RP legislator opposes Myanmar

RP legislator opposes Myanmar

PHILIPPINES: A senior Philippine legislator urged the government
on Tuesday to oppose Myanmar's chairmanship of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the Senate's
foreign relations committee, said Myanmar must first improve its
human rights record before being allowed to chair ASEAN.

"We must insist that Myanmar first stop its human rights
violations," she said. "The Philippines should take steps to
impress on the government of Myanmar to stop the oppression of
human rights."

Santiago said Myanmar could start by releasing opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and more than 1,000
other political detainees from jail.

ASEAN rotates the chairmanship of its standing committee,
which heads its annual leaders' summit, among its 10 members.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, Myanmar is scheduled to
assume the chairmanship of the standing committee in 2006 when
the group's annual summit will also be held in Yangon. -- DPA