Statement by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Tanjong, Lim Kit Siang
Badawi should meet with Aung San Suu Kyi during his first official visit to Myanmar to show that Malaysia and ASEAN are not oblivious to the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people
The statement by the Foreign Minister, Datuk Abdullah Badawi in Yangon yesterday that Myanmar should be allowed to solve its internal problems is unsupportable if it means that Malaysia is completely unconcerned about grave violations of human rights and draconian repression of democratic freedoms in that country.
In the final analysis, every country must solve its own problems, but this cannot justify other countries closing their eyes or shutting their conscience to gross violations of human rights and draconian repression of democratic freedoms, especially when such a stand would be unfaithful to Malaysia’s proud record of standing and speaking up against such gross abuses whether in apartheid South Africa, Bosnia-Herzegovina or in Israel-occupied Palestine.
It will be a big disappointment if during his first official visit to Myanmar, Abdullah Badawi fails to raise the issue of democratisation and national reconciliation in Burma with the leaders of State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and to send a clear message that Myanmar’s admission as an ASEAN member must be influenced by an assessment as to whether ASEAN’s eight-year “constructive engagement” policy had helped to improve the democratic situation in the country.
“Prosper Thy Neighbour” should not become “Enslave Thy People” policy
Abdullah Badawi said in Yangon yesterday that Malaysia had adopted a “prosper thy neighbour” policy, where positive economic contributions to Myanmar would not only help speed up development in that country but also contribute to overall development of the region.
However, just as “prosper thy neighbour” policy cannot and should not apply in cases like apartheid South Africa, where there is gross violations of human rights, it should also not be allowed to justify rampant corruption among the ruling elites as well as lop-sided, ruthless and rootless growth which disregard the best welfare of the populace as well as future generations.
Furthermore, “Prosper thy neighbour” policy should not be allowed to degenerate into an “Enslave thy people” policy.
For these reasons, Abdullah Badawi should make it clear to SLORC that calls by the Philippines and Thai Governments for a review of Myanmar’s entry to ASEAN next year are not isolated views, but have the increasing support of public opinion in ASEAN and that ASEAN governments and that governments which support Myanmar’s entry into ASEAN next year owe a full, satisfactory and proper accounting to their people.
ASEAN nations and peoples would not bow down to pressures from Western nations whether on the issue of Burma or other international questions, whether in terms of tactics or strategy, but ASEAN nations must cherish their integrity and credibility as international players who are as concerned as Western nations in their concern and respect for human rights.
Abdullah Badawi should meet with the Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Prize Laureaute, Aung San Suu Kyi, during his first official visit to Myanmar to show that Malaysia and ASEAN are not oblivious to the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people.
(21/10/96)