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AP:ASEAN's Halfhearted Concern Over



Subject: AP:ASEAN's Halfhearted Concern Over Human Rights Abuses in Burma

ASEAN's Halfhearted Concern Over Human Rights Abuses in Burma
 
  By JOE McDONALD
 Associated Press Writer
   JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Asian officials expressed deep concern
Tuesday about human rights abuses in Burma, but rejected a U.S. proposal
for economic sanctions to punish its military rulers.
   Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said no country came to
Burma's defense during private meetings at the regional security
conference.
   "They were concerned about the situation in Burma, and they did want to
see the development of democratic institutions in Burma," Downer said at
the four-day meeting of the seven-nation Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.
   Still, ASEAN -- which last weekend gave Burma observer status, the last
step before full membership in the group -- rejected sanctions as a
response to abuses it called an "internal matter" for Burma.
   Washington proposed sanctions after James Leander Nichols, a Burmese
citizen who was an honorary Danish consul and a friend of pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, died last month in a Burmese prison.
   The Clinton administration wants to compel the Burmese military, in
power since 1962, to end its repression of dissidents and eventually hand
over power to elected leaders.
   "We don't believe that some of the approaches propagated by the Western
countries will either work or will be productive," said Foreign Minister
Ali Alatas of Indonesia, chairman of the four-day meeting.
   Alatas repeated his appeal for "quiet diplomacy and constructive
engagement" with Burma, also known as Myanmar. Secretary of State Warren
Christopher and human rights groups have said that approach won't work.
   Christopher arrived Monday to take part in the meeting, saying he
planned to remind the Asians of the "option of sanctions."
   The Burmese regime's "refusal to heed the desire of a majority of the
Burmese people for a transition to democratic rule and its increased
harassment of the democratic opposition not only violates basic, universal
human rights but raises the chances of instability, bloodshed and migration
within Burma and across its borders," he told reporters.
   Christopher also portrayed Burma as an outlaw regime that has let the
country's heroin trade become the world's largest.
   Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang called for the United
States and Europe to stop intruding: "Southeast Asia should do away with
the interference from the outside and solve the issue on their own."
   Also at the summit Tuesday, China called for joint development of areas
in the South China Sea where conflicting territorial claims by six nations
have created military flash points.
   Beijing, which has sent warships to enforce its claim to the Spratly
Islands, alarmed Southeast Asia in May by claiming the Paracel Islands.
   Vietnam and Taiwan also claim the Paracels. Both countries plus
Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei also claim all or part of the Spratlys --
tiny, uninhabited islands and reefs believed to have huge oil and gas
reserves.
   Shen said China has formed discussion groups with Vietnam, Philippines
and Malaysia to avert military confrontations and has agreed to stop
blocking international shipping through the area.
   The ASEAN countries are Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, the
Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Other participants at this week's
meeting include China, Russia, Japan and the European Union.
   
KT
ISBDA