Day of Action for the People of Myanmar

ARTICLE 19, Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), the Cambodian
Centre for Human Rights, the Alliance of Independent Journalists of
Indonesia (AJI) and Reporters without Borders (RSF) call for a day
of solidarity and prayer for the people of Myanmar tomorrow,
September 29, 2007.

On the occasion of the 8th informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)
Seminar on Human Rights we will gather at Angkor Wat to demonstrate
our solidarity with the Burmese people, and condemn the violence
that has claimed lives, including the life of a journalist, and
shattered the peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar.

Attending the ASEM Seminar as representatives of NGOs and
governments, we will hold a moment of silence and prayer for the
people of Myanmar at 11 AM, September 29, and stage a short program
of statements to express solidarity with the democratic aspirations
of the Burmese as well as to call on the Burmese junta to exercise
restraint in dealing with the protesters around their country.

There can be no justification for the bloodshed recently reported,
as we have, one with the whole world, witnessed the courageous yet
orderly, peaceful, and dignified conduct of the protesting Burmese
and their religious leaders.

We urge the country's ruling junta to put an immediate end to the
use of violence, and to respect the human rights of the Burmese
people, including the universally accepted and guaranteed rights to
freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.  We call for the
release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
and for the return to
democracy.

We celebrate the courage of the Burmese people, civil society and
monks. We urge all governments and all societies to listen to, keep
alive, and support the Burmese people's demands for democracy,
peace, and national reconciliation.

We welcome the statement issued by the Asian and European
participants to the ASEM, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which joins the
global expressions of outrage and concern for the developments in
Myanmar.

---------------------------------------

Siem Reap, Cambodia,

28 September, 2007

STATEMENT - MYANMAR/BURMA

We, the undersigned Asian and European participants to the 8th
informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) seminar on human rights,
"freedom of expression", gathered in Seam Reap, Cambodia, note with
great concern the recent developments in Myanmar/Burma. In
particular, we condemn the violence that has claimed the lives of
demonstrators. We call on the government to exercise restraint and
respect the rights of all Burmese to freedom of assembly and to the
peaceful expression of their views and opinions, in line with the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the spirit of the ASEM informal dialogue, we call on the
government to work with all sectors of society towards an immediate
peaceful resolution of the current situation and the full
realisation of human rights in the country.

ENDORSED BY:

Governments
Austria - Austrian embassy, Bangkok
Belgium - Embassy in Bangkok
Bulgaria - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
European Commission
France - French Ambassador at large for Human Rights
Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Netherlands - Ambassador at large for Human Rights
Romania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Spain - Ambassador at large for Human Rights, Spain
Sweden - Swedish Ambassador at large for Human Rights, Sweden
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Associations
ARTICLE 19, United Kingdom
Asia Europe People's Forum, Finland
Asia House and German Asia Foundation, Germany
Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, Cambodia
Campaign for Popular Media Reform, Thailand
Centre for Culture Technology and Values, Ireland
Citizen and Democracy, Slovakia
The Danish Institute for Human Right, Denmark - Malek Sitez
Don't Block the Blog, Pakistan
Electronic Frontier, Finland
FORUM-Asia, Thailand
Free Voice, Netherlands
Human Security Alliance, Thailand
Human Rights and Development Association in Cambodia (ADHOC),
Cambodia
Institute of Legal Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Justice and Peace Commission, India
Lao Movement for Human Rights, France
Latvian Centre for Human Rights, Latvia
Luxembourg Human Rights Commission, Luxembourg
Media Monitoring Agency, Romania
Malaysiakini, Malaysia
One World Platform for South East platform, Bosnia Herzegovina
Reporters Sans Frontiere, France
Research Centre for Minority Groups, Greece
Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Thailand
SUARAM, Malaysia
The Alliance of Independent Journalists, Indonesia
Union for Civil Liberty, Thailand

Individuals
Arnaud Dubus, France
Basil Constantinescu, Romania
Fumiko Saiga, Japan
Gabor Halmai, Hungary
Helene Ragheboom, France
Kevin Boyle, Ireland
Kurt Krickler, Austria
Paul Green, United Kingdom
Rolf Ring, Sweden
Sol Iglesias, Philippines
Yukiko Nishikawa, Thailand

Source: 
<p>http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=765</p>

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