Myanmar thanks ASEAN for tolerance at Bali summit<\/p>\n
Agencies, Yangon<\/p>\n
Myanmar on Friday thanked Southeast Asian nations for opting not
\nto criticize the regime at their summit this week, saying that
\n\"cooperation, not confrontation\" would help it shift to
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's military junta had been braced for a lashing over
\nits detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, at this
\nweek's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in
\nBali, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
But despite its refusal to release Suu Kyi before the meeting,
\nASEAN leaders hailed recent events in Myanmar as \"positive
\ndevelopments\" and said international sanctions would not help
\npromote democratic change.<\/p>\n
\"By working together as partners, the nations of ASEAN are
\nshowing that cooperation, not confrontation, is the path to a
\njust, democratic and harmonious world,\" the junta said in a
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
\"The ASEAN partnership will also help Myanmar move toward its
\nown goal of a stable, peaceful democratic state,\" it said. \"The
\nGovernment of Myanmar extends its thanks to the fellow members of
\nthe ASEAN.\"<\/p>\n
The ASEAN resolution, which would have come as a great relief
\nto newly appointed Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt, also lent its
\nsupport to his new \"road map\" to democracy.<\/p>\n
The initiative envisages \"free and fair\" elections and a new
\nconstitution to be written in a national convention, but does not
\nmention Suu Kyi or any timeframe for reform.<\/p>\n
\"The ASEAN leaders agreed that the road map outlined by the
\nMyanmar Prime Minister is a pragmatic plan that deserves support,
\nand agreed that the developments so far have been positive,\" the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Analysts said ASEAN wanted to give the regime a chance to show
\nit was sincere about pursuing reforms, and extended the benefit
\nof the doubt to Khin Nyunt, who is reputedly a moderate figure
\namong the generals.<\/p>\n
However, Washington has pointedly disagreed with the Southeast
\nAsian leaders' assessment, noting that the junta continues to
\ndetain Suu Kyi and other seniors members of her National League
\nfor Democracy.<\/p>\n
The State Department said this week that it saw no \"positive
\ndevelopments\" in Myanmar, where the opposition leader was put
\nunder house arrest last month after four months of detention at a
\nsecret location.<\/p>\n
\"We don't see those and we don't see any need for a road map
\nunless it has the full participation of the opposition,\" said
\nState Department spokesman Richard Boucher.<\/p>\n
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday gave the
\nYangon regime another vote of support, dismissing the U.S.
\ncriticisms and praising Myanmar for explaining its domestic
\npolitical situation at Bali.<\/p>\n
\"We have been told about progressive developments and we
\nconsider that Myanmar has shown its responsibility as a member of
\nthe group by explaining the situation to ASEAN,\" he said as
\nquoted by the Agence France-Presse.<\/p>\n
Thaksin said he was optimistic about prospects for change in
\nMyanmar and that Thailand -- which has a prickly relationship
\nwith its neighbor -- would not pile on any more pressure as that
\nwould be counterproductive.<\/p>\n
\"Western countries do not understand the problem as they are
\ntoo far from the region,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, authorities stopped followers of Suu Kyi from
\npaying their respects to her on Friday at her Yangon home where
\nmany say the Nobel Peace laureate is being detained, an official
\nof her National League for Democracy party said.<\/p>\n
About 30 party members were turned away at a checkpoint at an
\nintersection near Suu Kyi's lakeside residence on the Full Moon
\nDay of Thadingyut that marks the end of Buddhist lent, The
\nAssociated Press reported.<\/p>\n
It's traditional that homage is paid to elders and teachers on
\nthe holiday. Most of Myanmar's 42 million people are Buddhists.
\nSuu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myanmar-thanks-asean-for-tolerance-at-bali-summit-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}