By The Irrawaddy – English Edition
In a show of solidarity with Myanmar refugees and migrants in Malaysia, and activists working on their behalf, Edmund Bon Tai Soon, a Malaysian serving as Chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), expressed support and empathy for Myanmar people in his country and urged them to make contact with relevant organisations during Malaysia’s tenure as chair of regional bloc the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.
Speaking at a forum titled “Free Myanmar Now: Diaspora Resistance and the Fight for Democracy” in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, he said, “Whatever you are feeling, the negativity, we are also feeling this negative news.”
“I invite you this whole year to connect with us and connect with our team. We are looking at different platforms and different workshops and different initiatives to do what we can do within the power and influence we have,” he said. Tan Sri Othman Hashim, special envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, also attended the forum.
The forum was co-organised by Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), Building and Woodworkers International (BWI), ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), Amnesty International Malaysia, and the Youth Section of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH Youth).
The forum also heard firsthand experiences and perspectives from members of Myanmar’s diaspora communities including Kachin, Chin and Rohingya people.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1066538082168015&id=100064355002816. Archived at https://perma.cc/CR82-LL73
Listen to Edmund Bon’s keynote address here.
