January 18 (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) - A senior Philippine legislator on Tuesday urged the government to oppose Myanmar's (Burma) chairmanship in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the Senate's foreign relations committee, said Myanmar must first improve its human rights record before being allowed to chair ASEAN.

"We must insist that Myanmar first stop its human rights violations," she said. "The Philippines should take steps to impress on the government of Myanmar to stop the oppression of human rights."

Santiago said Myanmar can start by releasing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and more than 1,000 other political detainees from jail.

According to the ASEAN secretariat, Myanmar is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of the standing committee in 2006 when the group's annual summit will also be held in Yangon (Rangoon).

Santiago said the Philippines should not be stopped by ASEAN's policy of non-intervention, noting that "human rights laws have amended that principle".

"We now have the right, not only to speak against the error of one government, but also to take collective action," she said.

The Philippines has in the past spoken out against alleged human rights violations in Myanmar, and joined calls for the government there to implement democratic reforms.

[Main][News Archieve]

NCGUB Information Office
77 South Washington Street, Suite 308, Rockville, Maryland 20850, U.S.A., Tel: 301-424-4810 301, Fax: 301-424-4812
Email NCGUB or Web Editor