Friday September 28, 2007

Asean express "revulsion" at Myanmar's violent repression

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Southeast Asian nations expressed "revulsion'' to Myanmar's foreign minister at the violent repression of demonstrations and strongly urged the military government "to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution.''

A statement issued Thursday after a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the ministers "were appalled to receive reports of automatic weapons being used and demanded that the Myanmar government immediately desist from the use of violence against demonstrators.''

The meeting of the 10-nation group, known as ASEAN, was held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial meeting.

It took place as the U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, was flying to Bangkok at U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's request to try to promote a political solution to the Myanmar crisis.

Myanmar is an ASEAN member, along with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Gambari left for Bangkok on Wednesday night not knowing whether Myanmar's government would grant him a visa. U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe announced early Thursday afternoon that Ban had been informed by Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win that Gambari "will be welcomed by the Myanmar government.''

The secretary-general said later he was pleased that Myanmar agreed to the visit and called on the government "to engage in a constructive dialogue'' with Gambari "and to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation,'' U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

The ASEAN foreign ministers said Win also assured them Gambari would be issued a visa and they urged Myanmar's government "to grant him full access to all parties ... as they had done in the past.''

Gambari has held two meetings with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

In the statement issued by ASEAN's chair, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo, the ministers called for the release of all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi.

"They expressed their revulsion to Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win over reports that the demonstrations in Myanmar are being suppressed by violent force and that there has been a number of fatalities,'' the statement said.

"They strongly urged Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution,'' it said.

"They called upon Myanmar to resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties concerned, and work towards a peaceful transition to democracy.''

The foreign ministers expressed concern to Myanmar's Win "that the developments in Myanmar had a serious impact on the reputation and credibility of ASEAN.''

Myanmar's junta took power in 1988 after crushing the democracy movement led by Suu Kyi.

In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide election victory.

Since then, Suu Kyi has been in and out of detention, kept in near-solitary confinement at her home.

The current protests began Aug. 19 after the government hiked fuel prices in one of Asia's poorest countries.

But they are based in deep-rooted dissatisfaction with the repressive military rule that has gripped the country since 1962.

The protests were faltering when Buddhist monks took the lead last week.

The ASEAN foreign ministers later met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who praised their "very good statement.''

"The United States has determined to keep an international focus on the travesty in Burma,'' Rice said.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said ASEAN is very important and the statement is "a tough declaration.''

"It certainly has to be noticed and certainly underlined because they are, the ASEAN countries, the only one able to make efficient pressure on Myanmar,'' Kouchner said.

"If it has been done, this is a success for democracy, and this is a success for demonstrators in Myanmar.''

Earlier Thursday, Kouchner and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged ASEAN and Myanmar's neighbors to use their influence on Myanmar's generals.

After initial resistance from China, the U.N. Security Council issued its first statement ever on Myanmar late Wednesday.

While China refused to condemn Myanmar and ruled out sanctions, it joined the 14 other council nations in expressing concern at the violence, urging the country's military rulers to exercise restraint and to allow Gambari into the country.

Kouchner told international reporters at a breakfast meeting that French deputy foreign minister of human rights, Rama Yade, "received clearance from the European Union'' to travel to Myanmar and was also heading to Bangkok to try to get a visa.

Miliband told a separate meeting with reporters that Gambari's trip "reinforces the idea that the world is watching ... It's about pressure really, and it's about readiness of the international community.''

Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers added that "if the regime are looking for a route to some more political process, then the Gambari mission provides a good vehicle for them to do it.''

Kouchner called the Security Council statement "the minimum'' and "a success'' at the same time in overcoming Chinese and Russian opposition.

China and Russia contend that the situation in Myanmar is an internal affair and does not threaten international peace and security - as required for Security Council action - so getting them to agree to the press statement was considered a positive step.

France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert called the council statement "a first step'' and said it was important that members agreed to meet again when Gambari returns.

Then, he said, the council will "decide how to react and how to act.''

Kouchner said France and Britain agreed to impose sanctions which will mean withdrawing the French oil and gas giant Total.

But he conceded sanctions are difficult because Myanmar is very isolated though India, China, and all the surrounding countries are investing there.

Miliband said he believes it was important that an EU-U.S. statement on

Wednesday "called on China and India and other ASEAN countries to engage with the regime and to make clear to them what is expected of them.''

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