Written by U Ne Oo on 1999-07-15
A. Letter to Scretary-General of ASEAN
Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA.
14 July 1999.
H.E.Rodolfo C.Severino, J.R.
Secretary-General of ASEAN
Asean Secretariat
70A J1 Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110, INDONESIA.
Fax:62-21-739-8234
Dear H.E. Severino,
As a Burmese exile in Australia, I respectfully call your attention
to the current ASEAN conduct with the military junta in Burma. Despite
ASEAN has adopted a non-interference policy towards Burma, I believe most
member states of ASEAN do share a common view that the political dispute
in Burma must be solved with dialogue and by making reconciliation. For
example, this kind of gesture by the member states of ASEAN towards Burma
has been expressed by the visit of former President Fidel Ramos to Rangoon,
soon after Burma was granted a membership by ASEAN.
Regrettably, the military junta in Burma have no capacity to understand
such diplomatic gesture. Since that visit, the military government continued
to oppress the opposition party, National League for Democracy. In worst
case, the military authorities in last year detained 150 Members of Parliament
who had been elected in May 1990 election. Many of these elected
MPs are still being held in detention, and other have been forced to resign
from the opposition party. It is a clear case of Burmese junta increasing
repression on the opposition party members. I therefore call on the member
states of ASEAN to take a clear stand against Burmese junta to disapprove
such repression. In particular, I urge ASEAN encourage Burmese junta accepts
international mediation and to commence a dialogue in Burma. It is right
time for ASEAN to acknowledge that the military junta in Burma has no legitimate
reason to continue ruling Burma and also to recognise that the Committee
Representing People's Parliament(CRPP) is a legitimate instrument of the
will of Burmese people.
I therefore ask ASEAN to refuse to give floor to the Burmese military
junta appointed Foreign Minister, H.E. U Win Aung, at the coming ASEAN
meetings in Singapore in 22-28 July. At this meeting, ASEAN should accept
U Win Aung as a representative for Burma ONLY IF Burmese junta agrees to
international mediation and to start dialogue with opposition. However,
the Burmese Ambassador to Singapore may be allowed to attend the ASEAN
meetings, whenever these meetings require Burma to be represented formally.
As Secretary-General Severino is aware, Minister U Win Aung, together with
the current members of cabinet appointed by Burmese junta are not legitimate
government ministers unless approved by the elected People's Parliament
in Burma.
In closing, thank Secretary-General Severino for your kind attention
to this matter.
Yours respectfully, .
Sd. U Ne Oo.
B. Letter to EC Human Rights Unit
Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA.
14 July 1999.
Daniela Napoli
Chief, Human Rights Unit
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tax:(32-2)295-7850
Dear Mrs Napoli:
I am writing to thank the European Commission for sending a fact-finding mission to Rangoon as the EU's initiative for dialogue in Burma. We, the Burmese people, very much appreeople, very much appreciate the European Commission making efforts to solve the political and human rights problems in Burma. Further efforts in this regards with maintaining the tough stand against Burmese junta are required because the junta have already rejected the concept of international mediation and, hence, the dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy.
Particularly in this year, we, the oppressed people of Burma, have been very encouraged by the European Union taking a strong policy position on Burmese junta. Suchnta. Such EU's strong policy stand on Burma has been reflected in its relation with ASEAN, specifically at the ASEAN-EU Joint Cooperation Committee Meetings in January, March and May 1999. I appeal European Commission to continue such stand against the Burmese junta. In particular, I ask the European Commission to demand ASEAN that the SPDC/SLORC appointed Burmese Foreign Minister, H.E. U Win Aung, be excluded from forthcoming ASEAN meetings on 22-28 July 1999 in Singapore; unless the Burmese junta accept international medial mediation and to start dialogue with the opposition.
I am mindful that the importance of EU maintaining good relation with ASEAN countries. I am particularly aware that the significance of these ASEAN meetings, AMM/ARF/PMC, for ASEAN member countries and their dialogue partners. Our principal purpose is to prevent the military junta using these forums as propaganda tools and, certainly, not to cause damage to any of the ASEAN relation with its dialogue partners. I therefore suggest that, in case of those meetings require to include Burma as a country, only the Burma's Ambassador to Singapore-not the Foreign Minister U Win Aung- should be allowed to attend.
In closing, I thank you and European Commission for your continuing efforts to help solve Burma's human rights and political problems.
Yours sincerely
Sd. U Ne Oo.
C. Letter to US Secretary of State
Dr U Ne Oo
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA
15 July 1999.
Hon. Madeleine Albright
US Secretary of State
c/- Burma Desk, Dept.of State
Room 5206, 2201 C Street
Washington DC 20500
Tel/Fax:(1-202)647-3069
Dear Secretary-Albright,
re: Burma and ASEAN meetings on 22-28 July 1999.
I call Secretary Albright's attention to the matters in connection with forthcoming ASEAN meetings in Singapore on 22-28 July 1999. In this connection, I enclosed my appeal letters to Secretary-General of ASEAN and to the Chief Officer of European Commission Human Rights Unit for your information. information. I have requested the ASEAN and EU not to give floor to the SPDC/SLORC appointed Foreign Minister, H.E. U Win Aung, at these ASEAN meetings unless the Burmese junta agrees to accept international mediation and to commence dialogue opposition NLD. In particular, the European Union is requested to continue with its strong stand against the Burmese military junta.
Since you will be attending these ASEAN meetings, I ask you and the Government of United States to support and fortify the strong EU stand against Burmese milimese military junta. I also appeal you to persuade other dialogue partners to oppose the attendance of SPDC/SLORC appointed Foreign Minister U Win Aung to these ASEAN meetings. I believe the ASEAN and its dialogue partners making such strong representation may help pressure the Burmese junta to open dialogue with the opposition.
In closing, I thank you and Government of United States for your continuing efforts made on Burma. We the Burmese are very grateful to President Clinton who has helped in expelling the Burmese junta's dunta's delegation from International Labour Orgainsation.
Yours respectfully and sincerely
(SD. U Ne Oo)
Copy to:
1. Hon Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Parliament House,
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia.
2. Hon Rajsoomer Lallah, Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, c/-Centre
for Human Rights, Palias des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland.
