Hashimoto urges Myanmar to pursue democratic reform

Hashimoto urges Myanmar to pursue democratic reform

SINGAPORE (AFP): Japanese Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto yesterday urged Myanmar's military rulers to pursue democratic reforms and bluntly warned them to play by "international rules" if they gain admission into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Hashimoto told a news conference on the last leg of a five- nation tour of ASEAN members that Myanmar should not use its membership as a "smokescreen" for "autocratic rule."

Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are expected to be admitted by 2000 into ASEAN, which now includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which have close and strengthening links with Japan.

Hashimoto said once Myanmar joins ASEAN, it "will be brought into the international community and would be subjected to the international rules of the game."

"That I've stated to the leaders I've met with," he said.

"At the same time, I stated that their (Myanmar's) accession to ASEAN should not provide a smokescreen for the autocratic rule back home."

Hashimoto arrived in Singapore Sunday after visits to Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Hashimoto said there was "a very tense situation" between Myanmar's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

"And with the student movement's demonstrations, I must say that uncertainties are only increasing. So including these uncertainties, we are watching with much concern the developments in Myanmar," he said, using the name given to the country by SLORC after it seized power in 1988.

"We shall maintain our dialogue with both SLORC ... as well as NLD."

Hashimoto said Japan "cannot allow a setback ... or a reversal of the trend towards democratization."

"We very much hope that the Myanmar government will work towards democratization and make wise judgments to that end," the Japanese leader added.

Summit

Hashimoto yesterday also called for an annual summit between Japan and ASEAN after getting a favorable response from leaders in the region to his proposal for regular top-level dialogues.

He said that leaders of the five ASEAN members he had visited over the past week all endorsed his idea of a regular summit, whether formal or informal, between the two sides.

"I don't think there were any leaders who showed a passive response or a negative response," Hashimoto said.

He said he would send an emissary to the Philippines and Thailand to explain his proposal to the two governments and achieve a conclusive agreement with ASEAN on the summit proposal.

"I think the idea that I proposed can be realized," he said.

Asked how often the summits should be held, he said "I hope we'll be able to meet at least once a year either formally or informally."

"I think it is necessary for us to engage in such a dialogue," he added.

ASEAN leaders agreed last year to hold annual informal summits and said they could invite close partners to such gatherings. The first was held in Jakarta last November with leaders of Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos -- all applying to become ASEAN members -- coming as guests.