Indonesia refuses to pressure Myanmar

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday reasserted its refusal to take a tougher line against Myanmar, saying that it would continue its "constructive engagement" with the ruling junta in Yangon.

Speaking at Bina Graha here yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said Indonesia has no intention of isolating Yangon, because the internal strife going on there was purely a domestic matter.

"We don't see the benefit of such an isolation," Alatas said, adding that Indonesia and the other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hold similar stances.

Alatas made the comments on the eve of a two-day visit by U.S. envoys sent by President Bill Clinton on a six-nation tour to coordinate an international response to Yangon's crackdown on activists.

Washington has threatened sanctions against Yangon.

The two envoys -- Stanley Roth of the Institute of Peace and retired Ambassador William Brown -- are scheduled to arrive here tomorrow. They had earlier met on Monday with Japanese foreign minister Yukihiko Ikeda in Tokyo and with Philippine President Fidel Ramos in Manila on Tuesday.

They are scheduled to arrive in Singapore today.

The recent crackdown has been met with a generally muted response from ASEAN members, who 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.

Roth and Brown are set to fly to Malaysia and Thailand after their visit here.

Alatas yesterday defended ASEAN's stance of constructive engagement by saying that it was aimed at inviting Myanmar out of its isolation.

"It doesn't mean that we, as a friend, don't talk to Myanmar. However, we don't agree that a country like Myanmar should be alienated or isolated," Alatas told journalists yesterday after accompanying visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on a courtesy call to President Soeharto.

"We in ASEAN hold on to the principle of noninterference in domestic affairs ... We should be free to resolve our own affairs," the minister remarked.

He said that Indonesia and ASEAN know where to draw the line in regard to domestic matters and do not want to cross that line.

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

"They just want to express their position and hope to listen to ours. Our position is already clear. Like ASEAN's position towards Myanmar, (it) won't change," he said. (mds)