Japan-Malaysia-Burma : Sanctions ag

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Subject: Japan-Malaysia-Burma : Sanctions against Burma hurt  the wrong people: Mahathir 

Japan-Malaysia-Burma : Sanctions against Burma hurt
                            the wrong people: Mahathir

                            TOKYO, March 27 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir
                            Mohamad said Thursday that imposing sanctions on
Burma would
                            only hurt those such action intended to help.

                            Mahathir told a news conference that he was
opposed to
                            economic sanctions against because such action
would be
                            "twisting the wrong arm."

                            "It is not leaders who will suffer, but it is
people," he said.

                            The Malaysian premier, who is here on an
official visit, said the
                            world community must remove fears that the
Burmese military
                            junta may have about introducing democracy and
commercial
                            economy.

                            "We have to assure them if they accept
democracy, they will not
                            be victimised," he said.

                            Mahathir reiterated his support for Burma's full
membership of the
                            Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
despite western
                            concerns.

                            He said he was aware that "people outside Asia
have reservation"
                            about Burma's ASEAN membership, and Rangoon's
human rights
                            record is "not good."

                            But he stressed that by inviting Burma into the
ASEAN,
                            neighbouring countries would be able to
influence it to accept the
                            democratic system and a market economy.

                            "We would like to get close to Myanmar (Burma),"
he said.

                            Mahathir later said he disagreed with concerns
about China's
                            possible military expansion, saying that
Beijing's military spending
                            was growing only because the country was
becoming more
                            prosperous.

                            "As it gets bigger and richer, a smaller
percentage can be
                            substantial," he said. "China will not foolishly
go on a war of
                            aggression."