NEIGHBOURS FEAR BURMA

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Neighbours fear Burma 
By PETER ALFORD South-East Asia correspondent  
10jul98 


BANGKOK: The worsening internal political strife in Burma is set to become
the flashpoint of debate about the Association of South-East Asian Nations'
founding principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member
countries. 

Burma's military Government this week lashed out at Thailand and The
Philippines for "presumptuous" comments about its internal situation and
warned their interference could damage ASEAN unity. 

"It is regrettable that such speculations, based on unfounded premises and
fabrications, can only lead to misunderstanding among ASEAN members and
adversely affect bilateral relations, apart from being entirely against
basic principles of ASEAN," the Burmese Foreign Ministry said. 


Although no country was named, Burma has clearly targeted Thailand and The
Philippines, whose senior foreign policy officials have publicly worried
about the danger of a violent confrontation between the regime and
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. 

Echoing earlier comments by Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon,
senior Thai Foreign Ministry official Kobsak Chatikul warned the worsening
Burmese political situation threatened ASEAN stability. 

"We, as fellow ASEAN member countries, feel that any new instability in the
region could affect efforts to achieve regional economic rehabilitation," Mr
Kobsak said. 

Such comments are clear and deliberate breaches of the non-interference
principle and it is no coincidence they come from the two countries that
have signalled they will argue for a fundamental change in policy at the
July 24-25 ASEAN ministerial meeting in Manila. 

As reported by The Australian on Monday, Thai Foreign Minister Surin
Pitsuwan, backed by Mr Siazon, will push for the non-interference principle
to be replaced by a policy of "flexible engagement". 

This would permit constructive criticism of members' internal behaviour that
affects other ASEAN countries or the association. 

The Philippines has not only publicly supported the Thai initiative, it has
used its influence as this year's meeting host to ensure the
non-interference issue is on the Manila agenda. 

It is no coincidence, either, that Burma should be used by Bangkok and
Manila as the focus of their reform campaign. The Philippines was the most
dubious of ASEAN members about the decision 12 months ago to admit Burma,
with its shabby record of political and human rights abuses, to the
organisation. 

Thailand, which shares a long western border with Burma, is increasingly
frustrated by the fact that ASEAN membership has done nothing to improve the
regime's behaviour or bilateral relations between the two countries.