KL reiterates Myanmar's right to join ASEAN
KL reiterates Myanmar's right to join ASEAN
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi yesterday reiterated Malaysia's belief that Myanmar has a right to join ASEAN, but said the timing of the membership was still not decided.
"ASEAN has agreed that in the near future it will have 10 member nations and Myanmar will be one of them. That is our policy," Abdullah told reporters.
"The question is when Myanmar would join ASEAN and that is secondary," he said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Myanmar is already an observer in the group and is scheduled to become a full member by next year, with Laos and Cambodia to follow.
Abdullah was responding to questions on whether he would discuss Myanmar's entry into ASEAN with Yangon's military government when he visits the state next week during an eight-day trip through Indochina, which includes stops in Vietnam and Cambodia.
He was also asked whether he would seek a clarification from Philippine President Fidel Ramos, who said recently that ASEAN might want to review its constructive engagement policy with Myanmar following moves by Yangon to crack down on democratic forces in the country.
Most recently, the Yangon government cut off the road to dissident Aung San Suu Kyi's house from Sept. 26 to Oct. 8 to stop her National League for Democracy (NLD) from holding a party congress.
The government also arrested 573 NLD party activists but later released them in stages.
"I've no plans to clarify anything to the Myanmar government on its ASEAN membership as our position is clear," Abdullah said.
"As for President Ramos, he'll be meeting other ASEAN leaders at an ASEAN summit this year and he can clarify his position if they didn't understand him," Abdullah added.
Top diplomats from ASEAN are due to meet in Kuala Lumpur on Friday and Saturday to discuss a host of administrative matters and Abdullah said the agenda would also include Myanmar.
"But it'll be on how we can familiarize Myanmar with ASEAN's ways, mannerisms and workings," he said.
Meanwhile, reports from Yangon said police manning roadblocks barred vehicles and pedestrians from entering the street leading to Suu Kyi's residence for the fourth consecutive day.
The government said it set up the checkpoints, which were put in place early last Saturday, to prevent Suu Kyi's regular weekend gatherings ouside her house on University Avenue from becoming a public disturbance.
For three weekends in a row, barricades have stopped the Nobel Peace laureate from giving her Saturday and Sunday speeches to supporters.
Suu Kyi was not available for comment as the telephone line to her house appeared to have been disconnected.
The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) has declared Suu Kyi's weekend public meetings illegal.