The following letter was sent individually to all ASEAN foreign ministers.
We are writing this open letter to urge you to use your government's influence as an ASEAN member to persuade Burma's State Peace and Development Council to end the current standoff with Aung San Suu Kyi.
In clear violation of the fundamental freedoms of assembly, association, and movement, SPDC officials have since August 24 barred an NLD delegation comprising Aung San Suu Kyi, Tin Oo, and other party members and supporters from meeting with NLD staff in Kungyangon. A government statement claimed that the delegation was stopped due to "threats of violence by armed insurgent separatist forces" and noted that the group had been urged to return to Rangoon. The NLD members have refused to return to the capital and have been living in a field alongside the road for six days. In a similar attempt to leave the city in August 1998, Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members lived from their car for close to two weeks.
We are aware of discussions within ASEAN about the possible creation of a human rights body. Persuading the SPDC to lift restrictions on the country's most prominent opposition leader would be a useful demonstration by ASEAN members of their commitment to upholding basic freedoms. In statements to the Bangkok press, Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan voiced his concern that the confrontation in Burma "may affect the image of ASEAN as a whole" and could sour the December ASEAN-E.U. foreign ministers meeting. We urge you to add your voice to his.
Yours sincerely,
Sidney Jones
Director, Asia Division
