The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) said that the extention of Suu Kyi’s detention under house arrest is another “sign of cowardice” and insincerity of Burma’s junta government to truly institute fundamental democratic changes in the said territory.
An regional non-government organization involved in advocating for genuine peace, justice and democracy in military ruled Burma today denounced the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the name of the military government in Burma, after the latter extended for another year the detention of Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) which is based in the Philippines said that the extention of Suu Kyi’s detention under house arrest is another “sign of cowardice” and insincerity of Burma’s junta government to truly institute fundamental democratic changes in the said territory.
Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since May of 2003, following a bloody clash between her supporters and pro-junta mob where the junta with its truckloads of hired thugs attacked a motorcade rally led by the opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD).
“The problem with the junta government has always been its refusal to correct, nay acknowledge its mistakes. It finds telling lies to the international community a comfortable pastime and preserves nothing but its personal interests. Suu Kyi has been in and out of house arrests since 1989 despite domestic and international condemnation. More than a decade after, the ruling generals, still find detaining Suu Kyi a good habit. But there is no way they can make this acceptable to the international community. This is unjustified. ” IID Executive Director Gus Miclat said.
He added, “The SPDC has a mouth designed to articulate lies. It parrots and brags in front of many nations its so-called roadmap to democracy but in reality, it is incessantly crafting ways to further block any genuine road to such.”
IID also issued criticism on the reported release of more than 9,000 inmates who were freed at the day of the ASEAN summit in Laos.
“Of 9,248 inmates they announced released, it is disgusting to know that only 40 of them are political prisoners while the remaining are common criminals. It is obvious that the junta released these prisoners to beguile ASEAN that it is proceeding with reforms after cosmetic regime change. We just hope that the ASEAN would not be easily swayed by the junta’s cheap strategy,” Miclat stressed.
The IID reiterated its call to block Burma as chair of ASEAN in 2006 and oust Burma as a member of the grouping if no reforms will be instituted to achieve genuine democracy. They also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
The group also urged the Philippine government to make “critical engagement with Burma” instead of continuously adhering to the policy of non-interference which according to them, “is just a license being used by the military regime to escape from its supposed democratic responsibilities.”
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