ASEAN and the UN Security Council (UNSC) must immediately join forces to move beyond the current Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and coordinate effective actions to cease the Myanmar military junta’s escalating atrocity crimes, said Progressive Voice (PV), Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).

While ASEAN continues to bar junta representatives from Summits and Foreign Ministers’ Meetings (AFMM) and AFMM has made a pledge in the Joint Communique issued on 13 July to a long-overdue comprehensive review of the 5PC prior to the ASEAN Summit on 4 – 7 September, the 5PC and ASEAN’s overall approach remain disappointingly ineffective and unenforceable without a pivot to more decisive and concerted actions, the groups said today.

The review on the 5PC must focus on decisive steps to halt the illegal junta’s atrocity crimes and threats to human security. ASEAN and the international community, particularly the UN and Myanmar’s neighboring countries, must exclude the junta from meetings at all levels unless they risk lending false legitimacy to the illegal military and thus being complicit in the military’s atrocity crimes. Only the National Unity Government (NUG) legitimately represents the Myanmar people and must be included at regional and international stages.

Reconstruction of the 5PC and ASEAN’s overarching approach must be top priority. It should be rooted in civil society’s Five Counter Points. The review on the 5PC would ring hollow and only further undermine ASEAN’s credibility absent formal and meaningful inclusion of Myanmar’s legitimate stakeholders, including the NUG and Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs). ASEAN must further ensure any engagements with Myanmar stakeholders are substantial and transparent, particularly the ASEAN Chair’s claim of 110 engagements.

Concerted actions among ASEAN and the international community are urgently needed to stop the junta-initiated pilot project to forcibly return 7,000 Rohingyas to the killing fields. In addition, ASEAN must stop channeling humanitarian aid through the junta, and instead partner with the NUG and EROs. It must shift support towards local civil society and community-based organizations and local humanitarian responders, who have been effectively providing assistance to the most vulnerable communities.

Khin Ohmar, Founder and Chairperson of Progressive Voice, stated: “Over the past two years, we have stressed the failure of the Five-Point Consensus, especially since it was implemented without consultation with or consent by the Myanmar people. While the bloc’s decision to review the Consensus is a step in the right direction, ASEAN must ensure that this process is rectified and upholds democratic principles. ASEAN must include voices of legitimate representatives of Myanmar and the Spring Revolution. Otherwise, it will face immediate dismissal and condemnation by the Myanmar people.

“This decision alone is however not enough. Together with the UN Security Council, ASEAN must take a more assertive approach to cease the junta’s atrocity crimes, reject its claim to legitimacy, reflect the people’s aspiration to topple military tyranny and establish a federal democratic Myanmar.”

Debbie Stothard, Founder and Coordinator of ALTSEAN-Burma, stated: “The magnitude and the severity of atrocities in Myanmar require the UN Security Council to impose a global arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions. Without the back-up from the Council, regional leadership continues to fail and the junta will continue to be a threat to regional peace and stability.

“Local humanitarian networks have been effectively providing life-saving aid to communities in direst needs in the face of the junta’s terror campaign. ASEAN and the international community must increase practical resources with flexible funding to further their essential work.”

Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA, stated: “Civil society — at the regional and international levels — has been constantly calling for ASEAN to review the 5PC, to make it more aligned with the will of the people of Myanmar and the ongoing efforts at the UN level. From this point, ASEAN should no longer be working in silos. It must work with the NUG — Myanmar’s legitimate government — and the international community in its responses.

“As the Chair of ASEAN 2023 until this December, Indonesia must lay down its legacy to bring the ASEAN response for Myanmar to a more robust, meaningful, and tangible action. Failure to do so will only reaffirm that ASEAN is irrelevant to the Myanmar people’s struggle and to everyone calling for a better promotion and protection of human rights in the region.”

– END –

For more information, please contact:

• Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, info@progressive-voice.org
• Debbie Stothard, Founder and Coordinator, ALTSEAN Burma, debbie@altsean.org
• Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA, communication@forum-asia.org

Progressive Voice is a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization rooted in civil society, that maintains strong networks and relationships with grassroots organizations and community-based organizations throughout Myanmar. https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/

Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) is an NGO working to support national and grassroots movements of Burma/Myanmar working for human rights and democracy. We were formed in October 1996 by a diverse network of ASEAN-based organizations and individuals at the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma held in Bangkok to strengthen connections and solidarity between activists from Burma and those struggling against repressive regimes in ASEAN. www.altsean.org

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organizations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and a consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org

Related materials:

• Civil Society Position Paper Reviewing and Reframing the ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, 5 May 2023
• Open letter to ASEAN leaders: Move beyond the Five-Point Consensus to immediately address the crisis in Myanmar, 3 May 2023
• Press release: Concerted actions needed from ASEAN and UN lest Myanmar military junta remains regional stability threat, 22 November 2022

 

 

This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.

