Your Excellencies,

While the recent release and freedom of movement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been a cause for great optimism, we note with regret that the problems of Burma have actually worsened in the year since the last Asean Ministerial Meeting. Burma continues to pose a threat to regional security.

The drug problem has continued unabated despite the publicity stunts organised by Burma's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Burma has reestablished itself as the world's largest producer of opium, producing 68 percent of the global production. Production of methamphetamine now stands at 800 million tablets per year. Such an alarming proliferation of drugs has inflicted serious damages to people in Burma and neighbouring countries.

The authorities' continuing human rights violations and economic mismanagement continue to lead to massive numbers of people fleeing the country. At least one million people have fled to Thailand, with others moving to other neighbouring countries.

Despite the obvious humanitarian crisis in Burma, the regime continues to irresponsibly prioritise the expansion of its military capabilities at the expense of basic social services.

The Burmese authorities recently broadened its xenophobic rhetoric against ethnic nationality groups and Thailand, its closest Asean neighbour. Tensions between Burma and Thailand have sharpened in recent times, including the use of force.

We urge the governments of Asean and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) to support all efforts in the pursuit of a peaceful political solution using whatever means they may have at their disposal as a grouping, and as individual governments.

In this light, we call upon Asean and ARF members to insist that the Burmese authorities immediately accept participants of all ethnic groups into the peaceful process of unification and democratisation and end military and political oppressions of ethnic nationalities by announcing a nationwide cease-fire.

To make the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meaningful to the development of democracy and human rights in Burma, the SPDC must release all political prisoners, as well as those detained under politically motivated charges, and continue with the talks facilitated by the UN Special Envoy.

Equally important, Asean and ARF members must work to convince the SPDC to divert public resources from war machines to humanitarian and social needs that will benefit all ethnic groups.

The longer it takes to achieve a peaceful political solution, the greater the damage to the people of Burma and the region. The time for Burma to address the real problems faced by its people and to be a good member of Asean is long overdue.

Thank you.

Signed by: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) National Council of the Union of Burma - Foreign Affairs Committee (NCUB-FAC) National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)