Myanmar Advocacy Day: Hearing from People on the Ground
and Experts in the Region
9.00 am – 12.30 pm, 30 August 2023
Registration: Click Here
The attempted coup by the Myanmar military on February 1, 2021, has led to a series of grave atrocities within Myanmar and posed a significant threat to peace and stability in Southeast Asia. Over 1.6 million people have been internally displaced due to the military junta’s actions, causing neighboring countries like India and Thailand to deal with an influx of refugees. This migration, along with escalating violence, has resulted in political and socioeconomic repercussions across mainland and maritime Southeast Asia, jeopardizing regional peace and border security.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) response to the crisis has been criticized for its lack of coherence and effectiveness. Despite adopting the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) in April 2021, ASEAN’s approach has failed to address the ongoing catastrophe. The military junta’s disregard for the 5PC and the escalating crimes have not prompted a substantial change in ASEAN’s stance. This has allowed the junta to continue manipulating aid delivery and exacerbating the crisis. While ASEAN maintains certain exclusions and engages in “inclusive dialogue,” these efforts have not curbed the junta’s actions or the international community’s reliance on the regional bloc to manage the crisis.
In response to the urgency of the situation, two events are planned: a Public Hearing on human rights violations in Myanmar with victim testimonies before a panel of experts, and an Expert Panel on ASEAN’s approach toward Myanmar. The Public Hearing aims to raise awareness and gather insights from human rights experts on the military’s crimes. The Expert Panel intends to analyze ASEAN’s approach, particularly the 5PC, over the past two years and provide recommendations for more effective solutions. These events aim to foster understanding, encourage reflection, and reshape policies in alignment with the aspirations of the Myanmar people for a democratic nation.
Public Hearing: Moderated by Khin Ohmar, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Progressive Voice
- Ibu Andy Yentriyani, Chair of Komnas Perempuan (National Commission on Violence Against Women)
- Edmund Bon, Co-founder and Director of the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR)
- Bapak Muhammad Isnur, Chair of the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation
- Professor Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University
Expert Panel: Moderated by Debbie Stothard, Coordinator and founder, ALTSEAN-Burma
- Ibu Adelina Kamal, Advisory Group Member of Humanitarian Policy Group of DOI Former Executive Director of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre)
- Ibu Eva Kusama Sundari, Former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Board Treasurer
- Atty. Evalyn Ursua, Human rights lawyer
- Professor Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
- Salai Za Uk Ling, Deputy Executive Director, Chin Human Rights Organization
