Myanmar could ease Suu Kyi detention
Sat Oct 24, 10:20 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Myanmar's prime minister told Asian counterparts Saturday that the ruling junta could relax the conditions of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's detention, a Japanese official said.
The Nobel Peace laureate had "softened" her attitude towards the military regime since her house arrest was extended in August for a further 18 months, the official quoted Myanmar premier Thein Sein as saying.
But while Thein Sein announced at a regional summit in Thailand that Myanmar also wants elections next year to be "inclusive", he would not say if Suu Kyi would be allowed to participate, the official said.
"(Myanmar's government) believes that Aung San Suu Kyi seems to have softened her attitude towards the authorities," Japanese delegation spokesman Kazuo Kodama quoted Thein Sein as telling leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea.
Kodama said that the Myanmar regime "thinks if Aung San Suu Kyi maintains a good attitude it is possible that the Myanmar authorities will relax the current measures.
"The Myanmar government is... making preparations to make (next year's) election (an) inclusive election. The Myanmar government would like to ensure all the stakeholders will take part in such a process."
The regime has faced huge pressure, especially from the West, for its detention of Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention.
The junta said after she was convicted in August over an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside home that her latest spell under house arrest could be cut "if she lives well in the suspended sentence."
The United States last month announced that it would seek to engage the reclusive junta, although stressing that it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy, and is sending a rare "fact-finding" mission there soon.
Japan's Kodama said Thein Sein had told the meeting his country wanted good relations with the outside world.
"(The government) believes that the US government seems to have softened its position on Myanmar... which is welcomed by the government," Kodama said.
ASEAN nations have faced western criticism for their failure to take on fellow member Myanmar over its rights record, while China is the junta's closest ally and supplier of arms.
Sat Oct 24, 10:20 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Myanmar's prime minister told Asian counterparts Saturday that the ruling junta could relax the conditions of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's detention, a Japanese official said.
The Nobel Peace laureate had "softened" her attitude towards the military regime since her house arrest was extended in August for a further 18 months, the official quoted Myanmar premier Thein Sein as saying.
But while Thein Sein announced at a regional summit in Thailand that Myanmar also wants elections next year to be "inclusive", he would not say if Suu Kyi would be allowed to participate, the official said.
"(Myanmar's government) believes that Aung San Suu Kyi seems to have softened her attitude towards the authorities," Japanese delegation spokesman Kazuo Kodama quoted Thein Sein as telling leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea.
Kodama said that the Myanmar regime "thinks if Aung San Suu Kyi maintains a good attitude it is possible that the Myanmar authorities will relax the current measures.
"The Myanmar government is... making preparations to make (next year's) election (an) inclusive election. The Myanmar government would like to ensure all the stakeholders will take part in such a process."
The regime has faced huge pressure, especially from the West, for its detention of Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention.
The junta said after she was convicted in August over an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside home that her latest spell under house arrest could be cut "if she lives well in the suspended sentence."
The United States last month announced that it would seek to engage the reclusive junta, although stressing that it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy, and is sending a rare "fact-finding" mission there soon.
Japan's Kodama said Thein Sein had told the meeting his country wanted good relations with the outside world.
"(The government) believes that the US government seems to have softened its position on Myanmar... which is welcomed by the government," Kodama said.
ASEAN nations have faced western criticism for their failure to take on fellow member Myanmar over its rights record, while China is the junta's closest ally and supplier of arms.
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Asian nations look to 'lead world'
by Danny Kemp – Sat Oct 24, 1:51 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Asian nations discussed plans at a major summit Saturday to "lead the world" by boosting economic and political cooperation and possibly forming an EU-style community.
The prime ministers of regional giants China and India also looked to foster unity on the sidelines of the summit in Thailand after months of trading barbs over long-standing territorial issues.
But nuclear-armed North Korea and military-ruled Myanmar were also set to top the agenda in the royal beach resort of Hua Hin, underscoring the challenges still facing the region.
The summit groups the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with regional partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said a proposed East Asian community involving all 16 countries should aspire to take a leading role as the region makes an early rebound from the global economic crisis.
"It would be meaningful for us to have the aspiration that East Asia is going to lead the world and with the various countries with different regimes cooperating with each other towards that perspective," Hatoyama, who took office last month, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.
He described Japan's alliance with the United States as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, but said the region should "try to reduce as much as possible the gaps, the disparities that exist amongst the Asian countries".
China would "doubtless" grow further, particularly economically, "but I do not necessarily regard that as a threat," Hatoyama said.
Officials said separately that East Asian nations would carry out a feasibility study for a huge free trade zone covering ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea and a larger group involving India, Australia and New Zealand.
Increased integration has been a recurring theme of the meetings in Thailand, as the rapidly changing region seeks to capitalise on the fact that it has recovered more quickly from the recession than the West.
ASEAN leaders have been discussing plans to create their own political and economic community by 2015.
But cross-border spats have continued to dog the summit, with host nation Thailand dragged into a war of words with Cambodia and India and China seeking to resolve their differences.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh held "productive" talks on the sidelines of the summit Saturday but did not discuss their spat over territorial issues, officials said.
