The 117th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Recalling the IPU resolution adopted at the 108th Conference (Santiago, 2003) on "Parliaments' role in strengthening democratic institutions and human development in a fragmented world", and the resolution adopted at the 110th Assembly (Mexico City, 2004) on "Furthering parliamentary democracy in order to protect human rights and encourage reconciliation among peoples' and partnership among nations", which encourages States to eliminate the structural causes of violent conflict,

Also recalling resolution A/HRC/S-5/L.1/rev.1 adopted by consensus on 2 October 2007 at the Fifth Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council,

Recalling further the resolutions of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians regarding the violations of the human rights of National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarians elected in the 1990 general elections,

Gravely concerned by the worsening situation of human rights in Myanmar, where the brutal acts of violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military and police forces against peaceful protests by Buddhist monks and civilians have resulted in a high number of deaths, cases of torture, injuries and arbitrary arrests, and the very recent detention of several more parliamentarians-elect,

Deeply disturbed by the military junta's use of the most brutal methods of maintaining civil order in continuing defiance of the precepts of all international human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and by the crackdown on the media, the blocking of international communications, including the Internet, and the killing of a Japanese photojournalist,

Deeply disappointed by the fact that there has been virtually no progress towards political reform, which would ensure democratization in Myanmar based on the Road Map to Democracy pledged by the Government,

Expressing deep sorrow for the victims and human rights defenders and further expressing profound sympathy to their families,

Welcoming the statement issued by the ASEAN Chair on behalf of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in New York on 27 September 2007 regarding the situation in Myanmar,

Further recalling the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) signed by the ASEAN leaders at their summit in Bali on 7 October 2003,

Recognizing the efforts of the international community, the UN Special Envoy, regional groups and neighbouring countries to ease tensions and improve the situation in Myanmar,

Welcoming the acceptance by the Government of Myanmar of the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari,

1. Strongly deplores the reprehensible repression of peaceful demonstrations of monks and civilians in Myanmar in violation of the most fundamental human rights of ordinary citizens, notably their right to life and to freedom of opinion peacefully expressed;

2. Urges the Government of Myanmar to refrain from committing further acts of violence against current and future demonstrations and to desist from any ruthless acts against the citizens, who are fully entitled to exercise their right to freedom of expression;

3. Demands that the Government of Myanmar immediately and unconditionally release the jailed parliamentarians-elect, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD political leaders, as well as all political prisoners, monks and ethnic leaders struggling for democratization, political reform and respect for human rights in the country;

4. Also demands that the Government of Myanmar fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Fifth Special Session of the Human Rights Council;

5. Urges the military authorities in Myanmar to embark without delay on the implementation of democratization and political reforms in Myanmar;

6. Calls on the United Nations, including the Security Council, to swiftly follow up on the results of the visit of the UN Special Envoy to expedite the processes leading to national reconciliation;

7. Calls on ASEAN Member Countries to seriously consider suspending Myanmar's membership in ASEAN until such time as the process of reconciliation with the democratic forces gains momentum;

8. Calls on the international community, in the event of any further setbacks in the constructive process of dialogue and reconciliation with the democratic forces, to seriously consider taking necessary and effective economic measures and suspending military assistance and arms sales to Myanmar;

9. Urges parliamentarians worldwide to maintain their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of the fundamental human rights of the people of Myanmar as an expression of solidarity with their sacrifice and struggle against tyranny;

10. Resolves to remain vigilant regarding any developments in Myanmar.

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Note: you can download a complete electronic version of the brochure "Results of the 117th Assembly and related meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union" in PDF format (file size approximately 480K). This version requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free of charge.

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