Myanmar issue haunts ASEAN meet

Myanmar issue haunts ASEAN meet

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Its soft stance on Myanmar's junta backfired on the 10-member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and haunted its
Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with 10 dialog partners,
overshadowing the conference's success in involving more
countries in the fight against terrorism.

During a meeting on Thursday afternoon, U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell scolded Myanmar's foreign minister Win Aung
over the prolonged detention of opposition leader and Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in the presence of the ASEAN foreign
ministers and their counterparts from 10 Asia-Pacific countries.

"We are concerned at the democratic process in Burma and we
are specifically concerned about the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi
has not been allowed to participate in the democratic process and
remains under house arrest," Powell said during the ministers'
joint press conference.

A similar stance was taken by European Union external
relations commissioner Christopher Patten. He said there were
major differences in the stances taken by ASEAN and its dialog
partners regarding Myanmar.

"We would like to see the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we
would like to see the National League of Democracy involved in
the national convention. Not in the spirit of confrontation but
speaking with friends, we once again made our position clear,"
Patten remarked.

Minister Win Aung seemed to be taken by surprise when
Secretary Powell raised the issue of Suu Kyi's detention.

"Win Aung could hardly answer the sudden question and the Thai
foreign minister had to explain the situation in Myanmar, before
Win Aung could do it," a diplomat who was in attendance told The
Jakarta Post.

During the press conference, Win Aung once again seemed to be
taken aback by Powell's comments and simply said: "We have no
further comment at this moment."

Powell said he would again raise the issue at the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) meeting on Friday.

"It is likely that at the ARF meeting the discussion will be
worse," the diplomat said.

At the press conference, China's Foreign Affairs Minister Li
Zhaoxing showed appreciation for ASEAN's approach to Myanmar,
saying that China respected the common stance of the association.

Last year, ASEAN leaders demanded the military regime release
Suu Kyi, but did not receive a significant response from Yangon.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia signed on Thursday a
counterterrorism declaration with ASEAN member countries, to
enhance cooperation in combating crimes against humanity.

"It draws together the relations of Australia and ASEAN when
it comes to terrorism. This draws together all 10 ASEAN countries
with Australia in joint determination to fight terrorism,"
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

Secretary Powell expressed appreciation for the joint
declaration on counterterrorism between ASEAN and its dialog
partners.

"We are very pleased that the opening of the terrorism centers
shows the international community coming together to deal with
common threats that affects all civilized nations," Powell said.
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