including visas and educational opportunities, to Myanmar youth who seek to flee to other countries ahead of the draft. We also call on the international community to recognize that this is a desperate attempt from a failing regime to cling to power and act decisively to support Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces and bring an end to the junta’s rule,” said Kasit.

Indonesia’s elections raise grave concerns for human rights in the country and the region, Southeast Asian MPs say

Indonesia’s elections raise grave concerns for human rights in the country and the region, Southeast Asian MPs say

JAKARTA – The events surrounding the recently held elections in Indonesia are a cause of serious concern and pose a grave risk to the future of human rights and democracy in the country, Southeast Asian parliamentarians said today.

We are deeply disturbed by the reports of widespread abuse of power, including interfering with the Constitutional Court as well as using social aid for political purposes, which have seriously undermined the integrity of the vote,” said ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Co-Chair and former Malaysian MP Charles Santiago. 

Between 12 and 14 February, APHR conducted a study visit to observe and learn from the Indonesian elections. During the visit, APHR’s delegation – which consisted of current and former parliamentarians from Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Thailand – met with Indonesian election management bodies as well as representatives from several civil society organizations. Activists and academics expressed their concern over the independence of the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), the neutrality of state institutions, and the effectiveness of the sanctions for election violations, among other issues. In the interim report of its election observation mission, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) highlighted similar findings.

While we appreciate that the KPU and the Bawaslu have overseen a largely peaceful and smooth election day, elections and democracy are not just about a single day at the voting booth. We urge our fellow parliamentarians in Indonesia to consider legislation that would strengthen the KPU’s and Bawaslu’s independence as well as their enforcement powers, to ensure that future elections take place on a level playing field,” said APHR member and Malaysian MP Syed Ibrahim bin Syed Noh.

Local election observers have also reported that there have been several irregularities during the voting process, as well as in the KPU’s vote tabulation app Sirekap. 

We support Indonesian civil society’s efforts in documenting and reporting all the potential election violations and errors, and we urge all concerned agencies to respond to these reports in a comprehensive and timely manner in order to maintain the public’s confidence in the elections,” said Thailand MP Chutiphong Pipoppinyo.

While the official results will only be announced next month, initial results indicate that current Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto has won the presidential election. Prabowo, a former army general, has been implicated in several gross human rights violations, including the killing of civilians during Indonesia’s occupation of Timor-Leste in the 1980s, as well as the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists towards the end of former president Soeharto’s regime in 1997-98. Prabowo’s running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, was only eligible to run after a controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court, which was then headed by Gibran’s uncle.

The fact that the likely winner of the presidential election is an accused human rights violator who has never been tried does not bode well for the prospect of human rights protection and rule of law in Indonesia,” said APHR Member and former Timor-Leste MP Abel Da Silva. “We call on our fellow parliamentarians in Indonesia to act as a powerful counterbalance to ensure that the executive’s power does not go unchecked.”

As the largest country in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is often looked to as an example, particularly in issues of human rights and democracy,” said APHR Member and Timor-Leste MP Lidia Norberta dos Santos Martins. “Because of that, we hope that whoever wins the election will commit to strengthening Indonesia’s democratic institutions and upholding the human rights of its people.”

Read this statement in Bahasa Indonesia.

International community must act to prevent further gender-based violence in Myanmar, Southeast Asian MPs say

International community must act to prevent further gender-based violence in Myanmar, Southeast Asian MPs say

JAKARTA – As we come towards the end of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) calls on the international community to work to ensure the protection of women in Myanmar, particularly as the illegal junta’s military losses continue to mount.

Sexual and gender-based violence has long been used as a weapon of war by Min Aung Hlaing’s junta, and we are concerned that this will escalate as the junta seeks retaliation for their recent losses,” APHR Chair and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Barends said today. “The international community must not allow this to happen.”

As Naw Hser Hser of the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) said in her statement to the United Nations Security Council earlier this year, “using sexual violence to attack civilian populations has long been the military’s modus operandi.” In 2017, Human Rights Watch found that the military had systematically used gang rape and other forms of sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls.

Meanwhile, since the attempted coup in February 2021, the WLB has documented over 100 cases of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, though the actual number of cases is likely much higher. A 2022 Amnesty International report also found that women and LGBTI post-coup detainees were subjected to “sexual violence, harassment and humiliation including invasive body searches.” Amnesty recounted that one transwoman detainee, Saw Han Nway Oo, was tortured and mocked for using feminine pronouns.  Another woman detainee, Ma Htoo, said that male guards would come into the women’s cells at anytime

We urge the international community to prioritize making international accountability mechanisms available for the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar,” said Barends. “A lack of action only emboldens the junta to continue to commit these violations with impunity.”

