ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) urges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reject the junta's elections and support Myanmar's democratic forces. The APHR's call for action comes after the 47th ASEAN Summit, where the Myanmar crisis dominated discussions but failed to achieve tangible progress. The Pathways to Democracy Conference in Kuala Lumpur brought together regional lawmakers and civil society leaders to push for concrete, principled action under the Philippines' 2026 Chairship.
The APHR emphasizes a people-centered approach to democracy and humanitarian response in Myanmar, grounded in regional solidarity and moral responsibility. Mercy Chriesty Barends, APHR Chairperson and Member of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, delivered a powerful message of shared purpose, stating, 'We see you, we hear you, we stand by you in your struggle for democracy. We will never abandon you. Your fight is our fight, not because it is easy but because it is right.'
Wong Chen, APHR Board Member and Member of the Malaysian Parliament, highlighted the importance of democracy beyond politics or diplomacy, reminding participants that 'Democratization is also social, educational, and cultural; it requires rebuilding trust, healing divisions, and restoring the idea that governments exist to serve people, not power.'
Sarah Jane Elago, APHR Member and Member of the Philippine House of Representatives, called for a people-centered stance, emphasizing that 'As ASEAN transitions leadership, the voices of Myanmar's people, including the Rohingya, must not fade into silence. Their struggle for genuine peace and democracy is the region's collective responsibility.'
Throughout the conference, participants expressed deep frustration with ASEAN's failed Five-Point Consensus and called for stronger accountability mechanisms. Lawmakers urged the regional bloc to engage directly with Myanmar's democratic forces and ethnic groups, restrict the junta's access to funding, arms, and jet fuel, and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches displaced communities, including Rohingya refugees.
Kannavee Suebsang, APHR Member and Member of the Thai Parliament, added that parliamentarians must not be constrained by diplomatic silence, stating, 'We cannot have the same diplomatic constraints as governments. Parliamentarians have a duty to speak out clearly and collectively against the situation in Myanmar.'
APHR stresses that support for Myanmar's democracy is not merely a diplomatic ceremony but a moral imperative. The sham elections must not be recognized in any shape or form, and when we talk about democracy, no one must be left behind, including the Rohingya people. A new constitution for Myanmar must be for all its peoples.
