ASEAN Urged to Support Burma Probe

13 November 2010 – KUALA LUMPUR :  The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) has called on the ten-member regional grouping to support a proposal to establish a commission of inquiry to look into crimes against humanity in military-ruled Burma.

Speaking on behalf of the AIPMC, Malaysian MP Lim Kit Siang said “We call on AsEAN to put in place a peace-building mechanism that will enable UN to play its role more effectively so that a re-conciliatory dialogue can truly come about.”

“We share Asean’s view that Myanmar needs to work with the regional body and the UN towards national reconciliation. But Asean must take the lead in pressing upon Myanmar the need to work closely with the UN,’’ Lim said in Kuala Lumpur.

The AIPMC vice-president Lim Kit Siang said the recent elections had been condemned for fraud and lack of transparency.

Lim, who is a Member of Parliament from Malaysia said the 7th November elections had only increased ethnic tensions in the country.

AIPMC is a regional Burma support group made up of Parliamentarians from southeast Asian countries.

At least 15 countries in the world have supported the call by UN rights expert to institute a probe into possible commission of international crimes by Burma’s military regime.

Reporting by Thomas Chong