With its new Charter, ASEAN now has the necessary tools to insist on democratic reform and national reconciliation in Burma. However, since the 14th ASEAN Summit in February 2009, the SPDC’s relations with ASEAN and the international community soured over the conviction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, the SPDC’s plans for 2010 elections fueled instability within Burma and undermined regional security.

“Will ASEAN fail to confront the SPDC, again?” covers the SPDC actions between March and September 2009 and recommends that ASEAN pressure the SPDC to adopt the recommendations contained in the Burmese pro-democracy movement’s “Proposal for National Reconciliation”; address and resolve the Rohingya problem; pressure the SPDC to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners; and pressure the SPDC to stop human rights abuses and armed aggression against ethnic nationalities.