ASEAN:Constructive Engagement or Di

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Subject: ASEAN:Constructive Engagement or Diabolic Collaboration?

ASEAN:Constructive Engagement or Diabolic Collaboration?
1/6/97

ASEAN's recent decision to admit Burma as a member is an unequivocal mistake
that cannot be mended regarding what the three-decade-old regional group
stands for.
Now that it seems that ASEAN is strengthening SLORC,the Burmese military junta
that has refused to have a dialogue with Aung san Suu Kyi,the most fearful
opposition
leader who is now disappointed by ASEAN's wrong decision.

A student leader who doesn't want to be named said, "No wonder the regime is
no longer
hesitant to oppress more on the opposition.ASEAN is now a shield for SLORC
against
international criticism."

ASEAN expects Burma to change politically and economically.Constructive
engagement
with Burma will force the ruling junta  to change step by step.Yet will the
ruling junta
live up to the expectations of ASEAN? So far the US administration and the
EU have
stepped up further actions to press Burma into change  whereas ASEAN is too
arrogant
to delay Burma's membership.Even Thailand was relunctant at the last minute
to vote for 
Burma's membership. Despite the decision there's confusion among the South
East Asian
Nations and the observers. Does ASEAN sincerely believe in so-called
"Constructive 
Engagement" to let Burma change step by step or is  the group just ready to
exploit the 
natural resources of the land? If it were the latter, ASEAN would be named "The
Diabolic Collaborators" who have just energized the military regime to keep on
annihilating the opposition members of National League for Democracy,the winning
party of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Written by Julien Moe
for IntelAsia