Nov 17, 2023 | DFF, Statements
BANGKOK – ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) calls on Thailand, ASEAN, and the wider international community to turn their attention to the plight of internally-displaced people (IDPs) and refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border and to support localized pathways, including cross-border aid.
During the four-day fact-finding mission from 13-16 November, parliamentarians from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand visited the border towns of Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang in Northern Thailand to speak with local organizations, displaced communities and first responders to hear about their situation and challenges as well as to consult with community-based organizations to better understand what solutions must be immediately advocated for.
“We are deeply concerned about the situation faced by IDPs and refugees from Myanmar at the Thai Border. They do not have sufficient access to healthcare, food, or even shelter. We can and must do more for them,” APHR Chair and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Barends said today,
The mission delegation found that border clinics urgently need medicine and warm clothing for patients. Meanwhile, IDP and refugee children have severely limited access to education: schools have been targeted for airstrikes by the military junta, there is a lack of books and other learning materials, and those who wish to continue with higher education find it difficult to apply to universities abroad due to a lack of documentation.
“The growing IDP population near the Thai border – which is set to reach 300,000 due to continued junta airstrikes and military operations – relies heavily on local community-based organizations for support. But these organizations are continually blocked from accessing humanitarian aid by the illegal Myanmar junta,” APHR member and Malaysian member of parliament Kelvin Yii said. “APHR stands in solidarity with the community-based organizations and echoes their calls for increased cross-border aid.”
The challenges faced by refugees on the Thai side of the border are made worse by the precarity of their legal status – human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Thai border authorities for sending those seeking refuge back across the border to Myanmar, where they are at risk of indiscriminate airstrikes, arbitrary arrest, torture, and worse.
“We urge the Thai government to enact policies that ensure refugees are granted safe passage and humanitarian assistance, starting by instructing Thai border authorities to immediately halt the forced return of Myanmar refugees,” said Yii.
APHR also highlights that the conditions of IDPs and refugees can only be genuinely resolved with a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive Myanmar.
“We therefore reiterate our calls to ASEAN and the international community to take firm action against the illegal Myanmar junta, including by suspending any military or diplomatic cooperation, and to recognize the National Unity Government as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people,” said Barends. “As long as the junta remains in power, the suffering of IDPs and refugees will only increase, leading to an unsafe Thai border as well as wider regional instability.”
Nov 2, 2023 | DFF, Open Letters
2 November 2023
Open Letter to the Government of Thailand on Refugees Fleeing Myanmar
Re: New Thai government has the opportunity for a fresh start on Myanmar Refugees
To: Royal Thai Government
H.E. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister
H.E. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior
Attention to:
Hon. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand
Your Excellencies,
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to call upon the Pheu Thai government to ensure safe passage and access to humanitarian provisions for refugees fleeing violence and persecution in neighboring Myanmar. This would signal to the world that the new Thai government truly committed to respecting and upholding human rights.
As you know, the Myanmar military junta is committing ongoing war crimes and human rights violations against the civilian population, killing thousands and internally displacing 2 million people , according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. However, these numbers are likely much higher, based on data collected by local humanitarian organizations working on the ground in Myanmar. This is just the latest wave of civilian displacement resulting from the unprecedented violence and scorched-earth earth terror campaign by the Myanmar military as Thailand is well aware, having housed tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees in refugee camps for the past 40 years. We commend Thailand for its long history of providing shelter and humanitarian aid to refugees from across Southeast Asia, particularly from Myanmar.
The new Thai government has an opportunity to establish itself as a governing body that upholds the human rights of all people, including the many seeking safety, shelter, and protection in Myanmar. There is the possibility for meaningful engagement with pro-democracy forces and those truly committed to a free and fair future in the country. This is possible with the support of the new Thai government in choosing to stand on the right side of history.
We urge you to enact policies that ensure refugees are granted safe passage and humanitarian assistance, starting by instructing Thai border authorities to immediately halt the forced return of Myanmar refugees, in line with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Degrading Treatment or Punishment, of which Thailand is a state party, as well as Thailand’s own Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance. Refugees living in the camps in Thailand must be given access to educational and economic opportunities that will allow them to thrive outside the camps in various capacities.
If your government enacts these policies, you will not only be acting with principled morality, and gaining the infinite gratitude of the Myanmar people, but you will also be raising the international community’s esteem and respect for Thailand as a democratic, humane, rights-respecting nation.
