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ASEAN sanctuary for Burma.
ASEAN sanctuary for Burma
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Burma today boasted over its admission to the club of Asian
regional nations as its neighbors closed ranks against Western moves to
attack the Rangoon junta for continuing political human rights abuses.
Foreign ministers of the seven-member Association of South-East
Asia Nations applauded Burma's induction yesterday as an official
observer at their annual conference and confirmed that full membership
would be granted as soon as practicable.
The moves signalled a determination by the ASEAN ministers to
fight any attempt to censure Burma during their talks later this week
with other Asian and Western nations, including Australia.
The ASEAN chairman, Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas,
said Burmese membership was part of "an abiding and perasive vision" to
see all 10 countries of the region" living within the fold of the ASEAN
family".
ASEAN now links Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phillippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos are to become members
in 1997.
The official Burmese media today trumpeted the granting of
observer status and derided attempts to censure the regime in Jakarta
this week.
"Regardless of the wedge work, the rhetoric and wiles of those
who interfere in the internal affairs of Asian nations, or of the region,
there is always the staunch convinction that blood is thicker than water
and that Asian unity or ASEAN unity will bring greater benefits," an
editorial in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
"Despite the cacophony of unworthy utterances by those who wish
us ill...acting like the proverbial dog in the manger, Asians know what
to do when their cohesion and long-term interests are jeopardised."
The ASEAN leaders have spurned a personal appeal by the Burmese
democracy leader Ms Aung Suu kyi for renewed international pressure to
persuade the regime to open dialogue on returning the country to democracy.
The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, is expected
to take a strong stand during bilateral talks tomorrow with his Burmese
counterpart, Mr Ohn Gyaw. But it is uncertain how far the United States
and the EU are prepared to press the issue.
[By Mark Baker, South-East Asia correspondent, Jakarta, 21 July 1996].
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