As part of this, APHR calls on the UN Security Council to refer the Myanmar junta to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and use universal jurisdiction to prosecute the junta for the systematic sexual violence as well as other crimes of humanity that it has committed. 

ASEAN, particularly the chairmanship ‘troika’, must realize that even as the junta  continues to suffer military defeats, the regime is inevitably going to escalate its violence against the civilian population, which will no doubt result in more cases of sexual and gender-based violence,” said Barends. 

APHR, therefore calls on ASEAN to pressure the UN Security Council to adopt strong measures to ensure the junta’s compliance to Security Council Resolution 2669, including targeted economic sanctions, a comprehensive arms embargo, as well as the aforementioned referral to the ICC.

As we approach the third Human Rights Day since the illegal coup, the international community still has not done nearly enough to defend and uphold the human rights of the people of Myanmar. We hope that this shameful pattern ends today,” said Barends.

Indonesia should set example for region during election season, Southeast Asian MPs say

Indonesia should set example for region during election season, Southeast Asian MPs say

JAKARTA – As the campaign period for the 2024 general elections kicks off in Indonesia, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) calls on all candidates to compete in a fair and peaceful manner. APHR also reminds Indonesian state institutions to remain neutral.

As the largest nation in the region, ASEAN countries often look to Indonesia as a model. We hope that all participants in the upcoming elections – candidates, parties, and officials – can be a positive example for young democracies across Southeast Asia and around the world,” APHR Co-chair and former Malaysian member of parliament Charles Santiago said today.

Three presidential and vice presidential candidate pairings have been officially registered and are set to compete for the top executive position. Meanwhile, 18 national political parties – as well as six local Aceh parties – will be vying for 20,614 legislative seats at the national, provincial, and local levels. The campaign period starts on 28 November and the elections are scheduled to take place on 14 February 2024. 

The presidential tickets consist of former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar; Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Surakarta Mayor – and son of incumbent President Joko Widodo – Gibran Rakabuming Raka; and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and Coordinating Minister for Legal and Political Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD.

It is of the utmost importance that state institutions maintain strict neutrality during the campaign and election period, especially since many of the candidates are current government officials. Any appearance of impropriety can affect the public’s perception of the legitimacy of the elections,” said Santiago. 

In previous elections, opposing candidates supporters’ often reported each other to the police using vague provisions in laws like the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, which has been criticized by civil society organizations for violating freedom of expression and which APHR has previously called to be revised. Several members of the Ganjar-Mahfud campaign team have already been reported to the police under the ITE Law for criticizing other candidates and the government.

We urge all candidates and parties to ask their supporters to refrain from using legal harassment in response to criticism from political opponents. A sharp exchange of opinions is normal during elections and should be welcomed as part of the democratic process,” said Santiago. “Nevertheless, we also urge candidates to steer clear of smear campaigns and other underhanded tactics that will only result in unnecessary rancor.”

Meanwhile, vote-buying remains a widespread problem in Indonesia, with a 2019 study finding that 33 percent of voters had received money or goods in exchange for their votes during the 2014 legislative elections.

Candidates and parties should engage in issue-based campaigning and avoid vote-buying and other forms of transactional politics; these tactics not only harm democracy but have also been proven to be ineffective,” said Santiago. “We also call on election management bodies and other law enforcement agencies to maintain a level playing field by enforcing all rules fairly.”

The 2024 elections will be Indonesia’s fifth direct presidential election and the sixth legislative election since the start of the Reformasi era in 1998. 

Indonesia’s democracy and civil society has come far since the fall of the authoritarian New Order regime 25 years ago . However, in recent years many academics and activists have raised concerns about the country’s democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space. We hope that Indonesia can use these elections to alleviate those concerns, rather than compound them,” said Santiago.

Joint Statement: UN should appoint rapporteur on democracy

Joint Statement: UN should appoint rapporteur on democracy

A statement calling on the United Nations to appoint a special rapporteur on democracy has been signed by more than 80 civil society organizations, networks, think tanks and institutions as well as numerous individuals from across the world united by their commitment to human rights and democracy. 

According to the document, which was released today and is endorsed by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), “democracy is threatened and authoritarianism is on the rise”. In this situation, the UN “needs to do more to strengthen human rights and democracy”, the statement says. The new rapporteur position would be created by the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva and “mandated to investigate the state of democracy around the world.”

The joint appeal is made ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is coming up on 10 December 2023. Like-minded organizations, policy-makers and individuals are invited to sign on.

