ASEAN chief checks Myanmar's application

JAKARTA (JP): Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Dato Ajit Singh left for Yangon yesterday at the invitation of the ruling military regime in Myanmar.

The ASEAN Secretariat issued a statement saying the purpose of the visit "is to look into preparations necessary for Myanmar's entry into ASEAN".

This is the first such visit by an ASEAN secretary-general.

The eight-day visit can be considered a possible precursor to Myanmar's entry into the association next year.

Formed in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar submitted in August an application for membership. It could join the association along with Cambodia and Laos next year.

ASEAN states, however, have been under pressure to review their "constructive engagement" policy with Yangon whose military regime continues to restrict the prodemocracy movement led by Nobel prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

While remaining steadfast in their approach and hold firm to the principle of Myanmar's eventual membership, some member states have raised questions as to the appropriate time of entry.

Ajit Singh is accompanied by the ASEAN Secretariat's Afta director Suthad Setboonsarng, assistant director Lim Hong Hin and assistant director for external relations Termsak Chalermpalanupap.

The visit is in sharp contrast to Monday's decision taken by the European Union (EU) in Brussels which imposed visa restrictions on member's of the ruling regime and other senior officials of Myanmar.

The EU has already suspended several bilateral development cooperation agreements with Yangon.

Yesterday's statement from the ASEAN Secretariat failed to mention whether Ajit Singh and his delegation would raise questions over human rights concerns. (mds)