Burma (Myanmar) It Can't Wait !!!

Senior Thai Official Says Junta Reaction 'Positive'

By WAI MOETuesday, July 21, 2009

PHUKET, Thailand—The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) views the Burmese military junta’s cooperation with the organization as “positive”, according to a senior official at Thailand’s Asean office.

“The first time I saw Myanmar’s [Burma] reaction, I thought it was a very positive…they fully understand and appreciate the offers of help by Asean colleagues,” said Vitavas Srivihok, the director-general of Asean - Thailand Office, at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“The foreign minister of Myanmar is going to report back to Naypyidaw [on the meeting], and we will wait for their leader’s response. Then we will have further discussions with Myanmar’s foreign minister on the reaction,” he said.

Although Asean said that Burma’s response through Foreign Minister Nyan Win was positive at the meeting in Phuket, Naypyidaw has still failed to meet the United Nations and Asean’s call for the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and for an inclusive process in Burma’s politics, Asean observers said.

At the end of the Asean foreign ministerial meeting on Monday, Asean called for an inclusive process in the 2010 elections in Burma, and for the immediate release of all Burmese political prisoners. However, Asean also assured that the bloc would not give up its “constructive engagement” policy on Burma.

Meanwhile Asean observers are saying that if the elections in 2010 take place under an undemocratic constitution, this will contravene the terms of reference for the new Asean Human Rights Body and the Asean Charter.

“The [Asean] statement on the election sounds like they have their heads in the clouds!” said Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma (Altsean). “Their [Asean’s] engagement has not been really "constructive", but it has allowed the regime to be more destructive.”

Burma became a member of Asean in 1997. Since then, Asean has used a policy of constructive engagement with the Burmese regime to bring positive changes in the country, saying that Asean’s policy would be different from the West’s pressure and economic sanctions.

In 1999, however, the then Thai Foreign Minister, Surin Pitsuwan, who is now Secretary-General of Asean, suggested Asean replace its constructive engagement policy with a more proactive flexible engagement policy.

Though Asean foreign ministers adopted the Asean Human Rights Body yesterday, Asean cannot move forward until changes occur in Burma, according to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as reported in the Bangkok Post.

The foreign minister of Indonesia, the largest democracy in Asean, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that unless Suu Kyi was released, the 2010 elections would be neither free nor fair.

“We have been saying to them [Burma] directly that the process must be inclusive for all groups in society ... including Aung San Suu Kyi,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda. “We should see whether from now until 2010 they develop a credible process leading to truly democratic elections acceptable to the international community.”

Wirayuda added that the Burmese junta changes “too slowly, and often a little change at a time.”

Today the meeting of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) commission was held in Phuket. According to Vitavas Srivihok, the closer relations between pariah states Burma and North Korea was discussed.

Vitavas Srivihok said the issue could be talked at the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on July 22-23.

The Burmese military regime is reportedly trying to get nuclear and missile technology from Pyongyang. The North Koreans are also helping the Burmese build underground military facilities.

Analysts say that if the Burmese military junta can develop weapons of mass destruction, the first victims could be neighboring Thailand and other Asean nations.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok today from India. After meeting with the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, she will fly to Phuket to attend the ARF. She is expected to raise Burma’s political situation and the North Korean nuclear crisis at the meeting.

Source : irrawaddy.org