US disapproves ASEAN entree for Bu

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Subject: US disapproves ASEAN  entree for Burma junta

Australian Financial News

                US disapproves ASEAN  entree for Burma junta

                     By Colleen Ryan, Washington 

                After imposing economic sanctions on Burma just a
                fortnight ago, citing "severe repression", the United States
                has voiced its disappointment with the ASEAN group's
                decision to invite Burma into the fold. 

                The Clinton Administration has been pressing for other
                nations to isolate the military junta in Burma until it stops
                repressing the pro-democracy forces led by Nobel prize
                winner Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. It had expressly asked the
                ASEAN nations not to admit Burma -- but to no avail. 

                The US decision to impose economic sanctions in Burma
                met with opposition from the business community, not so
                much because of the size of US investments in Burma
                (they amount to approximately $250 million, mostly in the
                oil and gas sector) but because it ignited the controversy
                over sanctions generally and their effectiveness. Actions
                such as that taken by ASEAN do not help its case. 

                State Department spokeswoman Ms Julie Reside said
                yesterday that while the US recognises that the makeup
                of ASEAN is an internal matter for its members,
                "nonetheless we regret that ASEAN appears to have
                invited Burma to join its organisation at this time". The
                State Department said that it was counting on ASEAN
                members to urge Burma's military junta to enter into a
                "productive dialogue" with domestic democratic forces
                and cease actions that undermined regional stability. 

                "Our concerns about SLORC's (the State Law and
                Order Restoration Council's) policies are well known. It
                has violated the rights of its own citizens and taken
                actions that undermine stability in the region by producing
                refugee flows and allowing Burma to remain a major
                source of narcotics." She added that ASEAN shared
                these concerns "and, like the US, wanted to see them
                addressed". 

                The major US investors in Burma include Unocal Corp
                (in a joint venture with Total), Arco, Atlantic Richfield
                and Texaco. The US sanctions apply only to future, and
                not existing, investments.