Burma and ASEAN
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to be applauded for their decision to put off a decision on an application for Burma's full membership by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
The Philippine government deserves particular praise for mustering support for the deferral, which coincides with yet another spasm in the violence and oppression that so typifies the ways of the military clique that has imposed itself on a cowed and impoverished population.
In deferring the application by the SLORC, which was stripped of any spurious claim to legitimacy when it was humiliated in the 1990 election it found so convenient to ignore, the foreign ministers agreed the regime needed more time to prepare for integration.
In the jargon of the regional grouping, Burma needed a deeper understanding of ASEAN mechanisms and it had to train and prepare officials for the responsibilities that full membership implies.
That might be a kind way of delivering what appears a serious setback to the aspirations of the generals in Rangoon, who have taken the granting of observer status two months ago as the pretext to, or even justification for, an intensification of thug rule.
If the junta thought that observer status would automatically guarantee full membership of the regional grouping by next year, it may well be mistaken. The ASEAN foreign ministers made clear that the target date was too early and it would be difficult to argue against that contention.
Full membership implies a great deal more than simply happening to be in Southeast Asia, signing a few accords, hosting a few gatherings and investing in a few multicolored shirts for the end-of-conference shindig and photo-call.
It involves complex treaties and negotiations within the framework of international law and trade conventions. It involves a familiarity with international mechanisms that have been in operation and embraced by most countries of the world for the decades in which Burma's rulers cocooned themselves and their country in benighted isolation.
To expect the junta to suddenly emerge fit and able to play a full part in anything so sophisticate as a regional trade grouping is optimistic to say the very least.
ASEAN's goal of admitting Burma, Cambodia and Laos to bring the grouping to 10 by the year 2000 is certainly worthy but it should not be blinded by that nice, round number if that means the entry of a pariah regime that purports to represent a state.
That unappealing eventuality can be avoided by the inclusions in negotiations of representatives of the elected National League for Democracy in the interests of progress, national reconciliation and, above all, fair play.
ASEAN should not rush in and accept Burma because its officials can speak English, because it has embassies in most ASEAN member states or for reasons of trade. ASEAN's credibility in the international arena is at stake and it needs to consider the issue carefully.
-- The Bangkok Post