28.01.2007
A Review Of The 12th ASEAN Summit Meeting
_ By Hkun Hom
At the recent 12th ASEAN Summit meetings held at Cebu Island, Philippines, 10-15 January 2007, it could not avoid being haunted by the misbehavior of Myanmar, which continues to display a bad-boy image in the family of 10-Nation Club.
Ever since its inception 40 years ago, it seems to have made some progress for the past 20 years as a positive contribution to the economic development of the 10 ASEAN Nations. But it is still nowhere near to the EU model which it tries to emulate. This is because one of its member nations continues to breach Universal Human Rights Accord of the United Nations. Not any ethical and decent nation in the international community will accept human rights violation with such an incredible impunity, except of course some few major world powers, under the pretext of counter insurgency and terrorism against the ethnic nationalities of Burma, who merely are fighting for their constitutional and democratic rights.
Human right violation in Myanmar is seriously affecting peace and harmony of its neighboring countries including Thailand, Laos, China and India. There is a serious threat of this internal conflict and civil war developing into regional conflagration. Recent actions by veto wielding powers are begging it to happen. Unless responsible major powers that be are able to come to grips with the military regime who is treading dangerously on a collision course with the ethnic freedom resistance movement, the conflict will continue unabated.
With this in view, the Interim Shan Government has a compelling reason to urge ASEAN members to seriously amend its HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER, which is long overdue, as one of its guiding principles to incorporate human and social values as overriding factors in the overall development of nations for peace, justice and prosperity. Until and unless this is accomplished, the military regime will continue to shield its ill-will under the pretext of “non interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state”. On the other hand one should remember former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s words: “Human Rights know no boundaries”.
At this 12th ASEAN Summit meeting, the Philippine Foreign Minister Alberto Romulus is urging Burma to step up its effort for democratic reform. However the Interim Shan Government regards this will have very little consequences on the military regime that is digging in to consolidate its power for a long time to come. Their tactics, including that of ongoing National Convention, are just trying to bluff international community into believing what their intentions are, but they are trying just to buy time.
Shan People don’t see prospects of change coming soon, notwithstanding recent setbacks at the UNSC resolution on Burma, nor there will be olive branch for reconciliation with any ethnic insurgency groups because of their (the Burmese military regime) ulterior motives to dominate and assimilate them for ever against their will.
[Khun Hom is one of the Shan elders who declared Interim Shan Government, Federated Shan States, a few years ago.]
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