UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had Southeast Asia's premier diplomatic grouping in sight when he released a press statement on Burma, one of its member countries, at the sidelines of the just-concluded International Aids Conference. Annan's statement, released after he met Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, expressed concern about the slow progress in bringing democracy to the country and freeing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi despite supposed efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to bring about political change. Since the UN chief was in Thailand for the 15th International Aids Conference, which ended on July 16, and in the proximity of Burma - it was an opportune moment for him to draw attention to the country ruled by a military government accused of gross human rights abuses, including the forcible relocation of civilians and the widespread use of forced labour.
Asean's members are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Burma joined the club in 1997 despite misgivings by some governments and activists in and out of the region, but Asean countries said membership would allow their 'constructive engagement' policy to slowly encourage Rangoon to open up its political system. âIn his discussions with the Thai leaders, the secretary-general underscored the role and responsibility of the countries of the (Asean) region in helping to accelerate the process of democratisation and national reconciliation in Myanmar, beginning with the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,'' said the UN statement. The statement added that the UN secretary-general stressed âthe need to engage constructively'' with Burma's ruling junta, called the State Peace and Development Council.
| More of the same blah-blah. Burma's been run by the generals since about the time Caesar got drafted. Kofi's nattering isn't going to change things. For one thing, his attention span isn't long enough. For another, he doesn't really see anything wrong with a military junta running things... |
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