August 30: Today marks the fifteen-month anniversary of the “Depayin” massacre in Burma, in which scores of National League for Democracy (NLD) members were brutally killed by the regime’s militias, hundreds of NLD members
including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman U Tin Oo were placed in detention, and NLD offices were forced to shut down.

In light of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Burma, we, exiled Burmese democracy activists would like to express our appreciation to the European Union for its consistent call to exclude Burma’s military regime from the upcoming ASEM summit, scheduled on Oct 8-9 in Hanoi, Vietnam. We
request the EU to maintain this position as EU did in the last months by canceling two meetings with ASEAN finance ministers.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement on August 17, 2004, expressing his frustration over the lack of progress in Burma’s national reconciliation process. The Secretary-General called for Burma’s military regime to immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all
political prisoners; engage the NLD and other political parties in substantive dialogue; and allow his special envoy to return to Burma to continue his facilitation efforts.

Kofi Annan even called for neighboring countries, especially from ASEAN member states to play leading role in counseling the regime to accelerate the process of national reconciliation and democratization.  As UN Secretary-General increases his diplomatic pressure on the regime and neighboring countries, it is important at this moment for the EU to maintain its position of refusing Burma to join in the upcoming ASEM summit, if the regime doesn’t release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo and all political prisoners.

We respect the EU for placing human rights and democracy as its first priorities and standing firmly to promote and protect human rights worldwide. We believe that the EU should continue to persuade ASEAN countries not to support the military regime. The decision and determination of the EU to exclude Burmese military regime from the ASEM
summit will strengthen the call of the UN Secretary General and help ASEAN’s countries to realize the failure of their constructive engagement policy in dealing with the Burmese military regime.

We urge your Excellency to take a collective decision with your fellow ministers in the upcoming September meeting of EU Council of Foreign Ministers to maintain the EU’s present stance.