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No aid to military regimes and repression in Burma, Nepal and Phillipines
The Reality of Aid Network, Mumbai - May 25, 2005
We, the representatives of various organisations and networks, gathered in the city of Mumbai on May 23-27, 2005 for the Asia-Pacific and the South Asia meeting of the Reality of Aid Network, are seriously concerned with the worsening human rights situations and military repressions in Burma, Nepal and the Philippines.
On Burma
We are concerned by the increased militarisation and worsening political situation under the present Burmese regime. The arrests of Hkun Htun Oo of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and other Shan political leaders who remain in prison even today, the pressure on the ceasefire groups to disarm, intensified anti-insurgency operations in the ethnic areas such as mass forced relocation and the fierce military offensive along Thai-Burma border which have led to refugees along the neighbouring countries of Thailand, Bangladesh and India, the continuing and systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the ethnic areas and the increase of a high number of internally displaced persons.
These situations clearly show that Burmese military regime is the root cause of all humanitarian crises in Burma, including increase in poverty, forced labour as well as economic and environmental destruction. The people of Burma will not benefit from any aid unless there is a political reform followed by the establishment of the rule of law and the local people's rights to their land and resources.
Demands Therefore, we demand the international community to:
1.
Stop all trade and investment in Burma until there is a genuine democratic
transformation;
2.
Stop all aid programmes implemented through the military regime in Burma;
3.
Stop funding international financial institutions, particularly the Asian
Development Bank, who are supporting the military regime directly or indirectly;
and
4.
Not allow Burmese military regime from taking over the presidency of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) or any significant role
in this forum.
On Nepal
The political situation and military repression in Nepal, particularly after the February 1 Royal military coup by King Gyanendra, has deteriorated. We are also alarmed with the growing trend of the resumption of arms supply and development aid when the people and the political parties of Nepal are still fighting against the most dictatorial and illegitimate regime that Nepal has ever had -- one that has perpetuated gross violations of human rights, the killing of innocent civilians and the suppression of even peaceful political activities.
We are concerned that the Government of India has recently decided to resume the pending supply of arms, and that there are now reports of the UK also supplying arms covertly. It is of further concern that the international community is continuing with business as usual -- the World Bank is resuming loans and Japan is continuously engaged in 'development cooperation' with the regime. We are also concerned that the US is preventing the peace process by declaring the Maoists as "terrorists" and giving its full support to the dictatorial King and the brutal Royal Nepalese Army.
Demands
We,
therefore, demand the following from Nepal's aid giving countries till
the country is fully restored to sovereign, inclusive, representative and
democratic political process: 1. Suspend all aid and assistance to the
Royal military regime;
2.
Stop the supply of arms and any military aid, including training to the
Royal Nepalese Army, as they have been widely used against the civilians
and suppress political activities;
3.
Support peace negotiations, and if necessary, with the involvement of the
United Nations or other neutral agencies or countries as being demanded
by the people of Nepal.
In addition, the donors and neighbouring countries of Nepal must put their continuous pressure on the Royal military regime for: a. an immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience, including human rights activists and journalists, b. lift restrictions on travel and other fundamental rights, stop the killings of civilians and extra-judicial killings of the Maoists or their sympathisers even after their capture, and c. the investigations of all forms violations of human rights and ensure punishment to perpetrators with effective remedies such as compensation and rehabilitation to victims and survivors.
On the Philippines
We are alarmed that activists and political dissenters are being killed, abducted, and harassed with impunity and at an unprecedented rate and scale. Twenty-four (24) leaders and members of progressive organizations such as Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance), Karapatan (the national human rights organization), Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR), and political party lists of the Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis have been murdered and six, disappeared involuntarily since January 2005.
We are likewise disturbed with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's total silence and inaction notwithstanding the fact that the military and police are implicated in nearly all of these assaults on human rights and civil liberties.
We are equally concerned that judges, lawyers and church people, in particular, who have taken up the cudgels for their oppressed clients or constituents, are becoming a frequent target. Lawyers view these brazen attacks as undermining the practice of law and the ability of lawyers to fulfill their sworn obligation to serve their clients, particularly the peasants and workers, to the fullest.
The killing of journalists since 2001 continues unabated. All but one of these murders remain unsolved, bringing the death toll to 29 as of March 24, 2005. The cases championed by the crusading media people have focused on corruption and gambling. After their fact-finding mission in the Philippines, the International Federation of Journalists concluded that the Philippines has become the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, second to war-torn Iraq.
These political killings are seen in the context of the growing protest of a broad range of people who are discontented about the rising prices of basic commodities, the low wages, the big cutback on social services -- thus giving rise to the clamor of the people to oust her regime. President Gloria Arroyo and her military minions have thus chosen to crack down on mass organizations that she sees as the threat to her power.
Taken all together, these developments signal the drift of the Arroyo regime towards Marcosian ways and outright fascist form of rule. Propelled and encouraged by the US-promoted "war on terrorism" and stirring up anti-communist and anti-Muslim biases and hysteria once more, militarist forces in the Arroyo government have become more aggressive in pushing flagrantly fascist policies and measures. The regime clearly manifests lack of respect for basic freedoms and intolerance to critics, political dissenters and even members of the mainstream Opposition parties. It is escalating political repression.
Demands
1.
a stop to military aid supplied not only by the United States but any other
countries such as Japan, Australia, etc, to the Philippines; and
2.
an immediate inquiry with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the spate
of killings against supporters, leaders and members of institutions, legitimate
people's organizations, communities, and the media.
We call upon all people's organizations, groups, institutions to endorse this statement.
Endorsements
The statement can also be found at on our website at: www.aidwatch.org.au. See groups below for people already signed on. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Sharni
Chan for AID/WATCH
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