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Before Accepting Burma into ASEAN



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