Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Senator to ask Myanmar to free opposition leader (11:02 a.m.)
MANILA -- Despite an advise of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against proceeding with such a move because of a potential backlash, a senator will file a resolution urging the government of Myanmar to release its opposition leader as well as thousands of political prisoners.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said she would file the resolution asking the same country to respect human rights.
During a public hearing, Santiago said once the Myanmar government, which is ruled by a military junta, would not heed the global appeal, it may not get the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2006.
The DFA refused to back the call because it may result in a backlash from the Myanmar Government.
However, Santiago said under revised international laws, a country that is a bona fide member of a large organization, can step in the problem of another country particularly when it involves human rights violation.
"Human rights law has amended the principle of non-intervention. We, as a country and other countries in the world, under international law, now have the right not only to speak against violation of human rights in other countries but also to take individual or collective action meant to ensure that the violation of human rights would be reduced or would be stopped," she said.
Santiago said the government joins the international call to release Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned for several years even if she won the elections held in that country.
"Ang buong daigdig, including the US, European Union, pati na ang Pilipinas ay matagal nang nakikiusap sa mga heneral na kung maaari sana ay pakawalan na si Aung San Suu Kyi at iba pang prisoners na mga 1,400. Pero ang pinalaya lamang matapos ang lahat ng panlawakang pagtatawag ay 40 katao lang (The whole world, including the US, European Union, even the Philippines have long asked the generals there to free Aung San Suu Kyi and 1,400 political prisons. But they only freed 40 people.)," she added.
The lady senator said Burma, being a member of the Asean, should observe human rights and that violation of these would mean expulsion from the group. (JPM) |
