ASEAN firm on vow to stay out of Myanmar politics

ASEAN firm on vow to stay out of Myanmar politics

By Deborah Charles

BANGKOK (Reuter): Southeast Asian nations remain unwavering in
their resolve to stay out of Myanmar's internal politics, a sharp
contrast to widespread condemnation and threats of sanctions from
the West.

There has been no hint of change to the "constructive
engagement" policy on Myanmar of any of the seven members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), despite a
crackdown by the country's military leaders on pro-democracy
supporters over the past few months.

ASEAN, which groups Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam, rarely comments on Myanmar's
affairs or its treatment of its citizens, saying it does not get
involved in internal affairs of other countries.

Thai Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan said last week the policy
would not be abandoned even though it may not have produced the
anticipated results.

"We believe that although ASEAN's constructive policy may be
viewed by many to have not produced the kind of results that most
people expect, it only means that we have to redouble our
efforts, make it more constructive," Amnuay said.

ASEAN will officially welcome Myanmar as an observer at an
ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta even as the European
Union and the United States -- angry over the crackdown in
Myanmar and the death in jail of an honorary consul to four
European nations -- deliberate imposing economic sanctions on
Yangon.

Philippine foreign minister Domingo Siazon has said Myanmar's
observer status would not be affected by recent events because
ASEAN leaders had made the decision last year.

Myanmar is also to be included in the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) security grouping at the meeting, diplomats said.

ARF includes the ASEAN nations, Australia, Cambodia, Canada,
China the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Laos, New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States. India and Myanmar
will be the two new members.

Western views differ remarkably from those of Myanmar's Asian
neighbors.

Myanmar's ruling military government, the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC), has come under attack from many
Western nations for its recent clampdown on pro-democracy
politicians.

In May, the SLORC arrested more than 250 members of the
National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by Nobel Peace
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of a controversial party meeting.
It subsequently released most of them.

Since May, the SLORC has mounted an intense propaganda
campaign against the NLD. Calling Suu Kyi a "puppet princess" and
the NLD "goons" of Westerners who want to colonize Myanmar.

European nations were outraged when James Leander Nichols, a
former honorary consul and representative for Norway, Denmark,
Finland and Switzerland, died in jail last month.

EU president Ireland last week called for a full and
satisfactory explanation of Nichols' death and an investigation
by the United Nations.

Denmark has already proposed that the European Union implement
sanctions against Myanmar, while the U.S. Senate this month will
consider an economic sanctions bill on Myanmar in an effort to
push the SLORC towards democratic reform.

Two European beer companies have also pulled out of Myanmar
after pressure from human rights activists and threats to boycott
their products.

Dutch brewer Heineken NV announced last Wednesday the
withdrawal of its $30 million investment in Myanmar; a day
earlier Danish beer maker Carlsberg dropped plans to invest in a
new brewery in Myanmar.

U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said last week the
United States would consult ASEAN nations on how to curb the "new
tide of repression" in Myanmar, including a possible boycott.

But Christopher, who will meet ASEAN foreign ministers in
Jakarta, said he did not expect an early consensus on any
proposed boycott.