Civil society representatives of ASEAN countries will gather in Jakarta from 5 to 7 March for the International Conference on “The Role of ASEAN Civil Society in Supporting Security, Human Rights and Democracy in Burma”. An ASEAN civil society declaration is expected to be issued after the event.

Date: 5-7 March 2008
Venue: Jakarta, Indonesia

About 60 civil society representatives will gather for an International Conference on “The Role of ASEAN Civil Society in Supporting Security, Human Rights and Democracy in Burma”, held in Jakarta from 5 to 7 March.

The organisers include Indonesian Coalition for Burma (KMSUB) and two FORUM-ASIA members based in Jakarta – Indonesia’s NGO Coalition on International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG) and Commission against Violence and Disappearances (KontraS).

The organisers said they see a “strong need” to continue the momentum on the Burmese people’s revolution and to further scrutinise the Burmese Junta, now that there is a lack of exposure about the country’s situation unlike the media frenzy during the “Saffron revolution”.

Apart from raising the awareness on the issue, the conference aims to consolidate and unify national and regional (ASEAN) civil society advocacy on human rights and democracy in Burma.

They plan to issue a declaration of ASEAN civil society organisations on democracy and human rights in Burma following the conference, along with lobbying strategies and action plans at national and regional levels.