Myanmar says reforms being accepted, ASEAN disagrees

Myanmar says reforms being accepted, ASEAN disagrees

Aung Hla Tun, Reuters/Yangon

Army-ruled Myanmar's paramount leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe,
said on Sunday his government's democratic reforms were being
accepted internationally, despite signs southeast Asia is losing
patience with the junta.

"Our country has been achieving progress despite all sorts of
restrictions, sanctions and onslaughts," Than Shwe, 73, said in
an address at the 60th anniversary of Armed Forces Day in Yangon,
the capital of the former Burma.

"Our political reforms have gained acceptance not only among
our neighbors and nations within the region but also among all
positive-thinking countries," he said.

The United States and Europe have slapped sanctions on Yangon,
which has been under military rule for the last four decades, to
try and force the release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who
has been in custody for much of the last 15 years.

By contrast, Myanmar's regional partners in the Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have adopted a far more
conciliatory approach of "constructive engagement" with Myanmar's
reclusive generals.

Neither approach seems to have made any headway, even though
the junta says a much-criticized national convention to draw up a
new constitution is a sure sign that it is marching towards
democracy.

However, signs emerged last week that 10-member ASEAN, which
is due to be chaired by Myanmar in 2006 but which refrains from
commenting on the internal affairs of its members, is nudging the
generals towards the door.

"There must be a timeframe for constructive engagement. It
cannot go on and on forever," Nazri Abdul Aziz, a minister in the
office of the Malaysian premier, told Reuters. In ASEAN
diplomatic language, this is taking the gloves off.

Armed Forces Day commemorates the time when, on March 27 1945,
independence hero Gen. Aung San -- Suu Kyi's father -- launched a
nation-wide struggle against Japanese forces occupying the
country.

The military government and the opposition, which won an
election landslide in 1990 but was denied power by the junta,
have marked the anniversary separately every year since the
present regime came to power in 1988.

The state-sponsored ceremony includes a parade of more than
7,000 army, navy, and air force personnel, as well as speeches by
top brass.

Than Shwe, who rarely appears in public, used the opportunity
to expound on the importance of the new constitution, which his
administration says is part of a seven stage "roadmap to
democracy".

"The emergence of a new constitution depends solely on the
degree to which the National Convention can be free of impediment
and interference," he added.

Residents said security across the city was far tighter than
in previous years following a couple of minor bomb explosions in
the capital last week.

Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD)
marked the anniversary at a separate ceremony at their
headquarters in the afternoon, and renewed its calls for the
release of their leader, and her number two, Tin Oo.

"For the success of dialogue, a pleasant political atmosphere
must be created by releasing NLD leaders U Tin Oo and Aung San
Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately and
unconditionally," the NLD said in a statement.

Spokesman U Lwin said he was not that excited about Malaysia's
hardening stance, but was glad to hear that other prominent ASEAN
members, especially Singapore -- a major investor in Myanmar --
was having a rethink.

"We are very much encouraged to know the role of Singapore in
this movement and very much interested in it," he said.