'Non-interference would abdicate responsibility'<\/p>\n
Myanmar is to take over the rotational chairmanship of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year. This
\nhas become a source of great concern within the region while the
\ncountry's leading figure of dissent, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of
\nthe popular National League for Democracy, is still under house
\narrest. On Wednesday in Jakarta, legislators from seven member
\ncountries of ASEAN launched the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus
\non Myanmar. Following are excerpts of an interview with the
\ncaucus president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim of Malaysia's ruling UMNO
\nparty, who talked to The Jakarta Post's Ivy Susanti and Ati
\nNurbaiti.<\/p>\n
Question: What is the strategy of the caucus given that it is
\nrelatively small and comprises only a few individual legislators?<\/p>\n
Answer: Numbers are not that important, (our grouping) is just
\na start. What's important is that all the legislators must convey
\n(caucus) views to their governments. If Myanmar isn't going to
\nchange (regarding efforts towards democratization and the release
\nof Aung San Suu Kyi) then we should not give them the
\nchairmanship of ASEAN.<\/p>\n
I told my foreign minister (Syed Hamid Albar) that we would
\nlook ridiculous. We fought for democracy. Having ASEAN chaired by
\nthis kind of leadership, even though it's only a rotation (of
\nleadership among the member countries), would not be acceptable.<\/p>\n
I will try to raise a motion in my parliament's next sitting
\n(to have Malaysia reject Myanmar's chairmanship of ASEAN) and
\nhope that other (Southeast Asian) countries will follow suit.<\/p>\n
But governments of ASEAN still adhere to the principle of non-
\ninterference ...<\/p>\n
We've actually always interfered (in various matters) through
\nexpressions of views. And \"constructive engagement\" (a principle
\ndeveloped in ASEAN in relation to Myanmar) has not worked.<\/p>\n
There are times when we have no other choice (than to
\ninterfere) -- like when a conduct of a nation affects the
\ninterests of others in a fundamental way, we must speak up for
\nour common beliefs.<\/p>\n
In such cases \"non-interference\" would be an abdication of
\nresponsibility regarding violations of human rights.
\nSo why has it taken so long for lawmakers in ASEAN to take up
\nthis issue together?<\/p>\n
I'm not sure if it's a cultural thing. But you must remember
\nthat before there were fewer members in ASEAN (now there are 10
\nmembers including Myanmar). As you get bigger there are more
\ncomplex issues. We have to change.<\/p>\n
We must express our views as members of the United Nations;
\ncivilized countries must stand up against gross violations (of
\nhuman rights). Look at Cambodia (during the period of the Khmer
\nRouge). If we hadn't done anything would that have been a good
\nthing?<\/p>\n
Do you support the idea of Indonesia's deputy of the
\ninterparliamentary caucus, Ade Nasution, that the caucus should
\nuse the services of the current chairman of the Human Rights
\nCommission at the UN, Indonesia's Makarim Wibisono?<\/p>\n
We support that idea. Indonesia is the largest democracy in
\nthe region, so it must lead (regarding the issue of Myanmar) and
\nit has all the credentials to do so. What's needed is continuous,
\nconcerted pressure from the global community; (especially) now
\nthat the Burma (Myanmar) issue is being sidetracked by the issue
\nof Iraq and others.<\/p>\n
(Ibrahim earlier told a limited gathering: \"Look at Europe.
\nSome 50 years after World War II the countries managed to come
\ntogether. We also want to have something like that, to prosper
\ntogether ...\")<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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