Democracy and human rights imperative, say ASEAN partners

Democracy and human rights imperative, say ASEAN partners

JAKARTA (JP): Dialog partners of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) emphasized the importance for democracy and
human rights yesterday as an imperative prerequisite to regional
stability.

United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher at the
opening plenary session of the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC)
said the spread of democracy throughout Asia is a critical factor
in ensuring peace, stability and continued economic growth.

"The most stable and prosperous societies will be those where
creative ideas are freely exchanged, where political debates can
be resolved peacefully at the ballot box, where the press can
expose corruption and courts can root it out, and where contracts
can be respected," he said.

Christopher, along with representatives from other dialog
partners, met for the two-day PMC with their ASEAN counterparts.

Chaired by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas,
the morning's plenary session was attended by all 10 dialog
partners and the foreign ministers of the seven ASEAN states.

Christopher, in his assertion of the need to respect democracy
and human rights, questioned the myth that "democracy in Asia
must wait for development." He pointed to countries like the
Philippines where a return to democracy had helped to galvanize
economic renewal.

"Democracy and development must go hand in hand if either one
is to succeed," he said.

He claimed that the continued suppression of democracy in
Asian countries could have powerful destabilizing consequences
for the region as a whole.

Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy noted that with the
rapid pace of growth in the region, "pressures are increasing for
democratization, centers of influence are shifting and demands
for accountability are growing."

He said that growth and prosperity requires stability, and
stability in one area is affected by instability in another.

Speaking on democracy and human rights, Warren Christopher
pointed to what he said were the Myanmarese people's aspirations
for democratic government. He warned that "the longer their
wishes are denied the greater the chance of instability,
bloodshed, and migration within Burma (Myanmar) and across its
borders."

He then urged ASEAN to encourage its relations with Yangon to
promote greater openness.

ASEAN has rebuffed Western demands for ASEAN to take a tougher
stand against Myanmar and maintains that "constructive
engagement" with Yangon is more useful.

Of these conflicting approaches, Christopher said Washington
wants to work together with ASEAN, but "we retain the option of
taking a more forceful action as developments in Burma warrant."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed
Canberra's "serious concern" over Myanmar.

He said last year there had been encouraging signs with the
release from house detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, but added that recent developments have been less
encouraging.

"Our hopes have been frustrated. Instead of new dialog and
compromise we have seen confrontation and refusal to talk,"
Downer said, adding that people are fleeing the country because
of institutionalized abuse of social, economic and political
rights.

He then called on all nations to urge Myanmar to bring its
human rights record in line with regionally and internationally
accepted standards.

Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring in front of the ASEAN
ministers also expressed "deep concern" at the situation in
Myanmar adding that the military regime in Yangon "still rules in
an unacceptable manner."

He said he would like to hear ASEAN's views on the matter.

"The European Union would be grateful to hear the views of
ASEAN on what is happening in its neighbor country and what, in
its view, the best approach should be to achieving national
reconciliation in Myanmar," said Spring, who is attending the PMC
on behalf of the European Union.

Spring then touched on the issue of East Timor, saying that
the European Union welcomed the meeting between President
Soeharto and Portuguese Prime Minister Guterres during the Asia
Europe Summit in March.

"We hope this will help facilitate a settlement of the East
Timor question," he said, adding that the European Union has
recently defined the common position of its member states on East
Timor.

The former Portuguese province of East Timor was integrated
into Indonesia in 1976. However, the United Nations still regards
Lisbon as the administrating power there. (mds)