ASEAN to Discuss Myanmar Despite Policy

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will discuss the detention of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during their annual meeting this week, in a departure from the group’s policy of noninterference in members’ internal affairs.

“Notwithstanding its domestic nature, Myanmar has agreed to an ASEAN discussion on recent political developments in that country,” ASEAN spokesman M.C. Abad Jr. said Sunday.

He told reporters that the foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN countries, in their joint communique to be issued on Tuesday, “will express their common view on the subject.”

“This is the first time that ASEAN will comment on this domestic issue. Myanmar has accepted ASEAN’s proactive stance on this subject of concern,” Abad said.

ASEAN maintains a policy of noninterference in the domestic affairs of member countries, but was apparently forced to take notice of growing international pressure on Myanmar’s military government to release Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been in detention since May 30.

The ASEAN foreign ministers hold their annual meeting on Monday and Tuesday before holding talks with counterparts from 13 other Asia-Pacific countries, including Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Powell has said he wants ASEAN to take up the Myanmar issue more seriously.

Abad said “bilateral consultations are going on between some member countries of ASEAN and Myanmar,” and the subject would also come up for discussion during the foreign ministers’ dinner on Sunday.

“I do not know yet what will be the final wording in the joint communique, but it will involve certain elements including the briefing by the Myanmar representative to his ASEAN counterparts on the incident on the 30th of May,” Abad said.

He said the statement will include ASEAN’s support for the United Nations’ role in mediating reconciliation between Myanmar’s military junta and Suu Kyi, initiated by special U.N. envoy Razali Ismail in October 2000.

“As you know, ASEAN has always supported political dialogue and national reconciliation processes in Myanmar. There is no change in that policy,” he said.