Suu Kyi alarmed over Myanmar being in ASEAN

Suu Kyi alarmed over Myanmar being in ASEAN

BANGKOK (Reuter): Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has warned that the country's military rulers could become "even
more obdurate and oppressive" if the country is admitted to the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Suu Kyi, speaking in a recent video interview released
yesterday, said that Myanmar, under the rule of the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC), would be no credit to ASEAN
and called on the seven-nation group to engage with her National
League for Democracy (NLD).

Her taped interview with the Alternative ASEAN Network on
Myanmar, which was smuggled out of the country, was released two
days before an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on
when to admit the country along with Cambodia and Laos.

"Burma (Myanmar) under SLORC is not going to be any credit to
ASEAN," the Nobel laureate said.

"I think what Burma risks, what the people of Burma risk, is
the possibility that admission into ASEAN will make SLORC even
more obdurate and oppressive than ever," she added.

The authorities this week thwarted NLD plans for a mass
meeting at Suu Kyi's house to mark the anniversary of its 1990
landslide election win, which was not recognized by SLORC.

Security around her Yangon home was relaxed yesterday as
barbed wire barricades and riot police were withdrawn, leaving a
checkpoint and "no entry" road signs.

There was no word on the 316 party supporters, including about
50 members of parliament, who the NLD says were arrested in a
nationwide swoop to prevent the congress taking place.

The government denies charges it has detained party members
and has asked the NLD to prove its claims.

Suu Kyi told Alternative ASEAN Network, a non-governmental
organization, that ASEAN should engage with both the SLORC and
her party because it had won legitimacy in elections.

"I think if ASEAN is truly interested in constructive
engagement it should try to engage with both sides in Burma ...
and make sure the engagement leads to something constructive in
the way of development towards democracy," she said.

Diplomats said it was a close call on whether ASEAN nations
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand would admit the three new members at a ministerial
meeting on July 24 to July 25 or at an informal summit in
December.

Officials said concern over Myanmar's human rights record and
political strife in Cambodia could mean foreign ministers decide
to opt for delay when they meet in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

ASEAN has said it wants to admit all three together.

The United States has asked ASEAN to delay Myanmar's entry
because of its human rights record and the suppression of Suu
Kyi's movement.

ASEAN nations have objected to what they see as Washington's
interference in its affairs. However, Western diplomats say
recent signs of instability in Myanmar, including moves to stop
the NLD congress, had caused some to rethink.