"We have reached important consensus on promoting bilateral ties," Wen was quoted as saying by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua as the talks opened.
Beijing has voiced its opposition to a recent visit by Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian border state at the core of the dispute, and to a planned visit there next month by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
Arunachal Pradesh and the Dalai Lama were not discussed at Saturday's meeting, an Indian delegation official said. The two nations fought a border war in 1962.
Human rights issues have also marred the summit. A widely criticised rights body officially launched by ASEAN on Friday was due to have its first ever meeting on Saturday.
The bloc was caught up in a row on Friday when leaders barred several activists from meeting them as previously arranged.
Meanwhile Thailand and Cambodia remained at loggerheads over the fate of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen bizarrely offered him a job as his economic adviser.
Around 18,000 troops and dozens of armoured vehicles have been deployed in Hua Hin after it was twice postponed by anti-government protests, with another 18,000 on standby or on duty in Bangkok.
The leaders are expected to sign a host of agreements this weekend on economic and other issues including climate change, disaster management, communications and food security in the rapidly changing region.
by Danny Kemp – Sat Oct 24, 1:51 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Asian nations discussed plans at a major summit Saturday to "lead the world" by boosting economic and political cooperation and possibly forming an EU-style community.
The prime ministers of regional giants China and India also looked to foster unity on the sidelines of the summit in Thailand after months of trading barbs over long-standing territorial issues.
But nuclear-armed North Korea and military-ruled Myanmar were also set to top the agenda in the royal beach resort of Hua Hin, underscoring the challenges still facing the region.
The summit groups the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with regional partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said a proposed East Asian community involving all 16 countries should aspire to take a leading role as the region makes an early rebound from the global economic crisis.
"It would be meaningful for us to have the aspiration that East Asia is going to lead the world and with the various countries with different regimes cooperating with each other towards that perspective," Hatoyama, who took office last month, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.
He described Japan's alliance with the United States as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, but said the region should "try to reduce as much as possible the gaps, the disparities that exist amongst the Asian countries".
China would "doubtless" grow further, particularly economically, "but I do not necessarily regard that as a threat," Hatoyama said.
Officials said separately that East Asian nations would carry out a feasibility study for a huge free trade zone covering ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea and a larger group involving India, Australia and New Zealand.
Increased integration has been a recurring theme of the meetings in Thailand, as the rapidly changing region seeks to capitalise on the fact that it has recovered more quickly from the recession than the West.
ASEAN leaders have been discussing plans to create their own political and economic community by 2015.
But cross-border spats have continued to dog the summit, with host nation Thailand dragged into a war of words with Cambodia and India and China seeking to resolve their differences.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh held "productive" talks on the sidelines of the summit Saturday but did not discuss their spat over territorial issues, officials said.
"We have reached important consensus on promoting bilateral ties," Wen was quoted as saying by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua as the talks opened.
Beijing has voiced its opposition to a recent visit by Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian border state at the core of the dispute, and to a planned visit there next month by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
Arunachal Pradesh and the Dalai Lama were not discussed at Saturday's meeting, an Indian delegation official said. The two nations fought a border war in 1962.
Human rights issues have also marred the summit. A widely criticised rights body officially launched by ASEAN on Friday was due to have its first ever meeting on Saturday.
The bloc was caught up in a row on Friday when leaders barred several activists from meeting them as previously arranged.
Meanwhile Thailand and Cambodia remained at loggerheads over the fate of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen bizarrely offered him a job as his economic adviser.
Around 18,000 troops and dozens of armoured vehicles have been deployed in Hua Hin after it was twice postponed by anti-government protests, with another 18,000 on standby or on duty in Bangkok.
The leaders are expected to sign a host of agreements this weekend on economic and other issues including climate change, disaster management, communications and food security in the rapidly changing region.
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Asian leaders give rival visions for economic blocs
by Danny Kemp – Sun Oct 25, 8:35 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Asian leaders heard competing plans from Australia and Japan for a massive EU-style community covering half the world's population as they wrapped up their annual summit on Sunday.
The proposals at the meeting in Thailand come as the fractious region seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States and boost its global clout after recovering from the financial crisis more quickly than the West.
"The old growth model where, simply put, we have still to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here, we feel will no longer serve us," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented his counterparts with his vision for an Asia-Pacific Community, possibly by 2020, while Japanese leader Yukio Hatoyama pushed his rival plan for an East Asian Community.
Rudd's scheme includes the direct involvement of the United States and measures on disaster management and climate change. Hatoyama's proposal is more flexible and focused on economic cooperation.
Abhisit said leaders at the summit in the beach resort of Hua Hin, which grouped 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, "listened carefully and attentively" to the plans.
"There will be an ongoing process to flesh out those concepts," Abhisit said in his closing remarks, adding that there would be a meeting in Australia in December to discuss Rudd's idea.
Rudd said the region showed an "openness to a discussion about how we evolve our regional architecture into the future." He said he had suggested a possible timeline of 2020.
The Japanese premier set no time limit but has urged East Asian nations to integrate and aspire to "lead the world".
