Singapore Straits time editorial

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Singapore Straits Times Editorial:

     MAY 23 

     Myanmar has to earn its keep

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 WITH depressing regularity, and deepening embarrassment to Asean, the
Myanmar military authorities have again begun arresting opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD) members for presumed attempts to disturb the
nation's "peace, tranquility and stability". These round-ups have become an
annual May ritual. The NLD's elected legislators and supporters from all
over the country usually gather in Yangon at this time of the year to mark
the May 27 1990 election that the party won, a victory which turned out to
be hollow because the generals who have long controlled the state refused to
let it take office. Last May, some 260 members were arrested as they readied
themselves for the anniversary and a party congress. And once again this
time, the ruling junta which calls itself the State Law and Order
Restoration Council (Slorc) has shown how little it thinks of Asean and
wider Asian opinion by resorting to detention instead of engaging the
opposition in a process of reconciliation. NLD sources report that some 60
members have been arrested in their homes or were cut off in the last few
days as they headed for the capital from the provinces. More arrests may
follow as the seventh anniversary on Tuesday nears.

 The Slorc says the planned NLD assembly at the home of its leader, Aung San
Suu Kyi, is a move to create "unnecessary problems" and force the government
"to take strong measures against them so that the anti-government propaganda
can be played in their favour". Of course, overt demonstrations of organised
resistance are proscribed and NLD die-hards can expect to face the full
wrath of the law. But Slorc deludes itself too by categorising these
gatherings as a public-order matter. There are graver matters of political
enfranchisement and the country's future path at stake. Myanmar will remain
in limbo unless the clash of wills is replaced by a willingness to
compromise. Alas, Slorc has never cared much about its bad notices
internationally, and has been derisive of the economic sanctions imposed by
the United States.

 This is where the members of Asean, which Myanmar expects to join this
year, should exercise peer pressure on Slorc. At the least, this can be done
by expressing distaste at what is going on and urging speedy political
reform, which the Slorc is committed to. Constructive engagement must remain
as Asean's approach to dealing with the junta, but it must be made clear
that this was never intended as carte blanche to deny the Myanmar people
their popular will. Asean's charter obliges members not to interfere in each
other's political system. Slorc has gained hugely from this disclaimer to
take account of members' differing governing philosophies. But Myanmar
should not be permitted to shelter under this cover in perpetuity.

 As Asean membership for Myanmar is deemed a foregone conclusion -- Asean
foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur on May 31 are said to be ready to
decide on the inclusion of Cambodia and Laos as well -- the Slorc generals
must be apprised of two facts. Far the more important is that membership is
not to be misinterpreted as Asean forebearance (or worse, tacit approval)
for whatever improprieties the Slorc might inflict on a political opposition
which won 80 per cent of the seats in the 1990 election. Accepting as a
member a country which now numbers among a handful of regimes ostracised by
much of the world will come at no small cost to Asean's prestige. Myanmar
should be left in no doubt of that. Secondly, its conduct in its internal
affairs should be consistent with Asean conventions for decency. This is no
window-dressing. It is in a manner contractual in that the US, the European
Union and other dialogue partners of Asean's can boycott consultations and
collaborations with the grouping on what is judged as the unacceptable
behaviour of one constituent member. Myanmar should not bring Asean into
disrepute. It has a period of probation to get past -- and Asean can and
must set the toughest compliance standards.

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