Yours sincerely,
Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
ALTSEAN-Burma
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Asylum Access Thailand
Australian Karen Organisation Inc
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Concern
Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP)
CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
CRPH Funding Ireland
CRPH/NUG Support Group, Australia, National representative for NSW Rep
CRPH/NUG Support Group, Western Australia
CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Initiatives for International Dialogue
International Detention Coalition (IDC)
Karenni National Women’s Organization
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Manushya Foundation
Milk Tea Alliance – Friends of Myanmar
Move Forward Party
Myanmar Campaign Network
Myanmar Geoscience Association, Western Australia
Myanmar Response Network (MRN)
มูลนิธิสิทธิเพื่อสันติภาพ (Peace Rights Foundation)
The William Gomes Podcast, United Kingdom
U.S. Campaign for Burma
Click here to read this open letter in Thai.
Sep 6, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – The Review and Decision on the Implementation of the Five Point Consensus agreed to by ASEAN leaders at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta falls short of the steps necessary to resolve the Myanmar crisis and restore democracy in the country, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said today.
“When President Jokowi opened the ASEAN Summit retreat session, he said that ASEAN needed more ‘tactical and extraordinary’ efforts to implement the Five Point Consensus,” said APHR Chair and member of Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Barends. “Unfortunately, the ‘review and decision’ document does not reflect that need for extraordinary and urgent measures.”
The document states that ASEAN will continue to use the Five Point Consensus as the ‘main reference point’ to address the crisis in Myanmar and once again urged the Myanmar junta to ‘de-escalate violence and stop targeted attacks against civilians.’ The document also notes that ASEAN leaders have agreed that Myanmar will not chair ASEAN in 2026.
“We appreciate that ASEAN leaders have condemned the violence perpetrated by the junta; however, words of condemnation are not enough to stop these acts from happening. And while ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Myanmar in finding a peaceful solution – it does not indicate how or what steps will be taken,” said Barends. “ASEAN has also failed to acknowledge and recognize the efforts and leadership of the pro-democracy movement in their various capacities.”
Since the illegal coup in February 2021, at least 4,000 civilians have been killed, while nearly two million others have been forced to flee their homes. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) estimates that the junta has arrested over 24,000 political prisoners since the coup, over 19,800 of which remain in detention.
“It has been almost three years since the coup, during which millions of people have had their lives irrevocably shattered by the junta’s atrocities. And yet ASEAN seems content to continue to act as if the Myanmar crisis was some bureaucratic mix-up that can be periodically ‘reviewed’ and not an ongoing armed conflict where lives are on the line every day,” said Barends.
The Myanmar junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement rejecting the ‘review and decision’ claiming that it was ‘not objective’ and ‘one-sided.”
“If there was not already enough proof, the Myanmar junta’s response to ASEAN’s review and decision further shows that the junta is a bad-faith actor that has no interest in pursuing the peaceful, democratic, and inclusive resolution that the people of Myanmar deserve. ASEAN leaders must open their eyes to this reality and stop acting as if the junta can be counted on to uphold and protect human rights, ” said Barends. “ASEAN must take a much harder line and detail enforcement mechanisms that will genuinely hold the junta to account, otherwise it is merely prolonging the status quo.”
“We urge ASEAN to take strong and meaningful actions – including openly recognizing and supporting pro-democracy forces, and creating concrete accountability mechanisms for the junta – so that it is remembered as an organization that helped ease that suffering, rather than one that compounded it,” said Barends.
Aug 17, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Indonesia must use the time it has left as chair of ASEAN to leave a lasting legacy for the Myanmar pro-democracy movement, the region, and for Indonesia itself, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights said today.
In his annual speech in front of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on 16 August, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that international trust in Indonesia was high due to, among other things, the country’s chairmanship of ASEAN as well as its “consistency in upholding human rights, humanity, equality..
“We congratulate Indonesia on its 78th Independence Day and we commend President Jokowi’s recognition that consistently upholding human rights is the key to gaining international credibility,” said APHR Board Member and Malaysian member of parliament Wong Chen. “Unfortunately, so far Indonesia has failed to uphold ‘human rights, humanity, and equality’ as ASEAN chair, particularly with regards to Myanmar.”