  • “The global trend of democratic decline is a serious concern for parliamentarians everywhere, but particularly in Southeast Asia, where young democracies across the region risk backsliding into authoritarianism. We urge the UN to give this issue the serious attention it deserves, starting with the appointment of a Special Rapporteur,” said APHR Board Member and Malaysian Member of Parliament Wong Chen.
  • “In a world facing democratic challenges, Democracy International supports the call for a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy. Despite the evolving threats, this mandate, rooted in UN principles, symbolizes our optimism for a future where strengthened democratic values prevail”, said Eric Bjornlund, CEO and President, Democracy International. 
  • “Democracy is a human right and human rights depend on democracy. The UN can no longer look the other way while this right is being denied, undermined and weakened in many countries around the world. A UN rapporteur on democracy is urgently needed”, said Andreas Bummel, Executive Director, Democracy Without Borders.
  • “In a world where threats to democracy and fundamental freedoms undermine essential human rights, we must continue to support, at the highest levels, those working on the front lines and behind the scenes working on the intersection of human rights and democracy. A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy will help keep these issues at the forefront and signal to naysayers that democratic principles and practices offer the best conditions for peace and prosperity”, said Dr Ann Hudock, President and CEO, Counterpart International.
  • “Threats to democratic principles and institutions are a global issue. The establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy will support our legislative work, especially when drafting evidence-based legislation and policies that promote integrity in political speech, transparency in government and the protection of fundamental human rights”, said Naveed Qamar, Member of Parliament from Pakistan and President of Parliamentarians for Global Action.
  • “Today more than ever, global citizens and their civil society require focused tools, actions, and actors to effectively counter democratic regression. A UN rapporteur dedicated to this purpose could provide substantial assistance”, said Gina Romero, Executive Director, Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe por la Democracia, the platform for pro-democracy groups in Latin-America and the Caribbean.
  • “In a time when democracy is challenged by autocracies and undermined in many democracies, the proposal of a UN rapporteur on democracy deserves urgent and serious consideration. It is fully endorsed by the V-Dem project and its Steering Committee”, said political scientist Staffan Lindberg, Director, Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) at the University of Gothenburg.
  • “A robust and healthy civic space forms the cornerstone of accountable and responsive democratic governance. Democracy cannot exist without the protection and promotion of civic space, and a democratic society offers the best conditions for guaranteeing an enabling environment. The mandate of a UN rapporteur on democracy is key to ensuring that civil society and civic space remain at the heart of democracy”, said Sigrid Lipott, UN Advisor in Geneva of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
  • “People believe in democracy. But their hopes are being crushed as states fail to deliver and trample on the rules that protect us. At a time of crisis and contested narratives, the UN must use every possible tool to empower people: a Special Rapporteur on Democracy would be a good start”, said Natalie Samarasinghe, Global Director of Advocacy, Open Society Foundations.
  • “Democracy is a fundamental human right that cannot be taken for granted in any corner of the world. In recent years, we have seen backsliding, erosion, and authoritarian encroachment that democracy champions have bravely stood against across the globe. They must not stand alone. The UN Special Rapporteur system is an invaluable tool for advancing human rights. It is time that this powerful mechanism be deployed in support of democracy,” said Rebecca A. Shoot, Executive Director, Citizens for Global Solutions
  • “At a time when democracy is at threat around the world and authoritarianism is on the rise, the call for the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy has never been more timely. I therefore support this effort and hope that UN member states can consider doing so too”, said Annika​​​​ ​Silva‑Leander, Permanent Observer to the United Nations, International IDEA.
  • “These days we live through a dark period of spreading authoritarianism. We believe a UN rapporteur on democracy will brighten the way to a better world for democracy and human rights”, said Soonsuk Won, Chairperson, The May 18 Foundation, based in Gwangju, South Korea.

The statement points out that the new mandate can be based on UN resolutions that identify and support democratic principles. This includes the “central democratic principle” that “public authority must derive from the will of the people” which is expressed in Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to the document, the proposed UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy, assisted by an independent advisory board, would “examine challenges and opportunities related to the realization of democracy”. This would include, among other things, looking into “constitutional and institutional arrangements such as checks and balances; effectiveness of parliaments; free, fair and competitive elections and election environments; political participation including of minorities and women; direct and deliberative mechanisms; as well as civic space and freedoms.”

The new mandate would “go beyond and complement” existing mandates operating under the Human Rights Council. The statement asks “all governments that are committed to democracy” to support its establishment.

Click here to read and endorse the statement.

Click here to see the full list of signatories.