Amnesty International calls on John Key to demand freedom for Myanmar at ASEAN summit

Amnesty International is calling on New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to make a strong case for human rights protection in Myanmar when he meets with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders in Hanoi on 28 to 30 October. Key will be attending a range of meetings, including the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit, the 5th East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Summit.

“With Myanmar, a member of ASEAN, set to hold its first elections in 20 years next week (7 November), the ASEAN Summits are an opportunity for New Zealand to show leadership in the international arena by calling on Myanmar to improve its appalling human rights record,” says Patrick Holmes, CEO of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Earlier this month, we welcomed New Zealand Parliamentarian’s unanimous support for the three freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly and for the release of all peaceful political prisoners in Myanmar.”

“While this was a significant and explicit affirmation of New Zealand’s support for human rights in Myanmar, Amnesty International is now urging the New Zealand Government to build on Parliament’s support by encouraging other ASEAN members to apply pressure on Myanmar,” says Holmes.

Despite repeated international calls for their release, more than 2,200 political prisoners continue to languish behind bars in Myanmar. The vague and broadly-worded Election Laws enacted in March effectively prevent whole segments of society from participating in the elections, clearly violating the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. And crackdowns on people involved in anti-election activities are intensifying.

One recent case of repression is that of Mon monk Oakken Tha, who on 27 September was sentenced to 15 years in prison for ‘anti-election activities’. Oakkan Tha was sentenced on the third anniversary of the crackdown on the Saffron Revolution, apparently as a warning to the people of Myanmar in the lead-up to the election that any dissent will be severely punished.

“Many governments in the Asia-Pacific region have emphasised the importance for Myanmar’s elections to be ‘free and fair’ but these calls do not go far enough to address the widespread human rights violations already taking place,” says Holmes.

“The ASEAN Summits are a crucial moment to ensure that the international community speak with one voice to send a clear message to the Government of Myanmar that real and lasting change is needed,” adds Holmes.

Note to editors:

• Eleven of Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Directors have sent an open letter to ASEAN leaders, calling on them to urge the Government of Myanmar to uphold human rights, including to: Release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience arrested solely on the basis of their peaceful political activity, ethnicity, or religion;
• Ensure that all people in Myanmar can enjoy the ‘three freedoms’ of expression, peaceful assembly, and association throughout the elections period and beyond.

Thousands of New Zealanders have also joined Amnesty International in taking action through a global online petition to the nine foreign ministers of ASEAN member states.

To learn more about Amnesty International’s Myanmar ‘Freedom’ Campaign, and for the text of the Open Letter to ASEAN leaders, please visit http://www.amnesty.org.nz/our-work/myanmar-freedom-campaign

ENDS

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