Singapore, Myanmar PMs meet, reform pressure grows
Singapore, Myanmar PMs meet, reform pressure grows
Agencies, Yangon
Singapore leader Lee Hsien Loong met Myanmar's top ruling generals on Wednesday as pressure grows on the junta to hasten democratic reforms or miss its turn next year as head of Southeast Asia's club of nations.
Lee met Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win, officials said, shortly before a scheduled session with paramount leader Senior General Than Shwe.
As the biggest investor in the former Burma, Singapore wields more clout than most of its neighbors over Yangon's recalcitrant generals, shunned by Europe and Washington for their detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and their human rights record.
"Singapore has a close relationship with Burma, not just in investment but in other areas," said Garry Rodan, director of the Asia Research Center at Murdoch University in Western Australia.
"If the Singapore government decides that it wants to see significant change in Burma, then that's going to pack more of a punch than another government that does not have that kind of relationship or has those close links," he said.
Lee's two-day visit came a week after Malaysian government lawmakers said Myanmar should forfeit its turn as chair of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006 unless it took significant steps towards democracy.
Unlike Europe and the United States, which have slapped sanctions on Yangon, ASEAN has so far favored a more conciliatory policy of "constructive engagement", although neither approach seems to have had any success. Political analysts and diplomats expect Lee, Singapore's prime minister, and Foreign Minister George Yeo to raise the sensitive issue of ASEAN leadership during their trip.
"Normally ASEAN leaders avoid interfering in each other's domestic affairs. However, I think Lee and Yeo will reveal their feelings on the impact of Myanmar's domestic situation on ASEAN," said an Asian diplomat in Yangon who declined to be identified.
The European Commission called on Wednesday on Myanmar to meet key demands including freeing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before it takes over the chairmanship of the ASEAN regional bloc next year.
But the European Union (EU)'s executive arm also said it remains willing to talk to Myanmar leaders, even though planned talks at a recent meeting of the EU and the Asian group failed because Yangon did not send its foreign minister.
After drawing in Myanmar from the diplomatic cold in the late 1990s, ASEAN's frustration at the lack of progress toward civilian rule appears to be growing.
"I think certain ASEAN countries have been very patient... not wanting to interfere, but are looking at this situation in Myanmar," UN special envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail told reporters in Malaysia.
Some members fear Myanmar's inclusion in their club is damaging relations with Europe and the United States at a time when the region is struggling to staunch a loss of foreign investment to China.