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 to action comes after the 47th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders failed to make significant progress in addressing the Myanmar crisis. The Pathways to Democracy Conference in Kuala Lumpur brought together legislators, civil society leaders, and allies to push for concrete, principled action under the Philippines' 2026 Chairship.
The conference highlighted the urgent need to restore democracy in Myanmar, emphasizing that the region's collective responsibility includes the Rohingya people's struggle for genuine peace and democracy. APHR member lawmakers called for a bolder, people-centered approach to democracy and humanitarian response, 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, emphasized the importance of democracy beyond politics or diplomacy, reminding participants that parliamentarians, civil society actors, and citizens have a vital role to play in democratization. Sarah Jane Elago, APHR Member and Member of the Philippine House of Representatives, called for a people-centered stance, ensuring that the voices of Myanmar's people, including the Rohingya, are not silenced.
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, emphasized the duty of parliamentarians to speak out clearly and collectively against the situation in Myanmar, breaking free from diplomatic silence. APHR stresses that support for Myanmar's democracy is a moral imperative, and the sham elections must not be recognized. A new constitution for Myanmar must be inclusive of all its peoples, leaving no one behind, including the Rohingya.
