Myanmar entry a terrible shame, say

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Subject: Myanmar entry a terrible shame, says SDP's Chee


	Myanmar entry a terrible shame, says SDP's Chee 
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     SINGAPORE -- A Singapore opposition leader yesterday called Asean's 
decision to
     admit Myanmar in July a "terrible shame" and warned that the move 
could worsen the
     political situation in the army-ruled country. 

     Dr Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic 
Party, also
     criticised the Singapore Government for joining the Asean consensus 
to allow
     Myanmar's entry. Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are to be inducted 
during the Asean
     annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur next month after its entry was 
approved at a special
     meeting yesterday of the group's foreign ministers in the Malaysian 
capital. 

     The decision was taken despite a fresh crackdown on pro-democracy 
forces by
     Myanmar's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) and 
pressure from
     Western nations against opening Asean's doors to the regime. 

     "It's a terrible shame that after all that the Slorc has done to the 
people of Burma,
     Asean is going to legitimise their rule by inclusion into the 
association," Dr Chee told
     AFP. 

     "We feel that it's again a very sad day for Singapore to support 
Slorc's inclusion into
     Asean," he added, citing the Myanmar regime's alleged involvement in 
drug trafficking. 

     Dr Chee said the Slorc would read Asean's decision as a "green 
light" to "carry on with
     its ways" instead of being pressured into opening a dialogue with 
the opposition led by
     Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. -- AFP. 

[1 June 1997].

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