Encourage reform in Myanmar: KL<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia is developing into a broker in
\ntalks Myanmar's military government and the opposition and is
\nurging other Southeast Asian nations to step up economic aid to
\nencourage the generals to embrace democracy.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that Malaysia would try
\nto build on progress made during a recent visit by Prime Minister
\nMahathir Mohamad to end decades of isolation for Myanmar by
\nencouraging political reform through economic development.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that Myanmar would change but this change would
\nonly be brought about through economic development,\" Syed Hamid
\nsaid in a recent interview with The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
\"When people are more conscious, more aware, more affluent,
\nthen they will demand more freedom, more democracy.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir made an unofficial visit to Myanmar, also known as
\nBurma, in January and met with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of
\nthe ruling State Peace and Development Council. The trip
\ncoincided with a UN mission to Myanmar led by special envoy
\nRazali Ismail, a Malaysian diplomat.<\/p>\n
After his visit, Razali revealed that junta leaders had been
\nholding reconciliation talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu
\nKyi, a potential breakthrough in a decade-old impasse.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid said Mahathir had made Razali's mission easier by
\nasking Myanmar's rulers to give the UN special envoy, \"whatever
\nassistance he needed.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir had developed a special relationship with members of
\nMyanmar's ruling council by encouraging democracy without
\ncriticizing the regime, Syed Hamid said.<\/p>\n
\"The prime minister is not seen as dictative,\" Syed Hamid
\nsaid. \"He consults and discusses and they feel he is discussing
\nwith them. That enables the prime minister to make his views and
\nrecommendations on things to do, but at the end of day the choice
\nis with Myanmar.\"<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi's party won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to
\ntake power. She spent has spent the past 12 years under house
\narrest or other restrictions. The repression has drawn much
\ninternational criticism of the military.<\/p>\n
The military has ruled since 1962. Suu Kyi, daughter of
\nindependence hero Aung San, came to prominence during massive
\nstreet protests against military rule in 1988, which were crushed
\nin bloodshed. She won the Nobel Peace Price in 1991 and has long
\ninsisted that the election results be respected.<\/p>\n
She has great support in the West, but the military views her
\nas a traitor for supporting economic sanctions against the
\ncountry, already one of the poorest in Asia, as a tool to force
\ndemocratic change.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid said Myanmar's generals had shown their willingness
\nto accept democracy, but that they must be allowed to make the
\nchanges at their own pace.<\/p>\n
They have made the same argument for years. Myanmar-watchers
\nare uncertain whether the talks represent a breakthrough and will
\nlead to a political settlement or are simply a bid by the
\ngenerals to play for time.<\/p>\n
\"Nobody should dictate to Myanmar on the type and time that
\nthey should become democratic,\" Syed Hamid said. \"Myanmar leaders
\nare quite willing to listen and discuss, but they do not want to
\nbe put in a box.\"<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid said countries within the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations should help Myanmar build its fragile economy.
\nWith Mahathir's strong support, ASEAN made Myanmar a member in
\n1997 in the expectation that doing so would soften the regime.
\nThere was no quick impact.<\/p>\n
Now, leading ASEAN member Thailand is engaged in border
\nskirmishes with Myanmar and accuses the regime of helping traffic
\ndrugs into Thailand.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid said that Malaysia, already one of the largest
\ninvestors in Myanmar, would send several more missions there this
\nyear, \"to see what they need in terms of economic development,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid urged both Myanmar's rulers and Suu Kyi's side to
\ncontinue discussions, adding that Malaysia would offer any
\nassistance it could.<\/p>\n
\"It is our responsibility to see a fellow ASEAN country grow
\nlike any other ASEAN country and not be isolated,\" the minister
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore,
\nPhillipines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.<\/p>",
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