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