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.