We, Northeast Asian members of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) are greatly concerned about the recent developments in Burma/Myanmar. We are deeply concerned about the violent manner in which the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has responded with armed forces to peaceful demonstrators, including monks and journalists.

We, in line with the recent statements issued by GPPAC Southeast Asia and by regional representatives and the global secretariat of GPPAC, would like to echo our support for the following demands of the people of Burma/Myanmar:

1) For the government of Burma/Myanmar to address the basic needs of the people.

2) Release without delay those arrested and detained as a result of the peaceful protests, as well as all political detainees.

3) For genuine national reconciliation to take place in Burma.

We welcome the fact that the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted by consensus a resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar on 2 October 2007. We urge all governments, particularly those of the HRC member countries, to work towards implementation of all the provisions of the resolution. We also call on the UN to establish a fact-finding mission and an independent monitoring team of the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar. We look forward to the UN Secretary General and Security Council taking more active roles in facilitating these measures.

For the international community, the time is ripe to directly engage the SPDC and convince the regime to initiate substantial and genuine reforms starting from genuine tri-partite dialogues in which all parties will be included. To this end, ASEAN and other key Asian countries should work together to promote such dialogue and reforms.

It is understood that the people of Burma/Myanmar are tired not just of their daily economic struggles but, even more so, of the way the ruling military regime govern their country. We strongly urge the regime to sit down to a dialogue with people and listen to their legitimate demands. We also urge them to employ peaceful means to promote reconciliation, improve people's standard of living and achieve democracy.

The international community is watching and all States and people are closely monitoring the next move of the country. We look forward to positive steps being taken by the regime.

For further information, contact gppac[at]peaceboat.gr.jp

Signed by

• Beijing Focal Point
  HUANG Haoming (China Association for NGO Cooperation, Beijing)
  
  
• Hong Kong Focal Point
  AU Pak Kuen (Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, Hong Kong)
  
  
• Seoul Focal Point
  PARK Jungeun (People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Seoul)
  
  
• Shanghai Focal Point
  SHEN Dingli (Institute of International Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai)
  
  
• Taipei Focal Point
  CHEN Jau-hwa (Dept. of Philosophy, Soochow University, Taipei)
  CHIEN Hsih-chieh (Peacetime Foundation, Taipei)
  HSU Szu-Chien (Peacetime Foundation, Taipei)
  
  
• Tokyo Focal Point
  Kathy R. MATSUI (Global Campaign for Peace Education, Tokyo)
  
  
• Ulaanbaatar Focal Point
  Jargalsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN (Blue Banner, Ulaanbaatar)
  
  
• Valdivostok Focal Point
  Vadim GAPONENKO (Center for International Studies, Maritime State University, Vladivostok)
  
  
• GPPAC Northeast Asia Regional Initiator
  YOSHIOKA Tatsuya (Peace Boat, Tokyo)
  
  
• GPPAC Northeast Asia Advisor
  Anselmo LEE (FORUM-ASIA, Bangkok)
  
  
• GPPAC Southeast Asia
  Gus MICLAT (Initiatives for International Dialogue, Davao)
  
  
• GPPAC Northeast Asia Regional Secretariat
  KAWASAKI Akira (Peace Boat, Tokyo)
  
  

Further individuals from the focal points have signed, and are continuing to do so.
*Affiliation in brackets is for identification purpose only