ASEAN chief checks Myanmar's application

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)