EU warns ASEAN on dangers of Burma

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Subject: EU warns ASEAN on dangers of Burma link.



		EU warns ASEAN on dangers of Burma link
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	The European Union has warned South-East Asian leaders that their 
links with Burma's military regime could undermine the growing 
relationship between Europe and Asia.

	An EU Vice- President, Mr Manuel Marin, has cautioned the 
seven-member Association of South-East Asia Nations not to move towards 
admitting Burma as a member without requiring "profound change" in its 
human rights record.

	The Burma issue is set to overshadow this week's annual meeting 
of ASEAN dialogue partners, including the EU, the United States and 
Australia.

	Burma will be admitted as an observer to the foreign ministers' 
meeting on Saturday and officials are pressing ahead with plans for Burma 
to become a full member within five years.
	
	Burma is also set next week to join the 19-nation ASEAN Regional Forum.

	The United States and Australia decided not to try to overturn an 
earlier agreement on Burmese membership of the forum for fear of 
provoking a confrontation with the Asians.

	Mr Marin, who will travel to Jakarta next week with the EU 
delegation, said ASEAN was free to admit whatever new members it wanted. 
"But it is clear for us that Burma would be a problem. Unless there is a 
profound change in the regime, it will inevitably create considerable 
difficulties," he said in Brussels.

	Leaders of the 15-nation EU held a submmit with their ASEAN 
counterparts in Bangkok earlier this year and agreed to regular 
consultations on economic, political and security issues. But relationas 
have been strained by ASEAN's reluctance to take a tougher stand against 
the Burmese military, which revently launched a fresh crackdown on 
supporters of the democracy leader Aung San Suu kyi.

	Ms Suu Kyi has written to ASEAN leaders appealing for them to 
step up pressure on the Burmese regime.

	The EU on Monday demanded a full explanation from Rangoon of the 
death in custody last month of James Leander Nichols, 65, a close family 
friend of Ms Suu Kyi who served as honorary consul for several 
Scandinavian countries. The Norwegian Government said last week it had 
evidence that Mr Nichols, a diabetic with a heart condition, died after 
being tortured in prison.

	The Burmese Government this week denounced Mr Nichols as "a 
crook" who deserved to die, and has refused European calls for an 
independent autopsy. A statement released yesterday in Jakarta said the 
request had been rejected "not because it would compromise Burma's 
sovereignty and independence.


[ Mark Baker, South-East Asia correspondent, Jakarta, 17 July 1996].

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