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.