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Before Accepting Burma into ASEAN
- Subject: Before Accepting Burma into ASEAN
- From: abim@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 22:26:00
Before Accepting Myanmar (Burma) into ASEAN
Berita Harian , 2 May 1997
Report by Mohd Shah Abdullah
Kota Bharu, Thursday
Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia ( ABIM) asked Malaysian government
and ASEAN countries to study more from different aspects about the
Burmese military junta's behavior before accepting as a new membership.
ABIM's president Asst. Prof Dr. Mohd Nur Manuty questioned about the
very much unsatisfactory human right record of Burmese junta in general
and its ill treatment on Muslims in particular. He mentioned that ABIM
have the full informations about the junta's role behind the recent
razing of several mosques in Rangoon, Mandalay and other big cities in
central Burma as well as the new exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Arakan
State.
He also pointed out that the Burmese military junta didn't respect the
opinion of Muslim community and OIC( Organization of Islamic Countries)
on the issues related to the Muslims in that country. "Whatever the good
result will be (after accepting Myanmar into ASEAN),the ill fate of
Muslims must be put into strong consideration ". he told to reporters
after opening the ABIM's 24 th State Annual General Meeting in Kelantan.
ABIM was asked to comment about the American State Department spokesman
Nicholas Burn recently lobbying ASEAN to put pressure on Burma and not
to accept into ASEAN this year. Burn stated that it will make more
democratization process and better human rights record in Burma.
However, Malaysian Foreign minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said
ASEAN have the independent decision to bring Burma into the grouping and
the American pressure will not effect it.
Also present at the meeting was YDP ABIM Kelantan Mostapha Mohammad,
Deputy Secretary of the Kelantan State Kassim Mohammad and Deputy YDP of
Kelantan Islamic Affairs Council(MAIK) Datuk Ashaari Azmi Abdulla. Dr.
Mohd Nur said ABIM is notinfluenced by Washington's policy but urging
ASEAN to be careful about the human right record of Myanmar before
attempting major decision.
According to Dr Mohd Nur, ABIM was called for a discussion with the
Secretary General of Foreign Affairs on Myanmar issue earlier. " ABIM is
ready to meet again and discuss more details with Malaysian Foreigh
Minister, Ambassador of Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur and ASEAN Secretariat
about the Myanmar's entry into the ASEAN." " We also believe that the
Burmese military junta is hiding and misleading information related to
the Muslims in Burma".
Translated by Shahrul/ Dr. Kamal
3 April 1997