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Asean to Ask Burmese Junta to Talk



Subject: Asean to Ask Burmese Junta to Talk to Aung San Suu Kyi

The Nation (July 3rd, 1997)
Asean to ask Burmese junta to talk to Suu Kyi



posted at 18:33 (Bangkok time) 



ASEAN foreign ministers have agreed to urge the Burmese junta to open a 
dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to ease political 
tension as Burma will soon become a member of the regional grouping, 
Foreign Minister Prachuab Chaiyasan said Wednesday. 

The decision was reached on Tuesday when foreign ministers of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Hong Kong to discuss final 
preparations for the admission of Burma, Cambodia and Laos on July 23. 

It was the first time Asean members agreed collectively to urge the 
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) to initiate a 
dialogue with Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate and leader of the 
National League for Democracy which won the general election in May 
1990. 

Asean had earlier refused any role in the ongoing political turmoil 
within Burma, saying it was an internal affair and that the grouping 
adhered strictly to the principle of non-interference.


"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."


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