Myanmar's principle: Noninterference

I appreciate your considered editorial Stand-off in Yangon. We have our own perspective for the following reasons.

Statistics can be used by any party in a debate to reinforce its views. It is true that the NLD won 392 of 485 seats contested. It is also a fact that it received 30.5 percent of the votes, and that there was not any vote buying or vote rigging.

It is also a fact that in the emotional tumult of the period, everyone overlooked the existence of two diametrically opposite constitutions. No one thought of abrogating the 1947 British- style constitution over the years from l962 to 1988, and only two provisions of the 1973 single-party socialist constitution were replaced by Dr. Maung Maung's government to enable the elections to be held.

The elections were neither to a Constituent Assembly nor did anyone raise the question of how a government was to be formed, and under which constitution. Regrettably, the NLD then, in coordination with their supporters among the armed-insurgent groups still in existence at that time, and with blatant interference and support from foreign groups, took the path of confrontation and threats against the government. The call for dialog, and belated wisdom was heard only in 1995 after the government has achieved peace with all the insurgent groups, rapid economic growth and political stability.

The government, however, has never ruled out any dialog or deliberations with anybody. The National Convention to establish a firm and new constitution, and later a new constitutional government, is a clear testimony to the government's stand and political objectives. Before it was convened, the government held extensive consultations with all the political parties (including the NLD), and all agreed to participate. After over two years of participation in the deliberations and decisions by consensus, the NLD threatened the government and left the Convention in late 1995 after Daw Su Kyi's release in July that year.

As regards the steps to an ASEAN-10, the fundamentals and wisdom of ASEAN should not be overlooked or clogged over. It is the only organization/association in the world which comprises all the world's religions and political systems, and all are working together in peace, harmony, cooperation, mutual respect, quality and mutual benefit. None would pass, publicly, value judgments on the internal affairs of another. It is not the ASEAN way to proselytize or aggressively export its political/strategic interests. All these principles are enshrined in the Bali Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

In comparison, the more integrated European Union accepted the membership of Spain, Portugal and Greece only after these nations became democracies. Because those were the principles right from the beginning of the ECSC-ECM, EC to EU.

Until 20 years ago, the tragedy of Southeast Asia was the result of massive interference and invention into its affairs by outside major powers, and the devastating proxy wars they fought on its soil.

The wisdom of ASEAN lies in finding a new path to harmony, cooperation and peace. The success of that policy can be seen in the economic boom of the region in the past 20 years, and the firm foundation on which it stands is noninterference.

DAW THAN THAN HTAY

Deputy Chief of Mission

Myanmar Embassy, Jakarta