Clinton's envoys meet Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): United States President Bill Clinton's envoys seeking a coordinated regional response to tensions in Myanmar met yesterday with President Soeharto and Foreign Minister Ali Alatas.

Security expert Stanley Roth of the Institute of Peace and retired Ambassador William Brown refused to divulge details of their discussion with Soeharto.

However, Alatas later said that Indonesia's stance on Myanmar, along with other countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), would remain one of constructive engagement.

"Our position has been known. It will not change," Alatas said, reiterating Indonesia's refusal to take a tougher line against the ruling junta in Yangon.

Alatas also said Indonesia has no intention of isolating Yangon over a purely domestic matter of internal strife. "We don't see the benefit of such an isolation," he said.

Yesterday, William Brown said: "This is the fifth country we have visited on this quick swing through Asia. We've had a very interesting, fruitful and productive conversation with the President."

Brown and Roth have already visited Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. They are to visit Thailand on the last leg of their trip.

Last month, Myanmar's military rulers detained more than 250 activists from 1991 Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy ahead of a party congress. Most have since been released.

The United States and other Western nations have said they favor a tough stance against Myanmar, including economic sanctions.

The recent crackdown has been met with a generally muted response from ASEAN members, which maintain that they are adhering to the principal of non-interference and constructive engagement.

Myanmar is set to join Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as a member of ASEAN some time in the near future.

Speaking of the visit by the two American envoys, Alatas said that their mission here and with the other nations is to exchange information on the position of each government.

"They just want to express their position and hope to listen to ours," he said. (swe)