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.