JAKARTA – Lawmakers from across the world have come together to form the International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar (IPAM). The Alliance’s first meeting included 24 members of parliament (MPs) from 12 countries, spanning from Canada, through Europe, Pakistan, Thailand, Japan and all the way to Australia and New Zealand.
The MPs committed to join forces and use their position inside and outside of parliament to support fellow lawmakers from Myanmar, including members of the Committee Representing the Union Parliament (CRPH), to promote democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar, and ensure accountability for international crimes.
“The people of Myanmar need support now, as bullets are being fired, prisons filled, and lives stolen by a ruthless military. As parliamentarians it was evident to us that we needed to come together and form a united front against the Myanmar army’s unrelenting attack on democracy and human rights,” said Heidi Hautala, Member of the European Parliament.
“Our message is clear, we as elected representatives will use our voice to support the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy,” said Jamie Parker, Member of the New South Wales Parliament of Australia. “Working collectively will strengthen our respective actions, and present the Myanmar military junta and the international community with unified calls and a clear path forward.”
The initial meeting of the Alliance was convened at the initiative of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), with a view to connecting lawmakers with Myanmar civil society and MPs, to provide a forum for developing joint international and regional strategies, and to serve as a consistent public voice for democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar.
“Our first action will focus on supporting Myanmar MPs currently being detained or forced into hiding when their only crime has been to be elected by the people of Myanmar to serve in Parliament,” said Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament of Malaysia and Chair of APHR. “It is our duty to stand with our colleagues when they face life threatening risks and when the institution of Parliament is being attacked.”
Members of the Alliance agreed to help gather signatures of parliamentarians around the world for a statement calling for the immediate release of their Myanmar colleagues, and to introduce in their respective parliaments a resolution or motion condemning the coup.
