Myanmar bugging<\/p>\n
Recently, it was suspected that the Indonesian embassy in
\nYangon was bugged by the Yangon military junta, which would pose
\na challenge to ASEAN's \"Constructive Engagement\" approaches to
\nMyanmar's junta. Djoko Susilo, a legislator of Indonesia's House
\nCommission I for foreign affairs, said an investigation by a
\ncombined security team at the embassy found a bugging device in
\nthe wall of the ambassador's office.<\/p>\n
This could also happen to foreign diplomatic missions, UN
\nagencies and international non-governmental organizations. No one
\nknows how many Yangon-based foreign embassies and missions have
\nbeen bugged by the military junta.<\/p>\n
In March, 2003, Paulo Pinherio, the UN special rapporteur on
\nhuman rights in Myanmar exposed a bugging device during an
\ninterview with a political prisoner at a notorious Insein prison.
\nHe was angry and frustrated; the bugging incident had contravened
\nassurances he had been given by the junta before he arrived in
\nMyanmar.<\/p>\n
Even Mahathir Mohamad said that military gangs should be
\nexpelled from the ASEAN bloc: \"We are very disappointed over
\nthese things and, of course, we have done our very best to try to
\nget them to change their minds. But if they are willing to defy
\nthe world, then what can Malaysia do?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Yangon military junta has made ASEAN many promises. It
\nfollowed its suggestions on economic liberalization and
\nprivatization, but not on national reconciliation and
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
It's time to change ASEAN's \"Constructive Engagement\" and move
\ntoward productive foreign policy.<\/p>\n
NAING KO, Patuntani, Thailand<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myanmar-bugging-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }