Burma foes denounce ASEAN admission

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Subject: Burma foes denounce ASEAN admission of Rangoon

Burma foes denounce ASEAN admission of Rangoon

 01:50 a.m. Jun 02, 1997 Eastern 

 By Sutin Wannabovorn 

 BANGKOK, June 2 (Reuter) - Foes of Burma's ruling military
 government, including students in exile and rebel groups, on Monday
 denounced ASEAN's weekend decision to admit Burma as a
 member in July. 

 There was no statement on the issue from the beleaguered Burmese
 opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) of
 pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which has always urged
 the regional grouping to delay Rangoon's admission. 

 Repeated attempts to reach NLD leaders for commment by
 telephone in Rangoon failed. 

 The NLD had cited repression by the ruling State law and Order
 Restoration Council (SLORC) as its reason for calling on ASEAN
 not to admit Rangoon. 

 ASEAN groups Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Indonesia,
 Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam. 

 The group said Burma, along with Cambodia and Laos, would be
 admitted in late July. Its decision came despite pressure from the
 United States not admit Burma because of human rights concerns. 

 The U.S. State Department on Sunday said it regretted ASEAN's
 decision on Burma but was counting on ASEAN members to urge
 SLORC to enter into dialogue with local democratic forces. 

 The Karen National Union (KNU), which is among a handful of
 ethnic rebel groups fighting SLORC for greater autonomy for the
 eastern Karen state, said the ASEAN decision could derail efforts
 for a peace settlement in Burma. 

 ``We are sad and disappointed at the ASEAN decision. The
 admission will strengthen the SLORC position and make them more
 arrogant,'' KNU spokesman Man Hsa told Reuters. 

 ``Before the admission the SLORC was interested in settling the
 problem by political means, by negotiation. But now they will not be
 interested and will concentrate on oppressing us more because they
 know ASEAN supports them,'' he added. 

 The KNU has held several rounds of failed peace talks with
 SLORC. 

 The exiled Burmese student group, the All Burma Students'
 Democratic Front (ABSDF), and an umbrella organisation of
 Burmese opposition groups, the National Council of the Union of
 Burma (NCUB), also said they were disappointed with ASEAN. 

 ``This (ASEAN decision) is a historic mistake which has legitimised a
 brutal and illegal military regime,'' ABSDF said in a statement
 obtained by Reuters. 

 ``We call on ASEAN to reconsider their decision. Only after Burma
 has made concrete democratic changes, starting by entering into a
 formal political dialogue with the NLD and ethnic nationalities, will be
 the right time to admit Burma into the regional forum,'' it added. 

 The Thai parliamentary house committee on foreign affairs also
 voiced opposition to ASEAN's decision. 

 ``ASEAN should have set a minimum criteria for the admission of
 Burma into the organisation. At this stage ASEAN should have
 decided only on the admission of Laos and Cambodia,'' said
 committee spokesman Noppadol Pattama. 

 The Bangkok Post newspaper also expressed disapproval. 

 ``The decision to admit Burma is repugnant to many ASEAN
 citizens who resent having their governments identified with the brutal
 SLORC,'' it said. 

 ``The ASEAN seven will now face serious problems as a result of
 the decision. As a trade group, they will face practical problems as a
 result of the decision.'' ^REUTER@