Asian NGOs’ Statement before the Special HRC Session on Myanmar
Wednesday, 03 October 2007
In a joint statement before the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Session on Myanmar, FORUM-ASIA and 14 other non-goverment organizations in Asia urge the Council to send a high-level fact-finding mission to Myanmar and push for its ongoing presence in the country. The statement was endorsed by 243 national and regional non-government organizations.

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
5TH SPECIAL SESSION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION ON MYANMAR
OCTOBER 2, 2007
NGO JOINT STATEMENT
Read by Aung Myo Min
Thank you, Mr. President,

 This is a joint statement on behalf of:
1.Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
2.International NGO Forum on Indonesia Development (INFID)
3.Pax Romana – International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs and International Movement of Catholic Students)
4.People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
5.Peace Boat
6.MINBYUN- Lawyers for Democratic Society
7.International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
8.Asian Indegeneous and Tribal People’s Network (AITPN)
9.Ain O Salish Kendro (Ask)
10.Law and Mediation Centre
11.Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
12.Earth Rights International
13.International Women’s Rights Action Watch (IWRAW)
14.Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Asia
15.Tebtebba Foundation (Indigenous People’s International Centre for Policy Research and Education)

I am also addressing you as a human rights defender from Burma.
We warmly welcome the decision of the Council to convene its fifth special session “On the human rights situation in Myanmar.” It is only right that the Council react immediately to the brutal attacks on unarmed demonstrators in Burma/Myanmar that were beamed around the world last week. We have also been heartened by the expressions of concern from other key international actors including states, non-governmental organisations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
While welcoming the interest and initiative shown by the European Union on this issue, we regret the fact that Asian States, and in particular the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have not taken a firmer stand. In this regard, we welcome the statement from the Philippines earlier today, but respectfully suggest that the time for gentle encouragement has long passed.
We are also concerned that the current draft resolution fails to acknowledge both the significance of the recent protests and the pervasive and systemic nature of the human rights abuses in Burma/Myanmar that forced the demonstrators to
take to the streets. We pay tribute to the untiring efforts of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to carry out his mandate, but the current crisis demands more than merely urging the Government of
Burma/Myanmar to allow him to visit the country.
We have urged the Council to adopt a twin-track approach in seeking to tackle the situation in Burma/Myanmar:
Firstly, a high-level fact-finding mission, led by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and other relevant mandate holders, is needed to thoroughly
investigate the recent crackdown, and to ensure that those responsible can be brought to justice.
In addition, we wish to see the Council pushing for an ongoing UN human rights presence on the ground in Burma/Myanmar, so that the appalling human rights situation in the country can be more fully understood and analysed. Such a presence would also be essential to ensure follow-up to the findings and recommendations of the fact-finding mission. We are of course fully aware of the difficulties that the Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Myanmar has faced in even securing access to the country. We do, however, feel that the widespread condemnation of the
SPDC’s recent brutality provides an unprecedented opportunity to put pressure on the generals to cooperate with the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, and indeed with the broader United Nations system.
We are deeply concerned that the momentum established by the global outrage at the recent attacks and killings could be lost if the Council fails to seize this opportunity to speak out with a strong and unified voice.
The peoples of Burma have done their part. Lives and liberty have been lost in their struggle for democracy and human rights. We appeal to the Council to ensure that these sacrifices have not been in vain.
I thank you.
 
(This statement has been endorsed by 243 human rights organisations)
List of NGOs in the Asia Pacific region that have endorsed the Urgent Appeal to Asian Government on UN Human Rights
Council’s Special Session on Burma/Myanmar (Geneva, 2-3 October 2007) as at 1900 Bangkok time, 2nd October 2007:
Australia
1.Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
2.Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU)
3.National Council of Churches in Australia – Christian World Service (NCCA-CWS)
Bangladesh
4.Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)
5.Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (BAF)
6.Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA)
7.Odhikar
8.Resource Integration Centre (RIC)
Burma
9.1988 Students Generation
10.Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma (AAPP)
11.Association of Burma Ex-Political Prisoners (ABEP)
12.Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
13.Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)
14.Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB)
15.Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO)
16.Labour Union of Arakan (LUA)
17.Migrant Karen Labour Union (MKLU)
18.Matupi Students Union
19.National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
20.National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)
21.Overseas National Students’ Organisation of Burma
22.Rakhaing Patriotic Literature Club (RPLC)
23.Seafarers’ Union of Burma (SUB)
24.Women’s Leagues of Burma (WLB)
25.Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCOWA)
Cambodia
26.Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
27.Cambodia League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Hong Kong
28.Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
29.Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union
India

