AP: Suharto- West Must not Interfer

[ktint@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: AP: Suharto- West Must not Interfere in Domestic Affairs of Asia

 Suharto- West Must not Interfere in the Domestic Affairs of Asia

  By GEOFF SPENCER
 Associated Press Writer
   JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Southeast Asia's biggest trade group embraced
Burma's military regime Saturday, dismissing efforts to isolate the junta
accused of abusing human rights and repressing pro-democracy activists.
   The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ignored international calls
for strong action and instead granted Burma observer status within the
seven-nation diplomatic club.
   The group also accused the United States and other nuclear powers of
"strategic posturing" and urged them to sign a treaty declaring Southeast
Asia free of nuclear weapons.
   Some nuclear powers have objected on strategic grounds to clauses in the
treaty, which bans the use, manufacture and stockpiling of nuclear weapons
by the member nations -- Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the
Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam.
   Burma's acceptance by the group as an observer -- a step toward full
membership -- represents a breakthrough for its military rulers. They have
been ostracized by many countries for suppressing of pro-democracy
activists led by 1991 Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
   The foreign ministers warmly applauded Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw
when he took the podium for a first-ever address at their annual meeting.
   "Today is an historic moment for Southeast Asia," he said. Burma's
induction topped the agenda, a reflection of its importance to the group.
   One by one, all seven ministers in the group heartily welcomed Burma's
intention to become a full member of the group by the end of the century.
Laos and Cambodia also intend to join.
   Human rights groups have condemned the move to include Burma. U.S.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher is expected to arrive in Jakarta over
the weekend and hopes to persuade the ministers to do more than simply
accommodate the junta.
   Faced with blanket opposition from the Southeast Asian states,
Christopher and other western officials have backed away, however, from
earlier threats of economic and other sanctions against Burma.
   Unrepentant, Ohn Gyaw justified his regime's behavior, including the
repression of pro-democracy activists like Suu Kyi.
   "Basically human rights values (in Burma) are like those in most Asian
countries: food, clothing and shelter," Saturday's Jakarta Post quoted Ohn
Gyaw as saying.
   Instead of ostracizing Burma, the trade group is pursuing "constructive
engagement" to encourage its generals to end the civil crackdown. They
argue that sanctions interfere unjustifiably in Burma's affairs.
   In an apparent swipe at western anger against Burma's military regime,
Indonesia's President Suharto called on powerful countries not to interfere
in the domestic affairs of others.
   Suharto didn't mention Burma specifically. However, he called for
"global partnership" of rich and poor nations to solve international
problems.
   Critics including Sidney Jones of Human Rights Watch/Asia are skeptical
that a neighborly approach to Burma will do any good.
   "In the last eight months we've seen a steady deterioration in human
rights," he said in a statement released in Bangkok.
   "ASEAN must either conclude that its policy of engagement is bankrupt or
use its influence with Burma to halt the slide."
   
KT
ISBDA