Burma in ASEAN,at a price

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

AFP 6/697

                 Burma  in Asean, at a price 



THE logic of Asean's policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar has been
well-known
and generally accepted. But the admission of Myanmar, together with Cambodia
and Laos, into
the association to fulfil the vision of an Asean 10 in the 30th year of its
existence will remain highly
controversial. 

Announcing that the three countries would be admitted next month, Malaysian
Foreign Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was at pains to stress that achieving the cherished
aim of the grouping's
original architects was at the heart of the decision.That original aim was
to create a unified
South-east Asia and to establish a system to manage peacefully relations
among them. On that
point, the decision cannot be faulted. 

Mr Abdullah's explanation was necessary because some of the grouping's chief
dialogue partners
-- namely, the United States, Japan and the European Union -- have
vehemently objected to the
behaviour of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) -- as
Myanmar's ruling junta
is known -- over recognising the results of the 1990 poll and the treatment
of elected party
leaders. Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto went so far as to warn
Slorc that Asean's
decision to admit Myanmar should not be seen as a "pardon" for the ruling
junta. 

It is to be hoped that Asean leaders have not underestimated the strength of
the objections to
Myanmar's entry. In the US, there has been a groundswell of public opinion
against the military
junta. That groundswell has forced several US state governments -- New York
was the latest --
to pass legislation barring the award of contracts to companies that have
business links with
Yangon. On its part, the Clinton administration last month imposed sanctions
barring American
companies from initiating new investments in Myanmar. No doubt, this was in
response to
pressure from various quarters. 

More significantly, Washington's first collision with Asean over Myanmar
could come as early as
July, when the Asean Regional Forum convenes for a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Aseandiplomats
will have their jobs cut out for them, to explain the logic, rationale and
benefits of their decision.
Without a doubt, in light of the strong international opposition against
Myanmar's admission,
Asean has risked much in deciding in favour of inclusion. 

Tariff targets 

Nor are the minus points limited to the political front. Myanmar, Cambodia
and Laos will be
given 10 years from January 1998 to comply with tariff cuts required under
the plan to create an
Asean Free Trade Area (Afta), which will be in place by 2003. Even with the
additional time, all
three countries will have to strive very hard to be able to meet the 0-5 per
cent tariff targets. 

It was quite well known that there were divisions within the grouping over
the timing of the
admission. In the end, Asean decided by consensus. But that consensus should
in no way be
mistaken for approval of Myanmar's current approach to governance. Just this
week, the regime
prevented a gathering at Aung San Suu Kyi's home to mark the seventh
anniversary of the party's
1990 landslide victory. 

Indeed, constitutional arrangements have been in abeyance since the
elections. Slorc should make
an effort to settle these issues if it wants to be considered a productive
and responsible member of
the grouping.