New Delhi (Mizzima) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has held up her country's democratic experience as a guiding light for Burma's military regime, urging Burma's generals to adopt a similar approach to that of her administration in matters related to political reform and the strengthening of national unity and reconciliation.
In a statement released today by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, Arroyo is quoted as saying, "Like Myanmar, the Philippines has over a hundred ethnic groups and a variety of political persuasions, but rather than impair the vibrancy of our country’s democracy these have only served to strengthen it."
According to Burma's military government, the country is home to 135 distinct ethnic groups.
Arroyo, speaking of her administration's actions directed at brining all Filipino citizens into the national political fold, added, "I have reached out to them [ethnic groups] in the spirit of reconciliation and national unity, which has enabled our society and political system to move forward without giving undue importance to their political mystique."
Further, the Philippine President called on the Burmese regime to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi upon the expiration, this May, of her most recent term of house arrest.
Arroyo expressed her concerns on the lack of political reform in Burma to Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein on April 10th, during the second phase of the 14th ASEAN summit to be held in Thailand.
Acknowledging the views of the Philippine President, the Burmese Prime Minister, according to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, stressed that his country is progressing along the path to the democracy, with the adoption, last year, of a new constitution the first step toward achieving the goal – with next year's general election to continue the process.
Yet, the Prime Minister's interpretation of the advice offered by Arroyo directly conflicts with the position taken by the U.S. Senate's Women's Caucus on Burma, as spelled out in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday.
By calling for the abandonment of the electoral process in Burma, the Caucus is denying the legitimacy of the constitution as a basis for building a democratic Burma.
"The constitution in its current form precludes women from holding high-level government positions and attempts to give amnesty to the military junta and thus deny access to justice for the victims of the military regime’s systematic sexual violence against ethnic minority women," argues the 11-member panel.
Significantly, under the terms of the constitution, Aung San Suu Kyi would not be eligible to occupy the country's top office.
On Wednesday, the office of the Secretary General gave notice of his receipt of the letter, adding, "The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation in Myanmar, including through his Special Adviser [Ibrahim Gambari], to promote national reconciliation, democratic transition, and respect for human rights in accordance with the mandate given to him by the General Assembly."
Ban is scheduled to travel to Southeast Asia in the upcoming weeks, and is said to be contemplating a visit to Burma.
