Extension of Suu Kyi’s detention, Malaysia should lead ASEAN condemnation

Extension of Suu Kyi’s detention

Malaysia should lead ASEAN condemnation

YB LIM KIT SIANG, Malaysia’s DAP leader’s weblog

During the committee stage debate of the Foreign Ministry in Parliament this morning, I called on the Malaysian government to lead the ASEAN condemnation of the Myanmar military junta for the extension of detention of Burmese Opposition Leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi has been incarcerated for more than 13 years in the past 18 years, with the present five-year detention going back to the Depayin Massacre in May 2003.

At the time, the Malaysian Foreign Minister was in the forefront in publicly calling for her immediate release and the then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had even warned that Myanmar might be suspended or expelled from ASEAN if the military junta continued to defy regional and international opinion.

The Myanmese military junta now appeared to have the upper hand, with no condemnation or protest from Malaysia or ASEAN for the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention, making a complete mockery of the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN’s “constructive engagement” policy with Myanmar to initiate democratization and national reconciliation in Burma, the reason given by Malaysia for spearheading Myanmar’s entry into ASEAN in 1997.

Together with the sham referendum on May 10 and May 24, held when the country was hard hit by the cyclone Nargis disaster, claiming over 100,000 dead, some 250,000 missing and over two million victims, just to legitimize the undemocratic regime of the Myanmar military junta, Malaysia and ASEAN should lead instead of straggling behind international pressure to demand greater democratic change in Burma.

 Responses to “Extension of Suu Kyi’s detention – Malaysia should lead ASEAN condemnation”

1. TC33 Says:
   Yesterday at 19: 21.51 ON SUU KYI
   =========
   I sympatize with her situation. And Malaysia government must lead other ASEAN countries to condemn Myanmar military junta.
2. PSM Says:
   Yesterday at 19: 39.50 Bro Kit, we can’t even get the Malaysian Parliment to debate the problems we have in Sabah. What chance do you think we have of Malaysia (read: UMNO) leading ASEAN (the most irrelevant Group in the world!) in condemning Suu Kyi’s detention extension?!
   A BIG ZERO!
3. undergrad2 Says:
   Yesterday at 20: 29.13 When the military junta ruling Myanmar refused to accept foreign aid in the initial stages apparently because they didn’t want the world to know of the full devastation caused by the cyclone, there was talk in the U.S. Congress about ASEAN being the conduit for such supplies to get to where they are needed most.Here was an opportunity for Malaysia as an ASEAN member to do something! ASEAN is today not very much more than a cultural association that it used to be.

   Condemning the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi is best left to countries like the United States. We are no better than the junta ruling Myanmar. How many are in incarceration without charge and trial today? Our human rights record is not very much better.

4. donng55 Says:
   Yesterday at 21: 22.55 We should give Tun Dr. Mahathir the honor to lead the ASEAN condemnation of the Myanmar military junta, for it was his stroke that has plunged ASEAN and the region into this embarrassing situation. Remember he was the one who insisted that Myanmar be allowed to join the regional grouping. Tun, please be our guest … godspeed!