West urged to ask Suu Kyi to tone down<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Reuter): Thai foreign minister Prachuab Chaiyasarn
\nyesterday said Western nations should ask Myanmar opposition
\nleader Aung San Suu Kyi to tone down her stance to help reach a
\ncompromise with Yangon's military leaders.<\/p>\n
\"We would like to urge the West to talk to the opposition to
\ntone down their position to cooperate with the SLORC,\" Prachuab
\nsaid, referring to Myanmar ruling military body, the State Law
\nand Order Restoration Council.<\/p>\n
The United States and many European Union nations have urged
\nthe SLORC to hold talks with Suu Kyi and her National League for
\nDemocracy (NLD) party, which won a 1990 election by a landslide
\nbut was never allowed to take power.<\/p>\n
The SLORC says the only forum for dialogue is through the
\nnational convention process.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi angered the SLORC in 1995 when she pulled the NLD out
\nof the constitutional talks, saying the government-backed
\nconvention did not represent the will of the people and was not
\ndemocratic.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate, has also vowed to step
\nup efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar, and has said she and
\nher party will be more aggressive in its opposition to the
\nmilitary regime this year.<\/p>\n
Prachuab said Western nations, which have condemned the SLORC
\nfor human rights abuses and its refusal to recognize the NLD as
\nthe elected government, have repeatedly urged members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to persuade
\nMyanmar's generals to begin a dialogue with Suu Kyi and the NLD.<\/p>\n
\"The West always mentions ASEAN should talk with SLORC, and
\nthe West have to do their work also,\" Prachuab said in an
\ninterview.<\/p>\n
\"If the West is so concerned about what is happening in Burma
\n(Myanmar), we don't want them to just only talk and blame the
\nothers. They have to...perform their responsibilities also.\"<\/p>\n
He also said Thailand stands behind the ASEAN policy of
\n\"constructive engagement\" and non-interference in the internal
\naffairs of other countries.<\/p>\n
But he said Myanmar, which hopes to join the regional grouping
\nsoon, should try and settle the constitution and its problems
\nwith the opposition led by Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
He said the recent unrest in Myanmar, which resulted in the
\narrest of dozens of activists and the restriction of Suu Kyi's
\nmovements, should not affect Myanmar's entry into ASEAN.<\/p>\n
Prachuab said the exact timing of when Myanmar, along with
\nCambodia and Laos, will become full members of ASEAN depended on
\ntheir technical preparedness -- not their political situation.
\nASEAN also includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the
\nPhilippines and Vietnam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-urged-to-ask-suu-kyi-to-tone-down-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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