Myanmar ructions to prompt rare statement from ASEAN

Myanmar ructions to prompt rare statement from ASEAN

Agencies, Phnom Penh

ASEAN ministers will issue an unprecedented statement of concern
over the May 30 political ructions in Myanmar that led to the
detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a spokesman for
the 10-member bloc said on Sunday.

In a move widely seen as a departure from the group's normal
policy of non-interference in members' domestic affairs,
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat
spokesman M.C. Abad said the concern was a unanimous issue among
members.

"This is the first time that ASEAN has taken a pro-active
stand on Myanmar on the record," he told AFP. "In general, it
will be a statement of concern."

Abad said the discussions on the May 30 attack on supporters
of democracy leader Suu Kyi and her subsequent detention was made
possible after Myanmar agreed that the topic be tackled.

"Notwithstanding its domestic nature, Myanmar has agreed to an
ASEAN discussion on recent political developments in that
country," Abad said on the eve of a series of ministerial
meetings, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security
issues.

"The ASEAN foreign ministers, in their joint communique, will
express their common view on the subject. This is the first time
that ASEAN will comment on this domestic issue."

ASEAN has a long-standing policy of not commenting on the
internal affairs of members. That policy has been widely
criticized as weak and stifling for the organization which has
sought common ground for Southeast Asian countries.

The statement is expected to be issued on Tuesday.

Abad said talks on the domestic affairs of a member state were
only made possible after Myanmar "accepted ASEAN's pro-active
stance on this subject of concern."

Without Yangon's consent, "it would have been difficult" for
the discussions to take place.

Meanwhile, Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung said on Sunday
Suu Kyi will be freed but only after the situation in the country
has returned to normal.

Win Aung, in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, for a meeting
of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he could not give an exact date
when Suu Kyi might be released.

He also spoke of assassination plots but was vague about who
might be the target.

"There were some assassins going around the country," he said.
"I don't know whom their targets were, our leaders? But if
anything happened to her it will be blamed on us."

The Nobel laureate was taken into what Win Aung called
protective custody after clashes between her supporters and
followers of the military government in the north of the country
on May 30.

"I cannot say how soon, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or
when, but we can assure you one thing -- that we are working to
bring back the situation to normal," he told reporters after a
meeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will attend the ARF
meeting on Wednesday, has said he will push ASEAN to confront
Myanmar on the issue.

Asked if the expression of concern will be strong enough to
satisfy the international community, Abad told AFP: "You can
never satisfy people, but a statement of concern is a statement
of concern.

"This is the first time that it will be in the joint
communique. It was never done before," he said.