Resolution on the Situation in Myanmar
16th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA – PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
21 – 24 January 2008, Auckland, New Zealand
Resolution on the Situation in Myanmar
APPF16/RES/18
(Sponsored by Japan and New Zealand)
THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Recalling United Nations Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) on Women and Peace and Security, 1612 (2005) on Children and Armed Conflict, and 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000) on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, and the statement of its President of 12th October 2007;
Welcoming the visits of the Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General Professor Gambari to Myanmar in September and November 2007 at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar, and expressing its full support for the requests he made to the government of Myanmar for the release of political prisoners, a more inclusive, transparent and meaningful political process, free and unhindered humanitarian access, and the cessation of hostilities to ethnic minorities;
Welcoming the efforts of United Nations agencies engaged in Myanmar, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UN AIDS), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), and NGOs;
Welcoming the effort by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expedite a peaceful transition to democratic rule, and noting the call for early release of political detainees in Myanmar contained in the Joint Communique of the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting of 25 July 2006 and reiterated at the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM VI) in Helsinki in September 2006;
Expressing deep concern at the slow pace of tangible progress in the process towards national reconciliation in Myanmar and at the continuing detention of political prisoners, including the prolonged house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi;
Emphasising that Myanmar has an obligation to promote and protect the human rights of its people;
Noting ongoing reports of systemic and pervasive human rights violations against women, and ethnic and religious minorities, as well as of forced labour and poor prison conditions in Myanmar;
Noting the demonstrations that took place throughout Myanmar in September 2007 and that protestors were killed, shot at, beaten, and arrested;
Expressing concern about the ongoing impoverishment of Myanmar's people that has resulted from the political situation;
RESOLVES TO:
- Express deep regret over casualties, including the death of a Japanese journalist, that occurred in the repression of pro-democracy demonstrations in September 2007;
- Support the efforts of the United Nations and its Special Adviser Gambari to seek national reconciliation of Myanmar and require all APPF countries to aid its efforts;
- Call on the Myanmar Government to cooperate fully with international organisations and to respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Call on the Government of Myanmar to release without delay all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, with the purpose of promoting dialogue amongst all parties;
- Urge the Government of Myanmar not to use oppressive measures, including the use of force, against citizens, but to promote dialogue with pro-democracy advocates and ethnic minorities for the realization of democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech and assembly, basic human rights, and a constitutional structure enabling free elections.
