MPs push for Myanmar democratization

JAKARTA: Parliamentary members from ASEAN countries convened here on Wednesday to discuss a series of campaigns for democratic changes in Myanmar.

The parliamentarians, grouped in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, launched a one-year program of cooperation with the main agenda being to ensure that the Myanmar government made significant progress towards democratization.

Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, an Indonesian legislator participating in the caucus, said the membership of the caucus is open to all members of ASEAN parliaments.

The caucus is concerned about political conditions in Myanmar, which will assume the chair of ASEAN in 2006.

The caucus was set up in November last year, and consists of parliamentarians from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. -- JP