Asian lawmakers urge govts to keep pressuring Myanmar

Asian lawmakers urge govts to keep pressuring Myanmar

Agencies, Kuala Lumpur/Yangon

Southeast Asian lawmakers urged their governments on Monday to maintain pressure on Myanmar to establish democratic reforms, following the military-ruled country's recent decision to forego its turn to chair the region's bloc.

Myanmar announced during a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month that it would cede the grouping's 2006 chairmanship because it wants to focus on its national reconciliation and democratization process.

A coalition of legislators from six ASEAN nations said the decision showed how "the concerted pressure and persuasive powers of ASEAN members" was an effective tool that could force Myanmar to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hold free elections.

"It shows that pressure works," Zaid Ibrahim, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar, told a news conference. "We now urge ASEAN countries to ensure that that is a genuine effort towards democracy."

ASEAN countries, which normally follow a policy of noninterference in each other's domestic affairs and resistance to foreign pressure, should be more assertive to ensure "the spotlight remains on Myanmar" to keep its promises, Zaid said.

"We think that politically, economically and socially, the future of Myanmar depends a lot on ASEAN's goodwill and support," Zaid said. "We should take advantage of that and recognize our own leverage ... to influence the course of events in Myanmar."

Zaid said the ASEAN parliamentarians -- who come from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand -- would hold a series of forums between October and November to discuss what ASEAN could do to push forward the democratic process in Myanmar.

A meeting with European lawmakers is also being planned, Zaid added.

In Yangon, the chairman of Myanmar's ruling junta said in comments published on Monday that ASEAN had brought peace to Southeast Asia but made no mention of the grouping's recent crisis involving his country.

In a front-page article in the official New Light of Myanmar newspaper, Senior Gen. Than Shwe said ASEAN had much to celebrate on its 38th anniversary, such as increased regional economic and socio-cultural development.

"I truly believe that through the process of ASEAN integration, ASEAN will surely become a concert of Southeast Asian nations, bonded together in partnership, in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies by the year 2020," he was quoted as saying.

The ASEAN bloc comprises some 540 million people with a combined gross domestic product of US$723 billion and total annual trade value of $720 billion, Than Shwe said.

Since joining, "Myanmar has contributed to the maintenance of peace and security, economic and socio-cultural development in the Southeast Asian region," Than Shwe reportedly said. "It also in some way contributed to the endeavor of Myanmar in establishing a modern, developed and peaceful nation."

Meanwhile, Myanmar opposition groups said they had no plans to mark the 17th anniversary on Monday of pro-democracy protests, a date known by Myanmar people as the "8888" people-power movement which resulted in a military clampdown in September 1988.

The military ignored a landslide victory by National League for Democracy candidates in a 1990 election and held on to power.