Burma and ASEAN<\/p>\n
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) are to be applauded for their decision to put off
\na decision on an application for Burma's full membership by the
\nState Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).<\/p>\n
The Philippine government deserves particular praise for
\nmustering support for the deferral, which coincides with yet
\nanother spasm in the violence and oppression that so typifies the
\nways of the military clique that has imposed itself on a cowed
\nand impoverished population.<\/p>\n
In deferring the application by the SLORC, which was stripped
\nof any spurious claim to legitimacy when it was humiliated in the
\n1990 election it found so convenient to ignore, the foreign
\nministers agreed the regime needed more time to prepare for
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
In the jargon of the regional grouping, Burma needed a deeper
\nunderstanding of ASEAN mechanisms and it had to train and prepare
\nofficials for the responsibilities that full membership implies.<\/p>\n
That might be a kind way of delivering what appears a serious
\nsetback to the aspirations of the generals in Rangoon, who have
\ntaken the granting of observer status two months ago as the
\npretext to, or even justification for, an intensification of thug
\nrule.<\/p>\n
If the junta thought that observer status would automatically
\nguarantee full membership of the regional grouping by next year,
\nit may well be mistaken. The ASEAN foreign ministers made clear
\nthat the target date was too early and it would be difficult to
\nargue against that contention.<\/p>\n
Full membership implies a great deal more than simply
\nhappening to be in Southeast Asia, signing a few accords, hosting
\na few gatherings and investing in a few multicolored shirts for
\nthe end-of-conference shindig and photo-call.<\/p>\n
It involves complex treaties and negotiations within the
\nframework of international law and trade conventions. It involves
\na familiarity with international mechanisms that have been in
\noperation and embraced by most countries of the world for the
\ndecades in which Burma's rulers cocooned themselves and their
\ncountry in benighted isolation.<\/p>\n
To expect the junta to suddenly emerge fit and able to play a
\nfull part in anything so sophisticate as a regional trade
\ngrouping is optimistic to say the very least.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's goal of admitting Burma, Cambodia and Laos to bring
\nthe grouping to 10 by the year 2000 is certainly worthy but it
\nshould not be blinded by that nice, round number if that means
\nthe entry of a pariah regime that purports to represent a state.<\/p>\n
That unappealing eventuality can be avoided by the inclusions
\nin negotiations of representatives of the elected National League
\nfor Democracy in the interests of progress, national
\nreconciliation and, above all, fair play.<\/p>\n
ASEAN should not rush in and accept Burma because its
\nofficials can speak English, because it has embassies in most
\nASEAN member states or for reasons of trade. ASEAN's credibility
\nin the international arena is at stake and it needs to consider
\nthe issue carefully.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/burma-and-asean-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }