Japan PM has warned that Burma's ex

[082903@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Japan PM has warned that Burma's expected entry into ASEAN.


		HASHIMOTO CRITICAL OF BURMA'S EXPECTED MEMBERSHIP OF ASEAN
		**********************************************************

			Wednesday 28 May, 1997 (3:34pm AEST)


          Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto has warned that
          Burma's expected entry into ASEAN could be interpreted as
          a gesture of support for Rangoon's military regime.

          Burma is expected to join ASEAN with Cambodia and Laos
          later this year, but human rights abuses by the government
          have prompted calls for its membership to be delayed.

          Mr Hashimoto told reporters that Japan does NOT want
          Burma's entry to be seen as a pardon for the military regime.

          The statement comes after hundreds of riot police barred
          access to a planned congress of the pro-democracy
          opposition at the Rangoon home of party leader, Aung San
          Suu Kyi.

          The congress was scheduled to coincide with the seventh
          anniversary of the opposition's landslide election victory,
          which has NOT been recognised by the military regime.

	[ABC News, 29 May 97].

******************************************************************************