Myanmar becomes ASEAN observer

Sun, 21 Jul 1996, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

JAKARTA (JP): Myanmar took one step closer to becoming a
member of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) yesterday
as it was inducted as an observer of the seven-member
organization.

Myanmar's admission came in the midst of intense Western
criticism over Yangon's human rights record.

The ceremony was led by Indonesia's Ali Alatas, who spoke on
behalf of the other six ASEAN ministers seated in a line of
rattan armchairs on one side, with the Myanmar delegation on the
other.

Alatas noted that Myanmar has been making earnest endeavors to
prepare itself for eventual full membership in the ASEAN by the
turn of the century.

"It is my hope -- which is shared by all members of ASEAN --
that not too long from now, we shall be welcoming Myanmar again,
not as an observer but as a member," Alatas added.

ASEAN comprises of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Myanmar, sometime in the near future, is expected to follow in
the footsteps of current observers Cambodia and Laos, who are
expected to join ASEAN next year.

"Every step, therefore, that Myanmar takes toward full
membership in ASEAN is also a step toward the fulfillment of that
vision," Alatas said of the founding fathers' dream of a united
Southeast Asia.

Myanmar's Foreign Minister, Ohn Gyaw, thanked the seven ASEAN
foreign ministers for their "unanimous support" in accepting the
country as an observer and reaffirmed his country's strong desire
to integrate itself with the association.

Myanmar continues to remain in the glare of Western
criticism for its alleged repression of human rights activists.
ASEAN has also disregarded Western calls and maintained a policy
of constructive engagement towards Yangon.

Myanmarese pro-democracy activist and Nobel laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi has written a letter to ASEAN heads of state ahead of the
ASEAN ministerial meeting calling for economic sanctions against
her country as a means of encouraging political changes.

Later yesterday afternoon, ASEAN ministers, at the start of
their two-day meeting, highlighted a number of regional and
global issues as well as various administrative matters of the
organization.

Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar, at the opening
ceremony, asserted the need for ASEAN to intensify efforts to get
dialog partners to sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free
Zone Treaty.

Similarly, Alatas said: "We should now exert our best efforts
to ensure the treaty's early entry into force."

He added that since the treaty does not undermine the security
policies of nuclear weapon states, there is no reason they should
not accede to its protocol.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi said ASEAN states
themselves must not delay the ratification of the treaty: "We
must not let outsiders draw wedges through ASEAN on account of
their own problems."

Philippine Foreign Minister Domingo L. Siazon, apart from
further stressing the importance of the nuclear free zone treaty
also focussed on the potential hazards of the overlapping claims
in the South China Sea.

He described it as "a prominent obstacle" to the realization
of ASEAN's zone of peace, friendship and neutrality.

"We urge all to refrain from acts that would raise tensions in
the region and induce a sense of apprehension among neighboring
countries," Siazon said.

The Philippines -- along with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam --
are the four ASEAN members directly involved in the disputes,
which also includes China and Taiwan.

The issue of ASEAN's dialog partners also became a topic in
the opening statements and the proceeding meeting.

Jayakumar, in his address, said that while ASEAN must take it
as a complement that so many countries are and want to become
dialog partners, it also adds increased responsibility to ASEAN.

"To cope with these responsibilities, ASEAN may need a period
of consolidation," he said.

At the end of yesterday's meeting, Alatas, without
elaborating, told journalists that the ministers had an exchange
of views concerning a new criterion for ARF membership.

He also said the meeting had adopted the annual report of the
ASEAN Standing Committee, the Senior Officials Meeting, the
Secretary-General and the 1996/97 secretariat budget.

Other items agreed upon yesterday included discussion on an
expert group meeting concerning the Mekong Basin Development
Project.

Ministers will end their meeting today with a Joint
Communique. (pwn/rid/mds)