News Briefs (February 2006)

Monday, February 20, 2006

Activists Meet to Press Rangoon

More than 80 participants from 47 organizations in 16 countries met to discuss plans to push Burma for reform at a three-day meeting at Thai-Burma border, which finished Sunday. “We are proud to announce the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Peoples’ Partnership on Burma, to pool our collective capacities to accelerate the momentum for change,” read the newly formed group’s statement. Exiled Burmese activist Khin Ohmar said that the APPPB would use civil movements to put pressure on China, India and governments of the 10-country regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “If people in the region have more awareness of what’s going on in Burma, they will surely urge their governments to do something about it,” she said.

The group urged regional leaders to support tabling the Burma issue at the UN Security Council, despite objections that reform in Burma is a purely domestic issue. Khin Ohmar argues that Burma’s crisis has stretched across the borders and is affecting other countries in the form of migrants, refugees and health problems. The group also expressed support for a proposal from the opposition National League for Democracy, which calls on the military regime to allow a “people’s parliament,” while it takes on the role of transitional government. The Chiang Mai forum was organized by the Forum for Democracy in Burma, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) and the Alternative Asean Network on Burma.

Thai PM Rejects Resignation, May Dissolve Parliament

Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has threatened to dissolve parliament if a standoff with his opponents escalates further, but he rejected growing calls for his resignation, a government spokesman said Monday. The remarks came a day after Thaksin's influential political mentor, Chamlong Srimuang, called for him to quit and announced he will join a mass anti-Thaksin protest Sunday. Thaksin called an emergency Cabinet meeting Sunday night after Chamlong's announcement, and told his ministers "he will not resign, but if the situation deteriorates, he will dissolve the parliament," said government spokesman Suraphong Suebwonglee.