Thailand defends ASEAN's stance

Thailand defends ASEAN's stance

BANGKOK (AFP): Millions of Asians wanted to see positive political development in military-run Myanmar but not if it meant the collapse of ASEAN, Thailand's deputy foreign minister said on Monday.

He agreed the "majority of intellectual people" shared the aspirations of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi but said that would not change the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) policy of noninterference in members' internal affairs.

The United States and the European Union have made it clear they want ASEAN to be more proactive in fostering democracy in Myanmar. Washington and the EU were strongly opposed to Myanmar joining ASEAN in July 1997.

The junta is widely condemned for gross human rights abuses and its refusal to recognize the results of a 1990 election won by the National League for Democracy under Aung San Suu Kyi.