Myanmar ructions to prompt rare statement from ASEAN<\/p>\n
Agencies, Phnom Penh<\/p>\n
ASEAN ministers will issue an unprecedented statement of concern
\nover the May 30 political ructions in Myanmar that led to the
\ndetention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a spokesman for
\nthe 10-member bloc said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
In a move widely seen as a departure from the group's normal
\npolicy of non-interference in members' domestic affairs,
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat
\nspokesman M.C. Abad said the concern was a unanimous issue among
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first time that ASEAN has taken a pro-active
\nstand on Myanmar on the record,\" he told AFP. \"In general, it
\nwill be a statement of concern.\"<\/p>\n
Abad said the discussions on the May 30 attack on supporters
\nof democracy leader Suu Kyi and her subsequent detention was made
\npossible after Myanmar agreed that the topic be tackled.<\/p>\n
\"Notwithstanding its domestic nature, Myanmar has agreed to an
\nASEAN discussion on recent political developments in that
\ncountry,\" Abad said on the eve of a series of ministerial
\nmeetings, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security
\nissues.<\/p>\n
\"The ASEAN foreign ministers, in their joint communique, will
\nexpress their common view on the subject. This is the first time
\nthat ASEAN will comment on this domestic issue.\"<\/p>\n
ASEAN has a long-standing policy of not commenting on the
\ninternal affairs of members. That policy has been widely
\ncriticized as weak and stifling for the organization which has
\nsought common ground for Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
The statement is expected to be issued on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Abad said talks on the domestic affairs of a member state were
\nonly made possible after Myanmar \"accepted ASEAN's pro-active
\nstance on this subject of concern.\"<\/p>\n
Without Yangon's consent, \"it would have been difficult\" for
\nthe discussions to take place.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung said on Sunday
\nSuu Kyi will be freed but only after the situation in the country
\nhas returned to normal.<\/p>\n
Win Aung, in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, for a meeting
\nof Asia-Pacific leaders, said he could not give an exact date
\nwhen Suu Kyi might be released.<\/p>\n
He also spoke of assassination plots but was vague about who
\nmight be the target.<\/p>\n
\"There were some assassins going around the country,\" he said.
\n\"I don't know whom their targets were, our leaders? But if
\nanything happened to her it will be blamed on us.\"<\/p>\n
The Nobel laureate was taken into what Win Aung called
\nprotective custody after clashes between her supporters and
\nfollowers of the military government in the north of the country
\non May 30.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot say how soon, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or
\nwhen, but we can assure you one thing -- that we are working to
\nbring back the situation to normal,\" he told reporters after a
\nmeeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will attend the ARF
\nmeeting on Wednesday, has said he will push ASEAN to confront
\nMyanmar on the issue.<\/p>\n
Asked if the expression of concern will be strong enough to
\nsatisfy the international community, Abad told AFP: \"You can
\nnever satisfy people, but a statement of concern is a statement
\nof concern.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first time that it will be in the joint
\ncommunique. It was never done before,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myanmar-ructions-to-prompt-rare-statement-from-asean-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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