30.ADHIKAR, India
31.All Rabha Students’ Union
32.Boro Peoples’ Welfare Society
33.Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE)
34.Friend’s Association for Rural Reconstruction (FARR)
35.Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples North East Zone (ICITP-NEZ)
36.Indigenous Peoples Forum of North East India
37.Jaintia Students’ Federation
38.Legal Resources for Social Action (LRSA)
39.Mainao Welfare Society
40.Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS)
41.North East Women Network
42.People’s Watch
43.Rege-Regang
44.Self Employed Bodo Women’s Association
45.Shwe Gas Pipeline Campaign Committee
46.Society for Aie Valley and Manash Area Road Communication Development
47.Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI)
48.Aceh Judicial Monitoring Institute (AJMI)
49.Commission for the “Disappeared” and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS)
50.Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
51.Ikatan Keluarga Orang Hilang Indonesia (IKOHI)
52.Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (IMPARSIAL)
53.Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
54.Indonesian Solidarity for Burmese People
55.Institute for Policy, Research and Advocacy (ELSAM)
56.Institut Dayakologi
57.Migrant CARE
58.Sekretariat Anak Merdeka Indonesia (SAMIN)
59.Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI)
Japan
60.Ainu Resource Centre
61.Citizens’ Council for Human Rights
62.Global Campaign for Peace Education
63.Human Rights Now
64.Peace Boat
Malaysia
65.All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
66.Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
67.Center of Independent Journalism (CIJ)
68.Civil Rights Committee of The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
69.Empower (Pusat Janadaya)
70.Education and Research Association for Consumer (ERA Consumer)
71.Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)
72.Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
73.National Democratic Party for Human Rights (in exile)
74.National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (HAKAM)
75.Partners of Community organization (PACOS Trust)
76.Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF)
77.Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
78.Sisters in Islam (SIS)
79.Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
80.TENAGANITA
81.TIE Asia
82.Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
83.Women’s Development Collective (WDC) 

Mongolia

84.Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
85.Globe International (GI)
Nepal

