ASEAN denies full rights for Burma.

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		ASEAN denies full rights for Burma
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	Foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations 
have agreed at a meeting in New York not to admit Burma as a full member 
next year.

	While ASEAN insists the decision did not take into account 
pressure from the United States and other parties opposed to Burma's 
military Government, which is accused of human rights abuses and blocking 
democratic reforms, Thai newspapers reported yesterday that The 
Philippines had played a leading role in calling for the postponement.

	Popular sympathy for Burma's democracy movement is strong in The 
Phillippine. Burma was granted observer status in the seven-nation 
grouping in July.

	In late August, it asked the ASEAN chairman, Malaysia, to apply 
officially for full membership from next year, a move supported by the 
Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir.

	But at a meeting during thr UN General Assemble session in New 
York, ASEAN foreign ministers decided Burma needed more time to prepare 
to take part in ASEAN activities.

	Meanwhile, in the Burmese capital, Rangoon, military authorities 
kept up their blockades around the residence of the pro-democracy 
oposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, yesterday as estimates of the 
number of her supporters detained in the past few days rose to 500.

	In the past week, the Burmese military junta has staged another 
big crackdown on the pro-democracy opposition, diplomats and opposition 
members said.

	Mr Kyi Maung, one of the leaders of Ms Suu Kyi's National League 
for Democracy, said that at least 400 party organisers had been rounded 
up in Rangoon.

	Earlier, other supporters were taken in by riot police at 
checkpoints leading to Ms Suu Kyi's house before a planned party congress 
last weekend, which was thwarted by the authorities.

	The junta denied it had arrested 500 but said would not release 
those it had detained or lift road blockades until it was sure the 
democracy movement would not cause a disturbance.

	In the latest official salvo against the NLD, the Religious 
Affairs Minister, Lieutenant-General Myo Nyunt, warned senior members of 
the Buddhist clergy that the NLD was attempting to infiltrate the 
monkhood to exploit the national religion for political gains, the 
official press reported.

	The US embassy in Rangoon denied yesterday allegations by the 
military that its diplomats had helped orchestrate activities of the NLD.

	The State-run New Light of Myanmar at the weekend attacked US 
links to Ms Suu Kyi and accused US diplomats of influencing NLD plans, 
charges denied by the party.

	A US official said embassy personnel met many people from the 
Government, the Opposition and other organisations to keep informed about 
the internal situation, and met NLD leaders because it was the largest 
opposition party, evident in 1990 when it won 82 per cent of seats.

	"But Aung San Suu Kyi and her party keep their own counsel and 
make their own decisions," the spokesperson said.

	The 1990 election results have never been recognised by the junta.

[By correspondents in Bangkok and Rangoon, 1 October 1996].

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