CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union

- 3 - CL/183/SR.1
ANNEX XXIII
2. Is deeply concerned that even when parliamentarians-elect are released, as in the case of
the recent and long-awaited release of four of them, similar numbers of parliamentarianselect
are detained, often rearrested, by the authorities; considers that this situation, rather
than giving weight to the claim by the authorities that they genuinely wish to move towards
political change, merely adds to the state of fear and arbitrariness in Myanmar;
3. Urges the authorities to release all 17 parliamentarians forthwith and to refrain from any
further political harassment;
4. Reaffirms its long-standing conviction that the National Convention, owing to how it was set
up and functioned, was illegitimate from the start and bound to produce a text that would
fail to reflect the democratic values to which the people of Myanmar have long aspired;
considers that the widespread and grave irregularities which have been reported with
respect to the referendum on the draft Constitution have only confirmed initial concerns
that it would take place in a climate of fear, repression, distrust and total lack of
transparency, thus turning the whole exercise into a deliberate attempt to erect a
democratic façade for sustained military power;
5. Stresses once again that any transition to democracy will fail so long as it is not genuinely
free and transparent, does not reflect the people’s will, and is not preceded by the
unconditional release of all political prisoners and the lifting of all restrictions on human
rights and political activity;
6. Urges again the authorities to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and
all concerned parties and ethnic groups for the purpose of initiating a genuine democratic
transition in Myanmar; calls on the authorities to take the necessary steps without further
delay and to cooperate fully in this respect with the United Nations;
7. Appeals to the international community to persevere in its united stand to promote change
in Myanmar and publicly to express its rejection of the referendum process and outcome
in the current circumstances, and appeals especially to the Member Parliaments of the IPU,
in particular China and India as neighbouring countries, to lend their full support in this
respect;
8. Appeals more particularly to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through
its Secretary-General, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, to take any measures that may lead to the
restoration of democracy in Myanmar, and refers in this respect to the 117 th IPU
Assembly’s recommendation that ASEAN consider suspending Myanmar’s membership
until such time as the process of reconciliation with the forces of democracy gains
momentum;
9. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the authorities and to all other
parties concerned;
10. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session,
to be held on the occasion of the 120 th Assembly of the IPU (April 2009).