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 Burma on top of the agenda in Asem meetings
May 26, 2009 The Nation
Thailand will further discuss the issue of Burma and the plight of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with European Union (EU) at the Asia-Europe meeting in Hanoi and the Asean-EU in Phnom Penh this week.
This is despite the fact that the junta has lashed out atAseanfor its stance on the matter.Burma's political issues and Suu Kyi's trial over charges of violating house-arrest conditions will be thetop priority at the meeting of foreign ministers from Asia and Europe (Asem) in Hanoi on Monday andTuesday, and the Asean-EU in Phnom Penh on Wednesday and Thursday.Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajivahas already discussed the issue with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, ECcommissioner for external relations, who stopped by in Thailand yesterday on her way to Hanoi.The EU welcomed Thailand's recent statement expressing "grave concerns" over the junta's treatmentof Suu Kyi and also calling for her and other political prisoners' immediate release, Ferrero-Waldnersaid.The EU will hold a dialogue with Burma's partners, including China, on the moves forward, she said.The commissioner is expected to meet Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Hanoi on sidelines of  Asem.Though the EU extended sanctions on Burma by another year last month, the US$156 million (Bt5.4trillion) it donated in 2008 made the group the biggest development and humanitarian aid donor.Ferrero-Waldner said all neighbouring countries should commit and engage with the Burmesegovernment to change because "…they are real neighbours and they work with the country andtherefore have the best influence [than others]". Abhisit said the EU was headed in the right direction with its moves to engage with the junta. "Weshare a common view that we should engage Burma and the country should not be isolated," he said.However the junta rejected the criticism delivered by Thailand as chair of Aseanin its state-runnewspaper saying it was interfering in Burma's domestic affairs."This statement, issued by the alternateAseanchairman - which is not in conformity withAsean practice, incorrect in facts, interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar [Burma] - is strongly rejected,"the junta mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.The statement "sadly noted" that the Thai government had "failed to preserve the dignity of Asean, thedignity of Burma and the dignity of Thailand".Suu Kyi was detained under Burma's Security Act for violating conditions of house arrest, it said. She isbeing tried in connection with the American John Yettaw, who swam across the Inya Lake to herresidence in Rangoon.Foreign MinisterKasit Piromyasaid in Hanoi that theAseanstatement was issued in accordance with   Aseanpractices and Burmese representatives knew about it right from the start."Asean has done this out of love, good intentions and hope to see national reconciliation in Burma andfor it to move forward," he said. "We are not interfering in domestic affairs, but showing our concern."
 
 Thailand rejects Burma attack 
May 26, 2009 Bangkok Post
Thailand has denied interfering in Burma's affairs with its demand as the chair of Asean for the junta torelease opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.Mrs Suu Kyi has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of violating her house arrest rules.Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the statement issued by Thailand on May 18 reflected the concern of  Asean members on the situation in Burma.He said the statement was approved by top foreign ministry officials of the grouping."It did not interfere in Burma's internal affairs," Mr Kasit said in Hanoi, where he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem). "Like the situation in Thailand, many countries expressed concern over thestreet protests as well as the conflict in the South because it affected stability in the region and progressin Asean."Thailand did not want to see any obstacles on the move towards the reconciliation process in Burma."He said the release of Mrs Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma was an important step forreconciliation and general elections next year. Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said some Asean countries were fretting about the situation inBurma.The Thai move received support from the European Union. The EU praised the Thai statement onBurma, Czech Foreign Minister and EU senior official Jan Kohout said in Hanoi on the sidelines of the Asem meeting.Burma's anger was reflected in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Sunday, which said itsgovernment strongly rejected the statement by Asean condemning the trial of the prodemocracy leader."The statement issued by the alternate Asean chair - which is not in conformity with Asean practice,incorrect in facts, and interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar - is strongly rejected by Myanmar,"it said.Burma's state-run newspaper also said: "It is sadly noted that the alternate Asean chair failed topreserve the dignity of Asean, the dignity of Myanmar and the dignity of Thailand."The Burmese issue is tabled in talks among Asian and European foreign ministers being held in Hanoi.It is expected to be raised again this week in Phnom Penh where Southeast Asian foreign ministers willmeet their European counterparts in the AseanEU dialogue.The EU called at the Hanoi Asem for the "immediate release" of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner.The message was conveyed to Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win on the sidelines of the meeting, MrKohout said."I don't have a positive feeling" about the release of Mrs Suu Kyi, he said.The issue was discussed between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, theexternal relations commissioner of the European Commission, at Government House yesterday.Mrs Suu Kyi, who was taken from her house to Insein Prison, faces up to five years in jail if convicted of breaching the terms of her house arrest after an eccentric American, John Yettaw, swam to her lakesidehouse.Her six-year house arrest is due to end tomorrow.The pro-democracy leader will testify today, as the prosecution's withdrawal of its nine remainingwitnesses suggested the military government wanted to quickly wrap up the proceedings.One of Mrs Suu Kyi's lawyers, yesterday said her defence team was unhappy that it was not givensufficient time to consult with their client about her planned testimony.
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