ASEAN/BURMA:BURMESE OPPOSITION CONC

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: ASEAN/BURMA:BURMESE OPPOSITION CONCERNED AT ASEAN'S ACCEPTANCE OF BURMA

DATE=6/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-215134
TITLE= ASEAN / BURMA (L- REPORT ONLY)
BYLINE=MATTHEW CHANCE
DATELINE= BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:    

INTRO: BURMESE OPPOSITION GROUPS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING THEIR 
CONCERN AT THE RECENT DECISION BY THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC BLOC, 
ASEAN, TO ADMIT BURMA AS A FULL MEMBER. THE PRO-DEMOCRACY ALL- 
BURMA STUDENTS DEMOCRATIC FRONT AND THE MILITANT SEPARATIST KAREN
NATIONAL UNION, BOTH ISSUED STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE MOVE.  FROM
OUR SOUTH EAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, MATTHEW CHANCE REPORTS:

TEXT:  IN MEDIA STATEMENTS, THE GROUPS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT 
WITH THE ASEAN DECISION. THE ALL BURMA STUDENTS DEMOCRATIC FRONT 
SAYS ADMITTING BURMA TO ASIA'S MOST POWERFUL ECONOMIC BLOC WOULD 
BE AN HISTORIC MISTAKE. 

THE GROUP IS CALLING ON ASEAN TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION. IT SAYS
EMBRACING BURMA BEFORE THE COUNTRY MOVES TOWARDS DEMOCRACY WOULD 
DAMAGE ASEAN AND LEGITIMIZE THE HARDLINE RULE OF THE MILITARY 
AUTHORITIES IN RANGOON.

THE SEPARATIST KAREN NATIONAL UNION, WHICH IS AMONG SEVERAL 
ETHNIC GROUPS FIGHTING THE BURMESE MILITARY IN THE EASTERN KAREN 
STATE,  SAID ADMITTING BURMA TO ASEAN MAY INTENSIFY GOVERNMENT 
ATTACKS ON REBEL POSITIONS. THE GROUP SAYS MEMBERSHIP IN ASEAN 
WOULD TURN THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT AWAY FROM A NEGOTIATED 
SETTLEMENT WITH THE KAREN. 

CRITICISM OF ASEAN HAS ALSO COME FROM OTHER QUARTERS. IN A 
STRONGLY WORDED EDITORIAL, THE BANGKOK POST NEWSPAPER IN THAILAND
SAYS THE DECISION TO ADMIT BURMA IN JULY IS REPUGNANT TO MANY IN 
THE REGION. THE PAPER WARNS OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR ASEAN AS A 
RESULT OF ITS DECISION, SAYING THE ORGANIZATION MAY NOW FACE 
TRADING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.  

ALTHOUGH THE CRITICISM HAS BEEN WIDE RANGING, THERE HAS BEEN NO 
REACTION TO THE ASEAN MOVE FROM BURMA'S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY, 
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY -- WHICH IS LED BY THE NOBEL 
LAUREATE, AUNG SAN SUU KYI. 

THE PARTY HAS BEEN FACING A TOUGH MILITARY CLAMP-DOWN IN RECENT 
WEEKS, WITH THE AUTHORITIES ARRESTING SUPPORTERS GATHERING IN 
RANGOON TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARTY'S 1990 ELECTION 
VICTORY.  THE RESULT OF THE POLL WAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO RULE BURMA WHILE 
SAYING IT IS PREPARING THE COUNTRY FOR DEMOCRACY.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/MC/FC