Thailand urges Asean for a consensus on Burma

by Usa Pichai
Saturday, 15 August 2009 19:18

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Thailand has circulated a letter to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to bring about a consensus urging for a pardon and release of Aung San Suu Kyi, even as Vietnam and Laos disapproved.

Kasit Piromya, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that he has submitted a letter to the Asean bloc. However, it is not necessary to hold a special Asean meeting on it because some countries released individual statements in addition to the group’s statement.

Khenthong Nuanthasing, Lao’s Ministry of Foreign Affair’s spokesperson said that Laos would not interfere in a neighbouring country's internal affairs and the trial is a legal procedure of Burma. “However, Laos believes that Burma will achieve the Seven Steps Road Map to democracy in the given time frame. As a member, Laos will stand by the basic principle of the ASEAN Charter,” according to a report in the Thailand National News Bureau.

The Vietnam state media reported yesterday that Vietnam did not support calls by other Asean member states for Burma to free Aung San Suu Kyi.

The state-run Vietnam News said Vietnam harbours no criticism of Burma's decision on Tuesday to place Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for the next 18 months, effectively barring her from elections next year.

"It is our view Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial is an internal affair of Burma," a Vietnamese government spokesman Le Dung said on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dung said Vietnam had always supported Burma and hoped it would continue to implement the "roadmap to democracy" that has been outlined by its government.

On Wednesday, the Thai government as the recent Asean Chair called on the Burmese junta to release the Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and allow her to participate in next year's elections.

On Friday, Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Prime Minister visited the Philippines and discussed the issue with the Philippine’s President Gloria Aroyo and agreed that Burma’s situation is effecting the region. The group should cooperate more. The President also proposed to set up the Asean Human Rights Commission Office in Philippines.

The judgment has attracted strong criticism worldwide. The Asean is also blamed because it did not do enough to improve the situation in Burma as a group member. The United Nations Security Council on Thursday expressed “serious concern” over the conviction and sentencing of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and joined the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in calling for the release of all political prisoners.