U.S. sanctions must not cloud issue

U.S. sanctions must not cloud issue

ASEAN might rightly be irked at growing international concern
at the prospect of the admission of the military regime of
Myanmar. In making what will be a momentous decision, it needs to
focus on the real issue -- and that is the aspirations of a
population that conflict with those of military rulers.

In reacting to United States sanctions against Myanmar, ASEAN
leaders have shown that no one likes to be told what to do,
particularly in their own neck of the woods. The reaction is
perfectly natural, but it is important not to lose sight of the
central issue in the debate about the admission of Myanmar. The
issue is interference.

Some ASEAN leaders have jumped at the chance to tell
Washington to mind its own business and stop interfering in
regional affairs. But ASEAN must accept that, despite its
protests to the contrary, it is interfering in the affairs of
Myanmar itself. In pandering to the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, ASEAN is defying the wishes of the more than
95 percent of Myanmar's population who voted the dictators out of
office in the 1990 general election.

-- The Bangkok Post