Australia to step up reform pressur

[082903@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Australia to step up reform pressure on junta.


	Monday, July 28, 1997



     Australia to step up reform pressure on junta
     *********************************************


     By MARK BAKER in Kuala Lumpur



     Australia is putting on new pressure for political reforms in

     Burma amid signs of growing international impatience with the

     Rangoon junta.



     A special envoy, Mr John Dauth, will soon fly to Rangoon for

     talks with the regime ahead of a comprehensive review of

     Australia's Burma policy.



     Mr Dauth, a senior Foreign Affairs official, will also seek a

     meeting with the democracy leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who

     remains under effective house arrest in the capital amid the

     continuing detention and harassment of thousands of her

     supporters.



     While Australia has already suspended official aid and military

     assistance to Burma, the Government is believed to be considering

     the possibility of further sanctions in line with moves by the

     United States and the European Union.



     The Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, confirmed moves to toughen

     Canberra's Burma policy after a meeting yesterday with the

     Burmese Foreign Minister, Mr Ohn Gyaw, on the sidelines of annual

     talks with ASEAN leaders.



     During the meeting, Mr Ohn Gyaw flatly denied there were any

     political prisoners in Burma and said talks 10 days ago between

     officials of the regime and Ms Suu Kyi's National League for

     Democracy were not a precursor to a dialogue on political

     reforms.



     Mr Downer, who had strongly condemned the regime's human rights

     record, was angered when Mr Ohn Gyaw emerged from the meeting and

     told journalists the issue was not raised.



     Mr Downer said no progress had been made on promised

     constitutional reforms in Burma during the past year.

     "Constitutional reform in Burma is travelling at about the pace

     of glue up hill," he said.



     Australia, the US and the European Union are calling on ASEAN to

     take a tougher stand on Burmese issues following the country's

     admission last week as a full member of the regional grouping.



     The US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, denounced the

     regime during a meeting yesterday with regional foreign ministers

     attended by Mr Ohn Gyaw.



     At a dinner meeting on Saturday night, she endorsed a claim by

     the acting president of the European Union, Mr Jacques Poos, that

     the political situation in Burma was worse than that in Cambodia

     following this month's coup.



     "By admitting Burma as a member, ASEAN assumes a greater

     responsibility," she said. "Burma's problems now become ASEAN's

     problems. The lack of a fully legitimate government has created a

     climate of lawlessness that threatens stability."



     The Malaysian Foreign Minister, Mr Abdullah Badawi, has confirmed

     that ASEAN was continuing to press the Rangoon regime to open a

     dialogue on political reform ahead of fresh elections.



     Diplomats said senior US and EU officials had told the ASEAN

     ministers they were prepared to wait another six months for signs

     of progress from the regional contacts before taking further

     steps against Burma.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

        News and Information Dept.
        All Burma Students'Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australaia]
        Tel/Fax: 61+03+98132613

--------------------------------------------------------------------------