Lonely 60th birthday for democracy icon 

 

Academics and civic groups yesterday demanded that Burma be denied the right to take the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year. 

They said this would send a strong message to the junta over its suppression of the freedom of the Burmese people and violation of their human rights. 

 

The call came alongside demands from world leaders, Nobel laureates and intellectuals who appealed for the immediate release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who turned 60 yesterday, her third consecutive birthday while under house arrest. 

 

The Nobel peace laureate has now had her movements restricted for nine of the last 16 years. 

 

Speaking at a Thammasat University forum, “Looking ahead for Burma and Asean”, held to mark Mrs Suu Kyi’s birthday, Asda Jayanama, former Thai ambassador to the United Nations, said it was time for Asean countries to adopt a collective stand against Burma‘s junta. 

 

He said its policies on the economy, ethnic minorities and border strategies had affected the whole of Asean. 

 

Some member states, such as Malaysia and the Philippines, have begun a campaign to pressure Rangoon to forego the rotating role of Asean chairman unless it releases Mrs Suu Kyi. 

 

“If Burma does not agree to withdraw, it is likely that we won’t see delegates from Western countries at the Asean Regional Summit, or they may send only low-ranking representatives,” he said. 

 

When Asean initially considered Burma joining the grouping, one reason was to act as a balance to China‘s influence in the region. It had since become clear that Burma was using its membership simply to shield itself from Western criticism. 

 

It was clear that Burma had absolutely no interest in becoming a “mainstream” Southeast Asian nation, he said. 

 

“What then did Asean get from Burma‘s entry? Actually nothing, except problems,” Mr Asda said. “Burma never respects Asean’s rules and even tried to get Asean to adjust to its own needs. And Asean just let that happen. 

 

“If we compare Asean to a dog, and Burma as its tail, it seems that the tail is now wagging the dog,” Mr Asda said. 

 

There was also sharp criticism of Bangkok‘s policy of appearing strongly supportive of the Burmese junta. 

 

Mr Asda said the government does not have a clear stance or consistent policies on issues relating to Burma. This was due to business interests, including satellites and communications, casinos and hotel construction by influential figures in the world of Thai politics. 

 

“Some leading cabinet members have often defended the junta, or even made positive comments about them as though they were some kind of spokesman,” Mr Asda said. 

 

Kavi Chongkijthavorn, representing the media, said if the government’s policy towards Burma had remained firm over the past five years, three important things could have taken place in Burma. 

 

“Firstly, Burma could have become democratic, it could have become a good Asean member, and it could have become a good coordinator in the world community,” he said. 

 

The inconsistent policy of the Thaksin government on Burma had actually helped Burma within Asean in some respects, despite the fact that the country had failed to abide by the grouping’s rules, he said. 

 

Sunee Chairot, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, urged the government to be more sympathetic towards women and children in Burma, who had been victims of rape, or forced to work. 

 

“Information on these victims is kept secret so it rarely reaches the public,” she said. “Rape takes place daily, on purpose and systematically, with thousands of vulnerable women and children falling victim. It is clear the junta has used sexual violence as a weapon to combat ethnic minorities. 

 

“ That is unacceptable, and we need to provide full assistance to the victims instead of helping the junta to hide the truth,” she said. 

 

Thammasat University yesterday awarded Mrs Suu Kyi an honorary doctorate in political science in recognition of her “goodness and character”, which serves as an example to the world. 

 

Daw San San, secretary-general of the National League for Democracy, represented Mrs Suu Kyi at the ceremony. 

 

“If she were here, she would say she is not receiving this honour for herself but for the people of Burma,” she said. 

 

“This honorary doctorate can be seen as a message of hope from the people of Thailand to the people of Burma.”