MPs push for Myanmar democratization

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