P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Nusa Dua, Bali
P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Nusa Dua, Bali
Myanmar remains a thorn in Asia-Europe relations despite an unprecedented agreement demanding that the country's military rulers free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of foreign ministers that ended on Thursday in Bali urged the junta to "immediately release" the Nobel peace laureate and resume efforts toward national reconciliation and democracy.
For the first time ASEM has emerged with a "common document" effectively criticizing Myanmar, noted Franco Frattini, the foreign minister of Italy which is the current EU president. "It was not easy before this meeting."
Myanmar's reluctance to allow political freedoms has dogged relations between the two regions since the impoverished state joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997.
The West had cautioned ASEAN at that time not to include Myanmar until it embraces democracy but the grouping felt it could encourage change from within the grouping.
ASEAN is a key component of ASEM, a forum for consultations on key issues. But Myanmar and two other newer ASEAN states Cambodia and Laos are not ASEM members.
Much to the chagrin of the Asians, the European side -- citing Suu Kyi's detention -- allegedly reneged on a deal to agree at the Bali meeting to admit Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to ASEM.
"This broke a gentleman's agreement to bring the whole ASEAN family into ASEM. Now it is going to be difficult for the Asians to allow the 10 prospective EU (European Union) members into ASEM," said an Asian minister, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 10 nations are scheduled to join the EU in the middle of 2004.
The debate over Myanmar will also divert the attention of the two regions from the larger objective of improving political and economic relations.
One European minister explained that his side had to block the entry into ASEM of Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to ease concerns at home over the imprisonment of Suu Kyi.
"He said they had to demonstrate to their people they are doing something," according to the Asian minister. "But what about us? How is the exclusion of the three going to be viewed by our own people?"
A European proposal to convene a special session on Myanmar at the ASEM talks was blocked by the Asians, who also rejected a suggestion to invite UN special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, to the meeting to brief them on the progress of his negotiations with the junta.
Razali is the only independent person to have met Suu Kyi since she was taken into "protective custody" on May 30 after her supporters were ambushed by a pro-junta gang during a tour of the country's north.
The international community has responded angrily, with the United States and EU beefing up sanctions.
ASEAN issued an unprecedented call for her release, breaking a principle in its charter that member states should not interfere in each other's domestic affairs.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad went one step further by warning last week that Myanmar could face expulsion from ASEAN as a last resort.
But while ASEAN appears to be cracking the whip on Myanmar, the Europeans feel the grouping is not focused and forceful enough in its actions.
Indonesia, the ASEAN chairman, is now considering leading a ministerial mission to Myanmar to press the grouping's case. Thailand has proposed an international forum among the EU, Japan, China and ASEAN to devise a "road map" for Suu Kyi's release and Myanmar's eventual democratization.
"I think Myanmar does not deserve to be given many options. This is going to be a convenient way out for them to delay everything," one European diplomat said.
Even one top Asian official suggested Myanmar had been emboldened by ASEAN's inaction. The junta has sent a special envoy across Asia to justify its detention of Suu Kyi, an indication she may not be freed anytime soon.
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