Politicians and activists called for the Asean Charter to be implemented in Burma yesterday (24th October)  This comes in advance of next years elections.

Below is an article published by Bangkok Post:

CHA-AM : The Asean Charter must be implemented immediately to address ongoing human rights violations in Burma and keep a close watch on any offences against ethnic people ahead of next year's elections there, politicians and activists urged yesterday (24th October).

Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the junta had yet to show a willingness to adhere to the principles of democratic governance under the Asean Charter.
Asean's long-held assertion that Burma's political and human rights issues were internal affairs is no longer applicable, especially since the problems in Burma have impacted all countries in the region, Mr Kraisak said.

Burma's junta has in recent months stepped up operations against ethnic people in the east as part of preparations for planned elections next year, resulting in an influx of thousands of refugees to neighbouring countries such as China and Thailand, said Charm Tong, of the Shan Women's Action Network in Burma.

Asean politicians and exiled Burmese activists have gathered at the sidelines of the 15th Asean summit to remind the bloc the problem has not gone away, even though there might be some positive developments including the direct engagement of the US and EU.

US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, chair of the EU presidency, are to make separate visits to Burma soon to discuss humanitarian and economic packages as well as future political dialogue with the junta.

Voravit Suwanvanichkij, a research associate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, said Burma truly needed more assistance, but people must be aware of the reality that many problems have their roots in structural causes.

Deeply flawed economic policies and military impunity in human rights abuses systematically perpetrated on the people - from forced relocation, forced labour, seizure of property, destruction of farms and villages, to arbitrary taxation - must be addressed.

"From a health standpoint, we are already at a critical juncture. Malaria remains uncontrollable in many parts of the Thai-Burma border and we are now faced with the very real possibility of increasing resistance," Mr Voravit told the Bangkok Post. He also expressed concern over the spread of new strains of TB and recent cholera outbreaks in border areas where medical treatment was inadequate.