ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY MYANMAR CAUCUS (AIPMC)

18-2 Commercial Centre, Abadi Indah,
Off Jalan Klang , 58100 Kuala Lumpur
Web: ­www.aseanmp.org   Email: info@aseanmp.org

May 8, 2006

AIPMC STATEMENT ON ATTACKS AGAINST INNOCENT LIVES AND DISPLACEMENT OF THOUSANDS FROM ETHNIC GROUPS IN BURMA

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), an organization consisting of Parliamentarians from the Asian region, strongly condemns the ongoing acts of violence in Burma that are primarily targeted against the Karens, an ethnic minority group in Eastern Burma.

Reports of these events have shown enough facts and figures to warrant international involvement in the dire situation in Burma. In light of this, the AIPMC strongly urges the UN Security Council (UNSC) to immediately act on this the latest security crisis in the conflict-stricken nation.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of Burmese have fled the violence in their land and crossed borders to neighboring countries. The situation is indeed becoming worse as this current military offensive in Eastern Burma has sparked a new outflow of thousands of refugees.

The regime's move to establish its administrative capital in Pyinmana has sparked this aggression against the Karen living in the vicinity. These attacks have resulted in over 11,000 Burmese Karens being driven from their homes and numerous innocent lives taken.

The UNSC must play its role and carry out its functions in dealing with perpetrators of such crimes. The destruction of villages in Eastern Burma and the military attacks on civilians have also been labeled as acts of genocide. The UNSC must not fail in effectively dealing with the situation if it wants to reassure the international community of its relevance.

Many more lives are at risk of being lost and thousands more face displacement if the international community continues to stagnate on the Burma situation.

International humanitarian groups and refugee agencies have labeled Burma 'the worst international displacement crisis in Asia'. The UNSC must play its role by heeding these reports and acting on global calls for Burma to be placed on the UNSC agenda and immediately act to put a stop to the current violence in the country.

In December 2005 the situation in Burma was discussed in the UNSC and the body indicated that it would undertake a course of action to deal with the existing crisis. The time has come for the UNSC to embark on its security action to deal with Burma and bring to an end the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of homes.

AIPMC further demands that the Burmese military regime, responsible for these unacceptable acts of inhumanity, immediately stop its military offensives against the Karen as well as any other military action against other innocent lives.

Burma 's military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has in recent months informed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that it has embarked on democratic reforms within the country. However, such occurrences of unwarranted aggression against its own people do not indicate that the junta is working towards positive reforms.

ASEAN must take concrete and substantive steps to ensure that the junta is serious about introducing democratic change. The regional grouping must hold the regime accountable for Burma's history of displacing lives and its current military offensive against the Karen if it wants to ensure regional safety and stability.

AIPMC further condemns the junta for such acts as the planting of landmines in areas where the military have successfully driven out the ethnic minorities, in an effort to prevent these inhabitants from returning to their homes.

Such an act of senselessness and terror is an abuse of power and a gross human rights violation. It must be strongly condemned and the perpetrators must be held responsible.

Released on May 8, 2006 by the AIPMC Secretariat on behalf of AIPMC Parliamentarians.

ENDS

Enquiries: Roshan Jason, AIPMC Executive Secretary +6012-3750974 or info@aseanmp.org

(Background on AIPMC available on website – www.aseanmp.org)