Policy on Myanmar defended
Policy on Myanmar defended
JAKARTA (JP): Just a few days before a major Southeast Asian
security forum here, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas
defended yesterday the ASEAN's policy of constructive engagement
with Myanmar.
Briefing journalists on the upcoming week of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings due to begin here
tomorrow, Alatas remained steadfast in his defense of the
association's often-reproached policy.
He said ASEAN governments would not emulate the West's
decision to isolate Yangon for alleged human rights abuses.
Alatas admitted that Myanmar may have internal problems, but
said that ASEAN would rather try to help through constructive
engagement.
"That means we would try, as fellow Southeast Asians, to show
our understanding and support for a peaceful reconciliation among
the people of Myanmar," he said.
ASEAN has refused to budge from its current policy and
rebuffed calls from countries such as the United States.
Washington has accused the ruling regime in Yangon of flagrant
human rights abuses and of a poor democratic record. It continues
to demand international isolation of Myanmar and the application
of sanctions.
The issue is expected to come to the fore again next Tuesday,
when Indonesia hosts the one-day ASEAN Regional Forum.
The forum is a regional security dialog which brings together
ASEAN members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with its dialog partners.
Its dialog partners include the European Union, Australia, New
Zealand and the United States.
Alatas said yesterday that a policy of isolationism against
Myanmar would not suit ASEAN.
"We knew that there were some problems in the country, but we
thought that the best way was not through -- as some western
countries proposed -- the application of economic sanctions or by
isolating Myanmar again," he said.
ASEAN states have remained silent as Yangon in May cracked
down on pro-democracy supporters led by Nobel laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi.
Alatas argued that constructive engagement meant trying to
help Yangon in a way which is non-confrontational. It also meant
"to see what we can do quietly, to help if such help is wanted,"
and to take, as responsible fellow Southeast Asians, a positive
attitude then rather a negative one.
He maintained that constructive engagement did not mean
turning a blind eye to developments that could be detrimental on
the country, because any negative development could affect the
whole region.
He said that the stance of non-interference in domestic
affairs of another state is a cardinal rule of ASEAN.
"That is not a cardinal rule which ASEAN has invented. It goes
back to the Asia-Africa conference. It goes back to the cardinal
rules contained in the charter of the United Nations," he said.
Myanmar will be welcomed as an observer to ASEAN later this
week, and is expected to become a full-fledged member within a
few years.
Letter
Alatas also confirmed yesterday that Myanmarese pro-democratic
leader Aung San Suu Kyi had recently sent a letter to ASEAN heads
of state.
He would not reveal the contents of the letter, but said that
Indonesia's President Soeharto had also received one.
"We have just received it and it has been presented to our
President," he said, adding that Jakarta is presently not in a
position to react.
Speaking on the possibility of opposition against Myanmar's
inclusion in the forum, Alatas predicted there would be none.
He said that the issue had been discussed and a unified stance
adopted during a May meeting of the forum's senior officials in
Yogyakarta.
He said Indonesia, as chairman of ASEAN's standing committee,
had sent a letter explaining the matter to foreign ministers of
forum participants. All of the ministers have reconfirmed
verbally or in writing their support for Myanmar's inclusion in
the forum.
Along with India and Russia, Myanmar will be among the newest
participants to join the now 21-member forum. (mds)