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.