ASEAN, U.S. to discuss Myanmar

ASEAN, U.S. to discuss Myanmar

WASHINGTON (AFP): U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher
will discuss Myanmar's renewed crackdown on dissent with his
Southeast Asian counterparts in July, the State Department said
yesterday.

But spokesman Nicholas Burns said Washington was still
considering whether to send an envoy to the military-ruled
country to convey American concern or simply to continue talks
with Myanmar's neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).

Two U.S. envoys just back from the region "heard in private
from the Japanese government and from a number of the ASEAN
countries, perhaps not all of them ... that they are concerned
about this problem," Burns said.

Although Japan has toughened its message to the junta, which
came to power after a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests
in 1988, the ASEAN countries have refused to criticize Yangon,
preferring a non-confrontational policy of "constructive
engagement."

On Tuesday, ASEAN founding member Malaysia said Myanmar's
political troubles will not disqualify it from joining ASEAN.