ASEAN lawmakers call for restoring democracy in Myanmar

Lawmakers from ASEAN countries have called on all parliamentarians worldwide to act in solidarity, demanding restoration of democracy in Myanmar where the military took control since February 1 and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her political colleagues.

"We call on all parliamentarians worldwide to act in solidarity with Myanmar and use their position in and outside of parliament to call for all those arbitrarily detained to be immediately released and to work for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. Let's make sure our colleagues sit in parliament, not in jail," said Mu Sochua, a Board Member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and former Cambodian Member of Parliament (MP), in a statement today.

The lawmakers urged the Myanmar military to immediately put an end to their campaign of arrests, unconditionally release all those currently detained, and refrain from using violence against peaceful protesters. 

According to rights organisation Assistance for Association for Political Prisoners, in just four weeks at least 913 individuals, including politicians, members of the previous Union Election Commission, civil servants, human rights activists, and students, have been arrested and remain in detention, or have outstanding arrest warrants against them.

AAPP also estimates about 30 people have been killed in violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters by Myanmar's security forces.