Burma’s Democracy Leaders Hold Parliamentary Hearings in Kuala Lumpur

Burma’s Democracy Leaders Hold Parliamentary Hearings in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysian MPs Support Call for National Reconciliation


Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team of the Ten Alliances

For Immediate Release

8 July 2010

Representatives of the Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement held hearings in both the Lower and Upper houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 7 and 8 July, respectively. Based on the undemocratic flaws in the 2008 Constitution and the military regime’s unjust election laws, the delegation called for the government of Malaysia to denounce this year’s elections unless the military regime changes course.

“Elections in Burma cannot be free, fair or inclusive as long as political prisoners such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are kept behind bars, ethnic communities are being attacked by the military, and the regime refuses to engage in dialogue with key stakeholders in the country. If the regime refuses to meet these benchmarks, Malaysia and countries around the world must denounce these elections as the sham they are,” said Ma Khin Ohmar, Foreign Affairs Secretary of Forum for Democracy in Burma, and member of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team (FACT) of the Ten Alliances.

In the Lower House of Parliament, the delegation met with Minister in Prime Minister's Department Dato' Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, Opposition Parliamentary Leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Senior Opposition Leader and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) Malaysia Chapter Chairperson YB Lim Kit Siang.

Members of AIPMC expressed their support for the NLD and other democratic parties who decided not to run in the election, and endorsed the democracy movement’s call for inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation. The MPs also called on ASEAN to suspend Burma’s membership in the bloc if the military regime does not uphold the principles of democracy, abide by the ASEAN Charter, and release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

“These elections will not be a step forward for Burma or the region. The new government will be built on the broken foundation of a deeply flawed constitution—written by the military, for the military. It won’t take long for this unsteady house to break apart and for the effects of another autocratic regime to be felt throughout the region.So we will boycott this elections.” said Hkun Okker, Joint General Secretary (3) of the National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB).

Khin Ohmar and Hkun Okker were joined by U Win Hlaing, MP-Elect, National League for Democracy, Ma Khin San Htwe, representative from the Women’s League of Burma, and Ko Moe Zaw Oo, Coordinator of FACT.

The Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement represent the most broad-based and multi-ethnic cooperation of political and civil society organizations from inside and in exile working for national reconciliation, peace, and freedom in Burma.


Download the Burmese version of the Press Release.

For more information, please contact:

Khin Ohmar, Foreign Affairs Secretary of Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB): +66 (0)818840772 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +66 (0)818840772 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Thailand) / +6019-2306995 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +6019-2306995 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Malaysia)

Moe Zaw Oo, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team (FACT): +66 (0)877735580 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +66 (0)877735580 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Thailand) / +6019-2306995 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +6019-2306995 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Malaysia)