A s Myanmar's government prepares to take over the chairmanship of ASEAN for 1996, opposition groups have stepped up their campaign for reform in the country by appealing to the bloc's leaders, reminding them that the regime in Yangon has violated all its promises, including human rights reform, better economic management and measures to combat drug production.
Forum Asia, Alt-ASEAN (Alternative ASEAN), NCUB (National Council of Union of Burma) and other human rights groups are joining forces in the effort.
The military regime has kept prodemocracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her lieutenant, U Tin U, in virtual confinement. Both are under house arrest, while around 1,300 political activists are languishing in prisons throughout Myanmar. They are either serving long terms or have been repeatedly arrested as political prisoners of conscience.