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ASEAN opts to extend 'perfect 10' c
- Subject: ASEAN opts to extend 'perfect 10' c
- From: ausgeo@xxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 18:33:00
Subject: ASEAN opts to extend 'perfect 10' countdown
Asia Times News
ASEAN opts to extend 'perfect 10' countdown
Kusano Yasuo and agencies, Bangkok, 30th May 1997
ASEAN has told Cambodia it will not be admitted to the regional grouping until
December, a Cambodian government spokesman said on Thursday. The decision also
certainly means a similar delay in the admission of Burma and Laos.
The secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations told the
Cambodian Foreign Ministry of the decision in a recent letter, the spokesman
Leng Sochea told Asia Times.
ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday must decide
whether to induct Burma, Cambodia and Laos at ASEAN's annual meeting in July
or wait until a December informal summit.
The group agreed last year the three countries would be admitted
simultaneously to fulfill the founding fathers' vision of an ASEAN 10 linking
all regional nations. Malaysia, this year's host of the group's meetings, has
been pushing for a July admission.
Leng Sochea, the Information Ministry deputy-general director, said Cambodia
was not technically ready for admission.
"Our government intended to convene the national assembly last month to ratify
the treaty of membership of ASEAN but could not open the assembly because of
domestic reasons," said Leng Sochea. "As far as Cambodia is concerned, it was
technically difficult to be admitted at this time. We expect the ratification
will be finalized at the end of the year."
The comments were the latest indication that the foreign ministers would
decide not to admit the three until the December summit. This would give the
group an opportunity also to delay Burma 's controversial membership without
appearing to buckle under strong United States and other Western pressure.
"The latest will be at the summit," acting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim said on Tuesday. "The process may take some time. We adhere to the
principle of consensus."
Cambodian First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Thursday suggested
ASEAN admit his country as a temporary member in July if it decided the time
was not right for full membership. He said the December summit could make it a
full member.
Diplomats said Malaysia preferred the July time frame because it wanted the
December summit - to which Japan, China and South Korea have also been invited
- to focus on Asia-wide issues. But a feud between the leaders of Cambodia's
coalition government has raised doubts about whether it could pass the
necessary legislation by the July ministerial meeting.
Separately, the US has asked ASEAN to delay Burma 's entry because of its
human rights record and the suppression of the democracy movement led by Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi.
ASEAN nations have objected to what they see as Washington's interference. But
a senior official in Thailand's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday the
combination of factors could result in a delay.
ASEAN links Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam.
Thai media has quoted Thai Foreign Ministry sources as saying Bangkok had
proposed that the Kuala Lumpur meeting discuss admitting the three countries
separately. There has been no official confirmation.
Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), has repeated
warnings that the country's military rulers could become "even more obdurate
and oppressive" if they gained ASEAN membership. Suu Kyi, speaking in a recent
video interview released on Thursday, said Burma under the junta's rule would
be no credit to the regional group.
The authorities this week thwarted plans for a mass NLD meeting at Suu Kyi's
house to mark the anniversary of its 1990 landslide election win, which was
not recognized by the junta.
Security around her home was relaxed on Thursday but there was no word on the
316 supporters whom the NLD said were arrested to prevent the congress taking
place. The government denied the arrests.