Thailand says Burma must reform before 2006

Thailand says Burma must reform before 2006 ASEAN summit

Nov 30 (AFP) - Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday that military-ruled Myanmar must reform before it takes over the leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006.

ASEAN's biggest member Indonesia and the Philippines also voiced concern on the final day of ASEAN's annual summit here over Yangon's seemingly mixed signals about reform, while Malaysia took a more cautious stance.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi refused to comment whether Myanmar should hold an election and release Aung San Suu Kyi before 2006.

"All I hope is that the momentum of change that will have to be brought in place will go progressively forward and not be stalled at any stage," he told a news conference.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said in a statement she had urged Soe Win during talks Monday to embrace Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD in the reform process.

"Having welcomed Myanmar to ASEAN, we want to ensure that the ASEAN vision of a vibrant and democratic community will be realized," Arroyo said.

"I reiterated that we have to answer to our own ASEAN community and to the international community." Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told reporters here that Aung San Suu Kyi's extended house arrest, if true, was "inconsistent" with Myanmar's pledge to previous ASEAN summits to lift restrictions on her. "If confirmed, then probably that is a subject of consternation for Indonesia," he said.

[Main][News Archieve]