ASEAN warns Western powers to handle Myanmar issue delicately<\/p>\n
P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Phnom Penh<\/p>\n
ASEAN defended its policy on Myanmar on Sunday and cautioned
\nWestern powers to handle the issue of restoring democracy in the
\ncountry delicately, fearing it could blow up into another
\nYugoslavia and be the focus of intense external power rivalry.<\/p>\n
Ong Keng Yong, secretary general of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the group had managed to
\ncontain the Myanmar issue within the country's boundaries with
\nits "constructive engagement" policy.<\/p>\n
"Speaking as the ASEAN Secretary-General, I am not talking
\nabout the right or wrong of the institutions in Myanmar, but what
\nis important is for everyone to understand the complexities of
\nMyanmar," Ong told AFP in an interview ahead of a meeting of
\nASEAN foreign ministers.<\/p>\n
Reacting to a barrage of criticism leveled at ASEAN for what
\nsome have called its failure to restore democracy in Myanmar, he
\nsaid: "The situation there should not be allowed to develop into
\na ugly confrontation that will destabilize the situation in
\nSoutheast Asia."<\/p>\n
Citing the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, Ong said
\nmilitary-ruled Myanmar, with up to 10 major communities and more
\nthan 100 linguistic groups located alongside China and the South
\nAsian continent, could flare up into "another Yugoslavia,
\nmultiplied many times over."<\/p>\n
"We sometimes forget that this unique piece of geography
\ncalled Myanmar can be a major destabilizing factor in the Indian
\nocean, not just in Southeast Asia, which is just a small part of
\nthe equation," he said.<\/p>\n
Yangon arrested Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody May 30 clash
\nbetween supporters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) and
\nbackers of the military regime, leading to intensified criticism
\nof the junta.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell labeled Myanmar's
\ngenerals "thugs" and vowed to push ASEAN states to confront the
\nrecalcitrant country during a series of regional meetings here.<\/p>\n
In a move seen as a concession to its detractors, ASEAN
\nsecretariat spokesman M.C. Abad said later that ASEAN ministers
\nintended to issue an unprecedented statement of concern over the
\nrecent developments.<\/p>\n
The statement, widely seen as a departure from the group's
\nnormal policy of non-interference in members' domestic affairs,
\nwas a unanimous issue among members, he said.<\/p>\n
"This is the first time that ASEAN has taken a pro-active
\nstand on Myanmar on the record," he told AFP.<\/p>\n
However, Ong added: "I do not want to confront Mr. Powell or
\nanyone else critical of Myanmar but I just want to state the
\nfacts."<\/p>\n
"By engaging Myanmar, we have put this Myanmar issue in this
\nPandora's box. It does not impinge heavily on anyone's strategic
\ninterests -- China, India, the United States or even Indonesia.
\nIt is basically a manageable issue.<\/p>\n
"Are we prepared to open the Pandora's box? If we are, can we
\nafford to do that?"<\/p>\n
Ong said that if ASEAN dictated to any of its member states
\nhow their governments should be run, "we will be setting a
\ndangerous precedent and we will be known as facilitators of
\nregime change or political status quo.<\/p>\n
Ong admitted, however, that Yangon could provide "better
\ntreatment" to Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
"In the case of ASEAN, many of us wish that her treatment can
\nbe better but at the same time, it is important to realize that
\nthere are two sides of the coin."<\/p>\n
Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung, speaking separately on
\nSunday, said the events of May 30 were "very, very unfortunate"
\nand his government was working toward the release of Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
"We are working on that, even though I cannot say how soon,
\ntomorrow or the day after tomorrow or like that," he said when
\nasked whether she would be released.<\/p>\n
Aside from Myanmar, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia,
\nIndonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
\nand Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Statement -- Page 11<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-warns-western-powers-to-handle-myanmar-issue-delicately-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }