Acknowledgement

The NCUB delegation and NCUB FAC like to convey special thank and acknowledge the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats and the Liberal Party for the support given during NCUB representatives’ political trip to Manila. Without CALD and Liberal Party support, the NCUB representatives would not be able to deliver important message and conduct political policy discussions with Democratic political leaders from Philippines. We also like to extend our gratitude to IID and FBC for arranging the meetings with student activists, INGOs and felt the warm support. Moreover we sincerely wish to thank John Joseph S. Coronel, executive director of CALD, and CALD officials for this trip.

Caucus on Burma

We were accompanied by the Council of the Asian Liberals and Democrats, executive director John Joseph Coronel in meetings with the Liberal Party Members of the House of Representatives presided by Rep. Henedina Abad at the Conference Room 5, Speaker Ramon Mitra Building, for the first day of our delegation. We mainly delivered the current political situations in Burma, continuation of human rights violations and forced labor situation, detention of democratic leader DASSK and how we gather support from the members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Parliament.

The Liberal party leaders expressed their respect and understanding towards Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and their strong support our democratic movement. We also discussed the regime roadmap to democracy and its sham National Convention and the game the regime is playing will not provide any benefit for the ethnic nationalities who are attending the NC and their proposals for the states’ autonomy were being ignored. Thus, this NC is not a real democratic development in Burma. We, NCUB delegation, also pointed out that Burma under regime’s political suppression and economic mismanagement are the threats to the regional stability. They are also aware that the Burma issue is fast becoming a regional issue also.

After presenting our proposal to have a caucus on Burma in the Philippines parliament, we continued our discussion by comparing the Malaysian parliamentarian caucus on Burma, and the Liberal party leaders agreed to take the initiative on this matter. The Liberal party leaders also explained to us the house resolution (109) to support Burma democratization and asking for the freedom of DASSK.

We then answered all the questions from the Philippines MPs questioned and we ended our meeting at 11:00 AM. We also agreed to follow up on the subject of creating a Burma caucus with help of liberal party members.

Lobby for reviewing Philippines’ foreign policy towards Burma

Representative Jaime Lopez, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, House of Representatives, received the NCUB delegation at the Penthouse of the Speaker Ramon Mitra Building at 11:15 AM. The NCUB delegation updated current Burma political situation to Representative Lopez and he expressed the role of the Philippines position towards Burma from a viewpoint as a member of the ASEAN. As Vice Chairmen of Financial committee of the House of Representatives, he was keenly interested in the question of current sanctions and trade embargo. We explained clearly that the current sanctions do have affect on the regime main economic sectors. Most of the businesses are run solely by the regime itself or are jointly owned and run by their cronies some of whom are heavily involved in illicit drug trafficking business.

The NCUB delegation also has some questions concerning with current Philippines foreign policy. Jaime Lopez replied that the current policy towards international community is based on the national interest and other related matters. He then expressed his concern of the current Burma political deadlock and considered it is a serious matter from the viewpoint of Philippines foreign policy.  

He also inquired about current NCUB engagements with China, India and Thailand and the situation in Thailand. We briefed our approached to China. There is a slim hope that new Indian government may apply some political pressure upon the Burmese military regime and Thai government is still trying to convince the Burma regime for political dialogue with opposition parties led by NLD.

Congressman Lopez inquired about the relations between the NCUB and the NLD. We explained in detail how the relationship between NLD and NCUB was established. To avoid harassment by the military officials formal and actual and relationship could not be revealed but in actuality NCUB & NCGUB is jointly representing NLD in the external affairs and developing International support for the Burmese struggle for Democracy.

He suggested that China is always an important role in Burma political development. He also believed Chinese interest in Burma has contributed not only Burma political deadlock but developed the political landscape in the region. Thus, he was aware that ASEAN engagement policy towards Burma is not able to change unless the China may show something positive towards the democratic movement.

Congressman Lopez the Chairman of the important Finance Committee and his support are of great significance. He promised for his support in forming a caucus on Burma, and to introduce the new Burma policy to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

We also met Dr. Ronald Meinardus, resident representative of Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Foundation. We discussed current and future role of NCUB in the opposition movement, and its relations with the other political organizations. We explained that although we have some difficulties we were able to overcome and solve the problems in the interest of the country and the Movement. We also explained how NCUB is performing its critical role between Ethnic political parties inside Burma, NLD, and the ceasefire organizations and other political elements.

Seeking the Senate support

We paid a visit to Senate foreign relations committee Chairwoman Miriam D. Santiago at her private office. We were warmly welcomed by the Chairwoman, her chief of staff and political aids. During the discussion, it became apparent that she is keenly aware of current events in Burma.  She simply asked us how she can help Burma. It was a very productive meeting that added great encouragement for our Movement. She is a strong supporter of DASSK since 1995, and she also pointed out that ASEAN never should have allowed Burma as a member of the ASEAN. She doesn’t agree with current government policy towards Burma she gave assurance that she would pressured the executive brunch for new stronger approach for Burma.

We discussed the second part of the meeting that she will call the motion on the senate committee and for wider resolution by the Philippines senate. This action will 

Will highlight more coordination between NCUB and the Senate?  She also pointed out that the Philippines Senate or Congress needs public support for the approval of the resolution into the laws. The CALD director suggested that Free Burma Coalitions and other grassroots organizations and CSOs should do this part. She offered to allow a Burmese to testify before the senate committee that will produce strong support. 

This Senate resolution will put tremendous pressures on the government current policy towards Burma.  During the process of the drafting resolution, what the Senate committee needs is to have a speech of DASSK to the Senate and the people of the Republic of Philippines which is great for long term prospect of the ASEAN policy. U Kyaw Thwin promised her request to do our best to have it. She pointed out the media attention and to use media as a weapon to defeat the regional policy and other functions. Thus, media is very important in the Burma political struggle.

