US wants ASEAN to persuade Burma to hold transparent polls

by Usa Pichai
Thursday, 12 November 2009 13:54

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The United States has urged ASEAN nations to convince Burma to hold transparent general elections as US President Barack Obama leaves on his debut presidential Asia tour on Thursday.

He is scheduled to meet ASEAN leaders in Singapore for the ASEAN – US Summit this week.

Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State on Wednesday spoke about Burma’s election after a meeting with foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), including seven member countries from ASEAN, which was held in Singapore.

"We would like to see countries individually and through ASEAN reach out to the Burmese leadership, persuade them that it's time to start planning for free, fair and credible elections in 2010," Clinton said.

A senior administrative official said Obama will make a personal plea for the release of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, at his meeting with ASEAN leaders, according to a report in The Strait Times.

The comment comes prior to the first meeting between leaders of the 10 members of the ASEAN and US President Barack Obama on Sunday in Singapore. The summit would provide a chance to reaffirm the US policy to cooperate further with the ASEAN, which has expanded its coalition with several countries. Obama will be the first US President to attend an ASEAN meeting.

Witawas Sriwihok, Thailand’s ASEAN Department Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that the leaders from ASEAN have agreed to attend the meeting including, Thein Sein, Burma's Prime Minister.

Clinton emphasised that ASEAN needs to nudge Burma towards democracy because "the internal problems with Burma are not confined within Burma's borders". She added that the US will not set any condition for Burma's move towards democracy but its sanctions on the military regime will stay.

Clinton arrived in Singapore on Tuesday night to attend the APEC ministerial meetings prior of the group's summit this weekend.

In addition, Singapore’s Foreign Minister George Yeo told the media on the sidelines of the APEC symposium, that 'The US has decided that its ASEAN policy will not be determined by its policy towards Myanmar [Burma].'

“It's a breakthrough because previous attempts at hosting a summit meeting were prevented because of the Myanmar issue,” he added.

However, the other worry of ASEAN is the ongoing dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. It is of concern to the ministers at the APEC meetings and ASEAN and follows the arrival of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday to take up his post as the country’s economic advisor.

Yeo said that ASEAN Secretary, General Surin Pitsuwan had called him on the issue a few days ago.

Surin had also written to ASEAN foreign ministers urging both countries to resolve their problems, while Yeo said member countries are concerned about the bilateral issue and hope they would exercise restraint.