ASEAN ministers gather to discuss new members' entry

ASEAN ministers gather to discuss new members' entry

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Differences surfaced yesterday as ASEAN foreign ministers gathered here to tackle the prickly question of when to admit the troubled nations of Myanmar and Cambodia into the regional grouping.

But members said they were confident of forging a consensus today on a date for the elevation of the two countries and Laos from observer status to full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said his country wanted Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos in ASEAN as early as July, when foreign ministers meet here for annual talks, rather than December when leaders hold a summit.

Alatas told reporters on arrival for Saturday's ministerial meeting that it was Jakarta's "position, hope and expectation" that the two countries and Laos would join the grouping in July.

"Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar fulfill all the criteria ... for new members, and therefore Indonesia believes there should be no obstacles to accept them as full members," Alatas said.

But Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said the ability of Cambodia to meet commitments to ASEAN economic agreements, including the planned creation of a free trade area, was in doubt while seeing no obstacle in the case of Myanmar.

Such agreements may have to be ratified by parliament, and "these are important considerations," he said. "In this connection, the case of Cambodia will be discussed ..."

Tension has been mounting in Cambodia between the two main parties in its shaky ruling coalition, triggering fears of political unrest which could embarrass ASEAN.

In a report released yesterday, the Study Mission to Cambodia (SMC), a group of 10 parliamentarians, former diplomats and academics from ASEAN countries, said the current crisis in Cambodia "should not be used as a reason for keeping her out of ASEAN."

"Although the political situation in Cambodia may appear grave and a cause for concern, the SMC members were of the view it was not more serious than the situation of some (other) Asian states."

The SMC is led by Thai MP Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Its Indonesian member is Sabam Siagian, former ambassador to Australia and member of board of directors of The Jakarta Post.

The grouping of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam is, meanwhile, under pressure from the West and human rights groups to shut the door on Burma's military regime because of alleged widespread abuses.

Myanmarese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has warned ASEAN that admitting Myanmar might trigger an increase in the junta's repression of political and human rights.

Alatas said the internal turmoil in Myanmar and Cambodia would not weigh on their admission.

"We follow these developments but they are developments internal to a certain country, so we do not believe we have to interfere by making it a pre-condition or a criteria for membership," Alatas said.

Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan, in an interview televised in Bangkok, said, however, that "their internal politics are an important factor to consider."

Alatas was hopeful that a consensus would be reached, saying: "It is my hope and my expectation that we will get a consensus."

Siazon said the Philippines was "quite flexible" on the timing and that a "definite" decision would be made Saturday.

A Cambodian envoy said his country was ready to join ASEAN in July itself, adding that the political tension in Phnom Penh should not be a hurdle.