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)