The Straits Times 07/28/97: Myanmar

[Winston_Lee@xxxxxxx]

Subject: The Straits Times 07/28/97: Myanmar under fire behind closed doors

Winston Lee@SHI
07/28/97 02:11 PM

     By Brendan
 in Kuala Lumpur


     ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) delegates endorsed the regional
     grouping's constructive engagement policy with Myanmar but not
     before several of them slammed the regime in Yangon behind
     closed doors for the slow pace of reforms there.

        United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright noted
     yesterday that though Myanmar had been admitted to the
     grouping, it was an anomaly within Asean.

        It was the only member state singled out by the United Nations
     general assembly for refusing to honour election results and
     where the government protects and profits from the drug trade,
     she said.

        "Burma is inside Asean, but it will remain outside the south-east
     Asian mainstream and isolated from the global economy until
     accountable government is restored," she warned.

        Equally hard-hitting was Australian Foreign Minister Alexander
     Downer, who noted that there had been very little progress in
     constitutional reform in Myanmar.

        It was also stressed that the whole spectrum of political players
in
     the country had to be involved in discussions on political reforms
     -- an indirect reference to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

        The representatives from the European Union and several other
     countries also used the closed door session to hit out at the
     Yangon government, known officially as the State Law and Order
     Restoration Council (Slorc).

        According to delegates, Myanmar Foreign Minister Uhn Gyaw,
     stung by the criticism, stood up and defended his government's
     policy, saying that a number of chapters on constitutional reforms
     had been completed.

        But it was not easy to move ahead with the reforms as there were
     some problems over power-sharing caused by the many ethnic
     groups, some still bearing arms, he said.

        A senior official with the Myanmar delegation told reporters,
     however, that the minister did not think it was appropriate for
     him to have to defend his government at the ARF as it was a
     forum where "international issues, and not the internal affairs of a
     country, should be discussed".

        But having heard so many people give what he considered to be
     inaccurate accounts of the situation in the country, he decided to
     speak and provide a clear picture.

        Mrs Albright was obviously unimpressed. Not liking the tone or
     content of his reply, she intervened, saying that she did not
     believe his statement reflected the situation in Myanmar and
     charged that some of his observations were "fictitious".

        Mr Downer told reporters later that he "did not buy" the
     explanation.

        Later, chairing a press conference in his capacity as chairman of
     the ARF, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
     Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that "all of us have different views
     on Myanmar".

        But he noted that there was a recognition among members of
     Asean's constructive engagement policy with the state.

        Asked if Asean was going to initiate a dialogue with Ms Suu Kyi
     and other political leaders, he replied:

        "I don't think we have difficulty in carrying out some measures
     which can influence changes in a positive way in Myanmar."

        As for whether he believed what the Myanmar minister said
     about political reforms in his country, he said: "Well, it is
     factually correct to say that reforms are taking place. It is also
     factually correct to say that the progress is slow."

        Responding to another question, he told reporters that there was
     a need for the ARF to be more entrenched before a summit
     among leaders of member countries could be considered seriously.

        Datuk Abdullah said the idea of a summit was brought up by
     Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jayakumar during the
     closed-door session.

        But the general feeling around the table was that the aims of the
     forum had to be met first. After this was achieved more fully,
     serious consideration could be given to having a summit.