'Myanmar's entry may mar ASEAN'<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia's powerful Moslem Youth Movement
\nsaid yesterday the dignity of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) will be tarnished if it accepts Myanmar's
\nmilitary government into its fold.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman, secretary-general of the non-
\ngovernmental organization, urged ASEAN to exercise discretion in
\naccepting Myanmar, as the country calls itself, as a member,
\ngiven the military government's atrocities and human rights
\nabuses against its citizens.<\/p>\n
\"If the citizens of Myanmar can change the fate of their
\ncountry without a helping hand from ASEAN, what will be the
\nrelationship between ASEAN and the future legitimate government
\nof Myanmar?\" he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The seven-member ASEAN accorded observer status to Myanmar at
\nits annual foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta at the weekend,
\nin a move seen as a final step towards attaining full membership
\nin two or three years.<\/p>\n
Myanmar also joined, together with India, the ASEAN Regional
\nForum (ARF) in Jakarta yesterday, bringing to 21 the number of
\nmembers in the security body whose other members include all
\nASEAN states, the United States, the European Union, China,
\nRussia and Japan.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos are also
\nobservers and are expected to become members next year.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has long ignored calls by Western countries to isolate
\nMyanmar's military government, known as the State Law and Order
\nRestoration Council (SLORC), which crushed a pro-democracy
\nuprising in 1988 and which has refused to cede power despite
\nlosing in general elections two years later.<\/p>\n
ASEAN governments maintain that their non-confrontational
\npolicy of \"constructive engagement\", which allows trade and
\nbusiness ties with Myanmar, is more effective at bringing about
\ndemocratic reforms than imposing economic sanctions or isolation.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Azam said that while criticisms by Western governments
\non Myanmar may seem like double standards given their weak action
\nin Bosnia-Herzegovina, ASEAN should be careful about accepting
\nMyanmar \"just to oppose the stand of the West\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myanmars-entry-may-mar-asean-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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