'ASEAN may review Myanmar stance'

'ASEAN may review Myanmar stance'

MANILA (Reuter): Philippine President Fidel Ramos said
yesterday the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
might review its policy of "constructive engagement" towards
Myanmar at the ASEAN summit in November.

Ramos said the consensus among ASEAN foreign ministers
remained that the group may eventually admit Myanmar as a member
provided it made progress on trade and political reforms.

But ASEAN may review its policy of refraining from directly
challenging Myanmar on its human rights record, Ramos told his
weekly news conference.

"The ASEAN leaders will have their summit in late November
1996 and maybe the matter can be reviewed at that stage," Ramos
said in response to a question on the ASEAN response to Yangon's
latest crackdown on democracy activists.

The seven-member regional grouping has previously resisted
pressure for international sanctions to be imposed against
Myanmar's military rulers.