She also requested us to convey her best regards to DASSK. She understands DASSK position and she said she will always be supporting her democratic struggle. We agreed on the preparation for drafting the resolution and to take action before the Senate in the first week of November.

She allowed us to continue the meeting with her political aids and her Chief of staffs to identify for follow up actions. Her aids stressed that “preparation is a Key to success,” and we did discussed with them the needed preparatory steps, creating a small network of people for information sharing, political inputs and pressuring the Senate members. We also learnt that they will be working on these bases to minimize partisan politics on the Burma resolution.

Senate Majority Leader is our supporter

After our meeting with Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we also paid a visit to Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan at his office. We have expressed our struggle, and shared our view on ASEAN and Philippines position on Burma. The NCUB FAC has requested leaders to reconsider the ASEAN constructive engagement policy that is not productive or fruitful for the people of Burma and Philippines. He viewed that ASEAN policy towards Burma is not a total failure but seemed to be very slow process which is not acceptable personally.

He would like to review the engagement policy; he is a supporter of DASSK and the Burma democratic movement since his very first days in the Senate. He recalled his track record of supporting DASSK in the Senate floor when he was a minority leader.

He then stressed that without freeing DASSK is long enough to suffer Burma relations with ASEAN members. At present he is a majority leader and in this capacity he can provide full support to have a resolution for Burma Political Solution.  He said we should also look into the East Timor political negotiations that Philippines were actively involved in the dialogue process.  It may be necessary for Philippines to study East Timor model for Burma solution. He also questioned why UN played a very aggressive role in East Timor political process but not on Burma? 

He assured our NCUB delegation that he and Senate of the Republic of Philippines will support the democratization process in Burma, for the freedom of DASSK and working for progress until a meaningful dialogue between NLD, ethnic parties and the regime. He said if ASEAN allows Burma regime to suppress the political and ethnic opponents, ASEAN and its members will have major negative impact in a near future and hopes to see the real dialogue with the help of the regional countries.

He shared our suffering and determination in facing human rights violations, political suppressions, and he suggested if possible obtaining written or video message from DASSK to be delivered on the Human Rights Day, to uplift the awareness for the Burmese democratic movement in the region. He is very interested in Malaysian parliamentary caucus and he said he was very encouraged by this progress and he was somewhat embarrassed that Philippines should have been the first parliament instead of Malaysia to establish the Burma caucus.

Trained for Trainers programs at the Border Areas

The NCUB delegation also had a tour of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on September 29th 2004.

TESDA has produced more than 10 millions skilled worked and more than fifty percent of the certified workers are working abroad.  We witnessed TESDA training programs during our visit. The Secretary has a great sympathy for Burmese democratic movement and gave his advice on how to improve the skill for the Burmese people in the border area.

We had dinner at CALD office in the evening, joined by international human rights and social groups, foreign press and diplomatic community and liberal party leaders. U Mg Mg Aye delivered the key note speech of why we Burmese are struggling for democracy and freedom. The NCUB delegation also issued the press release during the dinner.

On 30th of September, we have a breakfast with Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, House of Representatives at The Café, Dusit Hotel. He showed his support for democracy and freedom movement and we discussed towards parliamentarian caucus. He was also political prisoners during dictatorship Marcos period, and he understood our suffering. We also shared the same view towards the current ASEAN policy towards Burma.

We also visited the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, School of Law, and Ateneo de Manila University in the morning. We discussed the position of ASEAN human rights records, how their institution is providing positive approach to the members’ countries. The NCUB delegation stressed that this ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism should stress on prevention of human rights violation rather than show casing the ASEAN countries successes and being used as a propaganda tool.

The NCUB delegation was invited by Free Burma Coalitions, IID and other grassroots civil society organizations supporting Burma democratic movement. This forum included various Burma support groups and wanted to know how they can contribute for NCUB and other ethnic and democratic forces to implement efficient and effective strategy for Burma. They also inquired why current DASSK has been under house arrest for so long and regional countries role in Burma issues. Our delegation members gave answers to these questions and we have open discussion which was productive. It was very interesting that many of the participants have been strong supporters of Burma freedom movement for quite some time. 

In the evening, we have a dinner with long term Burma supporters including those who staged the protest before the Burmese embassy for 8888 anniversary and among them were congresswomen and CSOs.  

Recognizing the importance of the Media role, CALD did arranged for the NCUB delegation for live TV interview. This interview reached business, government and NGOs communities who are dealing within ASEAN REGION and their understanding of the current Burmese landscape and NCUB positions and policies are quit significant. Thus we were able to deliver our message successfully.

Conclusion

The NCUB delegation has concluded that this five days political trip to Manila was successful and very productive one. The CALD and Liberal Party tremendous support and well preparation had contributed tremendously to our success in reaching and developing understanding and trust between the leaders and decision makers of the Philippines House of Representatives and Senate and NCUB delegation.

Another success was the promise from the democratic leaders to establish Caucus on Burma.

Besides, we have strong support from local democratic leaders and we plan to have followed up political meetings with both Congress and Civil Society Organizations. We also achieved media attention and TV coverage to promote Burma democratic movement. Proper acknowledgement must be made to the Member of the Parliament Union Standing Committee and NCUB secretariat member U Mg Mg Aye, MPU member and NLD LA foreign affairs committee member U Kyaw Thwin who played appropriate and significant roles during the trip. The NCUB Foreign Affairs Committee members of Bangkok office provided necessary arrangements which made our trip successful.