As chair of ASEAN, Indonesia has openly adopted a “soft diplomacy” approach, with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi saying in May that Indonesian diplomats had more than 60 “engagements” with all the parties involved in the Myanmar crisis, including the junta’s self-styled State Administrative Council (SAC), the National Unity Government (NUG), as well as ethnic revolutionary organizations. However, these meetings have lacked transparency and have done little, if any, to stop the illegal Myanmar junta from continuing to commit gross human rights violations against its own people.
The lack of firm action on Myanmar on Indonesia’s part has emboldened diplomatic friends of the junta to take steps to undermine ASEAN’s role in responding to the Myanmar crisis, as can be seen in the outgoing Thai government’s “Track 1.5” meetings.
“If President Jokowi is truly sincere in his stated desire for Indonesia to maintain its international trust and standing, then he must ensure that Indonesia takes actions that leave a legacy of progress and forward momentum on Myanmar, rather than one of stagnation and missed opportunities,” said Wong Chen.
Firstly, Indonesia must make it clear that ASEAN member states engaging bilaterally with the Myanmar military junta is unacceptable and undermines ASEAN’s role in resolving the crisis. Secondly, as APHR and Myanmar civil society organizations have repeatedly called for, Indonesia must initiate a thorough and inclusive review of the Five Point Consensus to create an agreement that the Myanmar junta must abide by.
APHR also calls on Indonesia to engage in an open and formal dialogue on a solution to Myanmar with the National Unity Government, the Committed Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the National Consultative Council, as well as with like-minded figures committed to peace and democracy, including ethnic armed revolution organizations, community-based organizations and human rights defenders.
Indonesia must also strongly encourage the engagement of local organizations, primarily those working along the Thai-Myanmar border, who have shared an urgent need for cross-border humanitarian assistance. The military junta is not a trusted partner in facilitating and coordinating support and has, on multiple occasions, weaponized its delivery.
“Indonesia was formed with high-minded ideals embedded into the country’s foundation. The Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, for instance, says that Indonesia must strive for ‘the establishment of a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace and social justice,’” said Wong Chen. “We urge President Jokowi to live up to these ideals by helping lay the foundation for a meaningful and lasting democratic future in Myanmar.”
Aug 7, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia call on fellow lawmakers attending the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly in Jakarta to advocate for strong, concrete actions rooted in human rights principles to ensure a proactive and coordinated response to the worsening Myanmar crisis.
“The AIPA General Assembly is an important forum in which lawmakers from across the region can come together and work together on key issues, including the ongoing crisis in Myanmar,” ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Board Member and Malaysian member of parliament Wong Chen said today. “Representatives joining the assembly can play a key role in pushing their governments to ensure that the suffering and loss of life that occurs daily in Myanmar is not allowed to go on with impunity.”
The AIPA General Assembly is taking place between 5-11 August in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the theme “Responsive Parliaments for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN.” The first plenary session will be held on 7 August, while committee meetings will be held on 8 August, with the final plenary session on 9 August.
“AIPA representatives must recognize that the Myanmar junta cannot be relied on, as shown by its continued disregard for the Five-Point Consensus. Therefore, they should urge their respective governments to engage with the National Unity Government, ethnic revolution organizations and civil society groups,” said Wong Chen.
In July, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that he and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed that Southeast Asian countries should be able to engage bilaterally with the Myanmar junta. Before that, Thailand had initiated Track 1.5 meetings with junta representatives, which were also attended by Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
“We reiterate our concerns that an increasing number of ASEAN leaders have indicated their openness to engaging with the junta. This would be a terrible mistake; such ‘engagement’ would only be used as military propaganda and will help the junta paint the pro-democracy movement as an obstacle to peace, when in fact, establishing an inclusive and human rights-respecting democracy, is the only way to ensure lasting solutions in Myanmar,” said Wong Chen. “We, therefore, urge lawmakers to call on their governments to continue to work towards holding the junta accountable for its widespread and systematic crimes against its own people.”
“We also once again call on Indonesian lawmakers to urge Indonesia, as chair of ASEAN, to initiate a thorough and inclusive review of the Five Point Consensus while there is still time remaining in its chairmanship. The Consensus has so far failed to help resolve the Myanmar crisis. Time is running out for Indonesia to make a real impact on the fate of Myanmar and leave a lasting legacy for its chairmanship.”
