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Memorandum submitted to the members and leaders of

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC)
13 November 2008

To
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Chairman, BIMSTEC
&
External Affairs Minister, Government of India

Sub: Appeal to suspense SPDC from BIMSTEC membership

Respected Sir,

A warm congratulation for the successful 2nd BIMSTEC summit in New Delhi, India.

Sir, we are fully aware that BIMSTEC was formed with the aims and purposes of creating an enabling
environment for rapid economic development, Poverty Alleviation and Counter-Terrorism and
accelerate social progress in the region are indeed positive symbol toward regional stability of peace and
development. And for which we are very contented and encouraged by this regional initiatives.

However, we are deeply disappointed to learn that leaders of BIMSTEC has totally ignored context of
gross human rights violations by its member, the SDPC government in Myanmar/Burma. As you are
aware that the regime in Burma has been listed as one of the worst human rights violators in the world.

We strongly believe that under the banner of regional cooperation for development of economic and
social sectors prior to promotion of peace, human rights and democracy in the region is lack of any
moral or ethical considerations which could even lead from bad to worst for instance in the case of
Burma where it has become a routine that innocent people are torture, arrested and killed. People were
killed when they asked their wages for labours or when they try to exercise freedom of speech and
movement etc…
It is worthwhile noting at this point that whilst the BIMSTEC official level meeting started on 11th
November 2008, on the same day, the SPDC sentenced 14 leading democracy activists who took part in
the 2007 peaceful protest demonstration to 65 years imprisonment. This is an undeniable prove that
SPDC ignored the basic human rights called by United Nations and International community.

We also would like to inform you that it is the Burma’s military regime that converted a natural disaster
to man-made tragedy by refusing the entry of international aid for the millions of Cyclone Nargis
victims who are dying of hunger and poverty. As witnessed and revealed by international media, cases
of aid obstruction, human rights abuses, intimidation, and corruption have occurred in the cyclone-hit
region.

Therefore, we sincerely appeal leaders of BIMSTEC

ƒ To review membership of SPDC in order to protect the dignity of BIMSTEC

ƒ To take action by suspension of its membership until peace, justice, human rights and democracy
is restored in Burma
ƒ To put pressure on junta for immediate release of political prisoners including Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi

Sincerely,

Dr. Alana Golmei

Coordinator
Burma Centre Delhi

Note: Memorandum is copied to

ƒ Embassy of Bangladesh in New Delhi
ƒ Embassy of Bhutan in New Delhi
ƒ Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi
ƒ Embassy of Srilanka in New Delhi
ƒ Embassy of Thailand in New Delhi

For more information:

(+91-9968291645) Dr. Alana Golmei & (+91-9810476273) Mr. Kim