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Australia: Foreign Policy on Burma
ASEAN entry sparks rethink on Burma
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(By Desmond Fregon)
The decision by the Association of South-East Asian Nations to admit
Burma as a member is driving Australia into a fundamental rethink of
policies designed to isolate the country's repressive military regime.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will send a special envoy to Rangoon in
early September as the Government grapples with the acute difficulties of
maintaining a tough line against the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council now that Burma is part of ASEAN.
Mr Downer acknowledged that ASEAN membership gave Burma "greater regional
importance", creating a dilemma for Australia on how to manage its
seven-year-old "benchmark" policy.
Under benchmarking, diplomatic contacts, aid and commercial relations
have been curtailed until SLORC agrees to political reform and improves
human rights.
Asked if a review of the policy was possible, Mr Downer said the policy
was always under review.
But he conceded Australia would have a "much fuller view" of the
situation following the mission by senior Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade bureaucrat John Dauth.
While Mr Downer has stuck with the formula that Burma's membership of
ASEAN is a matter for the association itself, there is clear recognition
by Australian officials that the task of managing relations with Rangoon
has henceforth become more complex.
One issue is how can Australia prevent multilateral aid given to ASEAN
ending up in Burma.
With a freeze on government-to-government aid to Rangoon, Australia is
anxious to ensure that monies offered under the Australian-ASEAN Economic
Co-operation Program do not go to help SLORC.
The problem is temporarily resolved because the $32 million allocated to
the four-year program has already been commited.
But it is due to be renewed next financial year and will require
Australia to insist on funds not being
spent in Burma unless there is an unexpected change in SLORC's behaviour.
Aksed whether he could guarantee no Australian aid would go to Burma, Mr
Downer would only say yesterday that the funds under the current
four-year program were committed so the issue did not arise for now.
Over the weekend, he gave one of Australia's strongest public
condemnation of SLORC after meeting Burmese Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw.
The meeting ended with a public spat after Mr Gyaw denied to
journalists there had been any discussion of human rights with Mr Downer.
Mr Downer telephoned Mr Gyaw to seek an explanation.
Later, in a detailed account of the talks, Mr Downer said he had pressed
Mr Gyaw vigorously on the issue of constitutional reform and opening a
dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy, led by Aung
San Suu Kyi.
He expressed disappointment at Mr Gyaw's claims that talks held last week
between SLORC and the NLD - the first in two years - were not the
begining of a dialogue. He was also critical of the "snail's pace" at
which SLORC was advancing constitutional reform.
During the ASEAN Regional Forum yesterday, Mr Downer joined further
vigorous criticism of Burma led by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
At a news conference during a break in the ARF, Mr Downer said: "I would
say that the mood of the ASEAN Regional Forum, which obviously includes
the ASEAN countries as well as many others, is that we have been
disappointed at the pace of reform in Burma over the past 12 months.
(28 July 1997, The Region, By Desmond Fregon).
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News and Information Dept.
All Burma Students'Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australia]
Tel/Fax: 61+03+98132613
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