86.Foundation for Democracy and Development
87.Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC)
88.Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)
89.National Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC)
90.Women’s Welfare Society (WWS)
Pakistan
91.Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
92.National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Philippines
93.AMIHAN, National Federation of Peasant Women
94.Citizens’ Council for Human Rights (CCHR)
95.Cordillera People’s Alliance
96.Free Burma Coalition (FBC)
97.Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
98.Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute
99.Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace)
100.Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI)
101.Lumad Peoples’ Movement of Peace, Power and Righteousness (KTKI)
102.Paglingkod Batas Pangkapapatiran Foundation (PBPF)
103.Paralegal Training and Services Center (PTSC)
104.Partners of Community Organisation (PACOS TRUST)
105.Philippines Alliance for Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
106.PILIPINA Legal Resources Center (PLRC)
107.Tanggol-Kalikasan-Public Interest Environmental Law Office
108.Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
109.Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly
Singapore
110.Think Centre
South Korea
111.Action for Disabled and Human Rights
112.Amnesty International, South Korea Section
113.Ansan Worker Human Rights Center
114.Asia Pacific Worker Solidarity Links (APWSL)
115.Association for Foreign Workers
116.Association for Imprisoned Workers
117.Buddhism Human Rights Committee
118.Buddhism Human Rights Commitment
119.Burma Action Korea
120.Busan Human Rights Center
121.Catholic Committee for Human Rights
122.Counter Globalization Action (CGA)
123.Cultural Action/MINKAHYUP Human Rights Group
124.Dasan Human Rights Center
125.Democratic Legal Studies Association
126.Disabled People’s International of Korea
127.Imagination for International Solidarity (IFIS)
128.Geochang Peace, Human-Right and Art Commitment
129.Human Rights Participatory Civil Solidarity
130.Human Rights Solidarity for New Society
131.Jeonbuk Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights
132.JINBO Korea
133.Joint Committee with Migrant in Korea (JCMK)
134.Korea Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU)
135.Korean Grand Alliance of Labor Union
136.Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS)
137.Korea Labor Network (KLN)
138.Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Centre (KSMCRC)
139.Korea Women’s Associations United (KWAU)
140.Korea Women’s Hot Line (KWHL)
141.KwangJu Human Rights Activities Center
142.Lawyers for a Democratic Society (MINBYUN)
143.May 18 Memorial Foundation
144.Meeting for Supporting Burma Democracy
145.National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Korea Branch
146.Network for Migrants Rights
147.Network for World without War
148.OhSan Worker Cultural Center
149.OhSan Dasom Church
150.People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
151.Protesting Against Poverty & Discrimination Solidarity for Human Rights
152.People’s Solidarity for Social Progress
153.SARANGBANG Group for Human Rights
154.Solidarity for Patriot
155.Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights of Asia
156.Solidarity for Human Rights of Gay in Korea
157.Solidarity for Unstable Workers
158.Ulsan Solidarity For Human Rights
Sri Lanka
159.Community Trust Fund (CTF)
160.Information Monitor (INFORM)
161.Law and Society Trust (LST)
Taiwan
162.Amnesty International, Taiwan Section
163.Buddhist Hongshi Association Taiwan Alliance to End Death Penalty (TAEDP)
164.Catuddisa Sangha
165.Chang Fo-chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights, Soochow University
166.Constitutional Reform Alliance in Taiwan
167.Fujen University John Paul II Peace Institute
168.Green Citizens’ Action Alliance
169.Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)
170.Homemakers’ Union and Foundation
171.Judicial Reform Foundation
172.Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan
173.Taiwan Aboriginal Society
174.Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)
175.Taiwan Association for Rights Advancement for Ping Pu Plans Aborigine Peoples (TARA-Ping Pu)
176.Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network (TASSKN)
177.Taiwan Friends of Tibet
178.Taiwan Hakka Alliance
179.Taiwan Labour Front
180.Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation
181.Taiwan Committee for Philippine Concerns
182.Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions
183.Taiwan Green Party
184.Taiwan Peace at Grassroots
185.Taiwan Solidarity Union
186.TransAsia Sisters Association
Timor Leste
187.East Timor Crisis Reflection Network (ETCRN)
188.Forum Tae Matam – Eyes on Human Rights
189.HAK Association
190.Igreja Protestante Timor Lorosae
191.Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP)
192.Timor Leste Institute for Reconstruction, Monitoring and Analysis (La’o Hamutuk)
193.Timor Leste Institute for Research, Advocacy and Campaign (Luta Hamutuk)
194.Yayasan Sosial Noroman
Thailand
195.19 September Network Against the Coup
196.Activists Society for Change (ACS)
197.Burma Issues
198.Burma Peace Group
199.Center for Protection of Children’s Rights Foundation (CPCR)
200.Empowering Peoples for Strong Civil Society (People’s Empowerment)
201.Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples (IKAP)
202.People’s Coalition Party (PCP)
203.Students Activities Information Resource (SAIR)
204.Students Federation of Thailand (SFT)
205.Workers Democracy Group (WD)
Vietnam
206.Vietnamese League for Human Rights
Regional/International NGOs
207.Asian Center for Human Rights (ACHR), India
208.Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
209.Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
210.ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC)
211.Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)
212.Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA), Philippines
213.Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
214.Asia-Pacific People’s Partnership for Burma (APPPB)
215.Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network (AITPN)
216.Asian Indigenous Women’s Network ( AIWN)
217.Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC)
218.Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
219.Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
220.Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
221.Coordination on Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM-Asia)
222.Earth Rights International (ERI)
223.Focus on the Global South (FGS)
224.Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW)
225.International Accountability Project (IAP)
226.International Technical Secretariat, International Alliance of the Indigenous and Tribal People of the Tropical Forests
227.Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Philippines
228.International Federation of Indigenous Youths’ Associations
229.International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR)
230.International Movement of Catholic Students Asia Pacific (IMCS-AP)
231.International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
232.International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP)
233.Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
234.Mouvement Contre le Racisme et pour l’amitie entre les Peuples (MRAP)
235.Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition (PIPEC)
236.Pax Romana – International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA)
237.Shwe Gas Movement (SGM)
238.Southeast Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)
239.Southeast Asia Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (SEASUCS)
240.Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN)
241.Tebtebba Foundation/Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy
242.Third World Network (TWN) Research and Education, Philippines
243.Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO)