Fears of discord after Burma's entr

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Subject: Fears of discord after Burma's entry to ASEAN.


	FEARS OF DISCORD AFTER BURMA'S ENTRY TO ASEAN
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	Monday 9 June, 1997 (5:28pm AEST)

          There are new claims Burma's entry to ASEAN will create
          discord and two tracks of development that could impede
          regional growth.

          Evan Williams reports, the entry of Myanmar, as Burma is
          known officially, has also raised, for the first time, the
          possible use of pressure by the group on the internal affairs
          of a member state.

          Myanmar's entry has been hailed as finally achieving the
          symbollic dream of a ten member ASEAN of 500 million
          people. But practical concerns are now being raised.
          Philippines newspapers say the move sows the seeds for
          discord as it was opposed by Thailand and Manila while
          Singapore wanted a delay on membership on economic
          grounds. There will also be potential conflict for the first
          time over the groups contacts with China and the United
          States, which is likely to boycott part of the next dialogue
          meeting with ASEAN over Burma's entry. Asian observers
          say it creates a two track Asian development that could
          hinder trade liberalisation: and a leading Indonesian
          academic now calls for a 'road-map' of refoprms saying
          Burma is the first case where ASEAN interference is
          justified.

	 [ABC News, 10 June 97].

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