A Joint Statement from a group of NGOs that attended the seventh International Colloquium on Human Rights in Sao Paolo, Brazil, organised by NGO Conectas

After more than a month in Mandalay's Ohbo prison, Par Par Lay is a
free person again. Burmese authorities released the prominent
comedian on 30 October 2007.

RSF firmly condemns a crackdown by the security forces on the
privately-owned news media. Dozens of journalists have been detained,
attacked or prevented from working. Transmission equipment has been seized
from several broadcast media. New regulations on newspapers and broadcast
media promulgated on 3 November 2007 are a death warrant for some of the
privately-owned TV and radio news stations that emerged in recent years.

Over 200 participants from civil society organizations and trade unions from across Southeast Asia and beyond have called upon the leaders of ASEAN to postpone the signing of the ASEAN Charter due to the Burmese junta's recent violent crackdown on peaceful protests.