By Eva Cheng
Some 80 representatives from over 40 organisations from 20 countries met in the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok over October 29-30 for the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma.
The meeting denounced both the persistent gross violation of human rights in Burma under the illegal State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) regime and the active support it has received from ASEAN governments. It also declared an alternative position platform for human rights and democratic transformation in Burma, representing 76 people's organisations, mostly based in ASEAN countries.
A program of action was adopted to bring about these objectives. It includes a synchronised campaign at the regional, national and local levels to educate and mobilise people's organisations and social movements in active solidarity with the Burmese activists. An alternative ASEAN network on Burma and a secretariat will be formed to facilitate implementation of the action plan.
In its formal resolution, the alternative meeting warned of the grave consequences of the ASEAN meeting next July approving the SLORC's application for membership, saying the move would amount to giving the SLORC "a de facto licence to continue its attacks on the peoples of Burma". An immediate objective of the alternative network is to mobilise grass roots support to block the SLORC's application.
The alternative meeting was organised by FORUM — ASIA and the Philippines-based Initiatives for International Dialogue, in cooperation with the Program for the Promotion of Non-Violence, Burma Solidarity Group Malaysia, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma, the National Council of the Union of Burma and the Federation of Trade Unions — Burma.
The Alternative Network secretariat can be reached on: telephone 66 2 276 9846, 276 9847; fax 66 2 276 2183; or email: chalida@mozart.inet.co.th.