 

For immediate release

22 June 2023

Human rights defenders across Asia suffer numerous violations

FORUM-ASIA launches a new report highlighting the many forms of injustice and harassment endured by human rights defenders working in Asia.

• In 2021 and 2022, as many as 1,636 violations were committed against human rights defenders across 22 monitored Asian countries.
• The highest number of violations were logged in Myanmar, followed by Thailand and India.
• Pro-democracy defenders were the most targeted group, followed by women human rights defenders.
• Judicial harassment was the most reported violation, with 1,033 documented cases.
• This was followed by physical violence, with 516 recorded cases, including 84 cases of targeted killings. Media workers were the most affected by this kind of violation.
• Incidents of intimidation and threats were also persistent, with 316 recorded cases.

 

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—At least 4,450 human rights defenders–including their families, organisations, and communities–were affected by violations perpetrated by state and non-state actors across 22 monitored Asian countries in 2021 and 2022.

Such findings are based on ‘Defending in Numbers: Rising Together Against All Odds,’ a biennial publication by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), which identifies the patterns of harassment experienced by defenders in Asia.

The publication analyses evidence captured by FORUM-ASIA’s Asian HRD Portal, a database for documenting violations against defenders in the region. It also provides recommendations for governments, UN agencies, and corporations on how to better support defenders.

In recent years, the promotion of human rights in Asia has encountered significant hurdles as long-standing issues were compounded by new challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as drastic political changes and turmoil that shook the region. This has created a hostile environment for those engaged in human rights work. Nevertheless, defenders have boldly persisted in their pursuit of justice and equality.

‘In 2021 and 2022, human rights defenders adapted to unprecedented contexts and confirmed their role as key agents in the advancement of human rights in the region. It is lamentable that 25 years since the unanimous adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, this report that chronicles the continuing rights violations of defenders in Asia, will be launched,’ said Mary Aileen D. Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.

 

Violations against defenders

Any person who protects and promotes human rights through peaceful means is a defender, such as pro-democracy defenders; women human rights defenders; media workers; SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) rights defenders; land, indigenous, environmental, and community-based defenders; student and youth defenders; non-governmental organisations; minority rights defenders; and artists.

Defenders put their own lives–as well as their families–at risk as they protect fundamental freedoms; document human rights violations; and investigate and expose wrongdoings.

At least half of the harassment against Asian defenders was related to judicial harassment. This included arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of a free trial, and charges or judicial actions which intimidate, interfere, or undermine the rights and activities of defenders.

Physical violence was the second most reported violation, followed by intimidation and threats. Other widely documented cases included administrative harassment, restrictions of movement, vilification, and abduction.

 

Call to action

FORUM-ASIA has been raising the alarm on the abuse faced by defenders working across Asia. In the period under review, pro-democracy defenders were the most targeted group, followed by women human rights defenders.

We have consistently demanded for the protection of all defenders, recognizing their crucial role in advancing human rights and strengthening civic space. In Myanmar, for example, defenders–including teachers and students–have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement to counter the attempted coup. In Afghanistan, women human rights defenders have been leading protests against the Taliban’s severe restrictions. And in Sri Lanka, youth defenders and activists have non-violently demanded the resignation of the nation’s top leaders over their mismanagement of the economy.

‘It is of paramount importance to recognize the role of human rights defenders and support them. In this regard, a noteworthy case is that of Khurram Parvez–a leading defender from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) – now arbitrarily detained due to his peaceful work. He was listed among the 100 most influential persons of the year 2022 by Time Magazine. Khurram has been held in pretrial detention since November 2021. In early 2023, he became a Martin Ennals Award laureate,’ said Bacalso.

FORUM-ASIA urges governments to uphold their international obligations–particularly under the UN Declaration on HRDs–to support and protect defenders, enabling them to freely and safely do their work and advocacies without fear, intimidation, and harassment.

We also call for the immediate release and dropping of charges against all detained defenders.

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The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development, and solidarity actions. It has a consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and a consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

For media inquiries, kindly contact communication@forum-asia.org. Download the full report here.

This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.