Leaders signed pacts Sunday on boosting integration and cooperating on global warming and tackling natural disasters.
But the Asian heads of state faced fresh criticism over human rights -- especially in military-ruled Myanmar -- while the summit was hit by a series of border disputes.
The launch Friday of what ASEAN hailed as a "historic" rights commission was overshadowed by the barring of several campaigners from a meeting with the region's leaders.
Activists then slammed the Asian leaders for failing to press for the release of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to a further 18 months of house arrest in August.
Thailand's Abhisit said Myanmar premier Thein Sein had told his counterparts on Sunday that the ruling junta "feels optimistic that she (Suu Kyi) can also contribute to the process of national reconciliation."
The Thai leader denied the group had softened its stance on Myanmar, saying that it had pushed for fair elections there next year and adding that the United States in particular was following ASEAN's policy of engagement.
Indian premier Manmohan Singh said there was an "atmosphere of hope" about a recent warming of ties between Washington and Myanmar's generals. Related article: Australia, China hold talks on Rio Tinto detained executive
Singh meanwhile said he and Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao had agreed at talks on Saturday to work towards lowering tensions in a long-running border dispute that had also clouded the summit.
Beijing has registered its annoyance with New Delhi at a recent visit by Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed Indian border state, and to a proposed visit to the territory by exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The two Asian giants fought a war in the area in 1962.
Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia however remained at loggerheads over the fate of fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, after Cambodian premier Hun Sen offered him a job as his economic adviser.
Around 18,000 troops were deployed in Hua Hin after the Asian summit was twice postponed by anti-government protests, most recently when supporters of the exiled Thaksin stormed the venue in Pattaya, forcing the evacuation of VIPs.
The chairmanship of ASEAN will pass to Vietnam at the end of December.
by Danny Kemp – Sun Oct 25, 8:35 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Asian leaders heard competing plans from Australia and Japan for a massive EU-style community covering half the world's population as they wrapped up their annual summit on Sunday.
The proposals at the meeting in Thailand come as the fractious region seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States and boost its global clout after recovering from the financial crisis more quickly than the West.
"The old growth model where, simply put, we have still to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here, we feel will no longer serve us," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented his counterparts with his vision for an Asia-Pacific Community, possibly by 2020, while Japanese leader Yukio Hatoyama pushed his rival plan for an East Asian Community.
Rudd's scheme includes the direct involvement of the United States and measures on disaster management and climate change. Hatoyama's proposal is more flexible and focused on economic cooperation.
Abhisit said leaders at the summit in the beach resort of Hua Hin, which grouped 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, "listened carefully and attentively" to the plans.
"There will be an ongoing process to flesh out those concepts," Abhisit said in his closing remarks, adding that there would be a meeting in Australia in December to discuss Rudd's idea.
Rudd said the region showed an "openness to a discussion about how we evolve our regional architecture into the future." He said he had suggested a possible timeline of 2020.
The Japanese premier set no time limit but has urged East Asian nations to integrate and aspire to "lead the world".
Leaders signed pacts Sunday on boosting integration and cooperating on global warming and tackling natural disasters.
But the Asian heads of state faced fresh criticism over human rights -- especially in military-ruled Myanmar -- while the summit was hit by a series of border disputes.
The launch Friday of what ASEAN hailed as a "historic" rights commission was overshadowed by the barring of several campaigners from a meeting with the region's leaders.
Activists then slammed the Asian leaders for failing to press for the release of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to a further 18 months of house arrest in August.
Thailand's Abhisit said Myanmar premier Thein Sein had told his counterparts on Sunday that the ruling junta "feels optimistic that she (Suu Kyi) can also contribute to the process of national reconciliation."
The Thai leader denied the group had softened its stance on Myanmar, saying that it had pushed for fair elections there next year and adding that the United States in particular was following ASEAN's policy of engagement.
Indian premier Manmohan Singh said there was an "atmosphere of hope" about a recent warming of ties between Washington and Myanmar's generals. Related article: Australia, China hold talks on Rio Tinto detained executive
Singh meanwhile said he and Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao had agreed at talks on Saturday to work towards lowering tensions in a long-running border dispute that had also clouded the summit.
Beijing has registered its annoyance with New Delhi at a recent visit by Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed Indian border state, and to a proposed visit to the territory by exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The two Asian giants fought a war in the area in 1962.
Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia however remained at loggerheads over the fate of fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, after Cambodian premier Hun Sen offered him a job as his economic adviser.
Around 18,000 troops were deployed in Hua Hin after the Asian summit was twice postponed by anti-government protests, most recently when supporters of the exiled Thaksin stormed the venue in Pattaya, forcing the evacuation of VIPs.
The chairmanship of ASEAN will pass to Vietnam at the end of December.
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Leaders of 16 Asian nations meet in Thailand
By GRANT PECK, Associated Press Writer – Sun Oct 25, 6:17 am ET
CHA-AM, Thailand (AP) – Leaders of 16 Asian countries gave high priority Sunday to finding a new economic growth model to free half the world's population from merely serving as producers for the West, the Thai prime minister said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the leaders gave such a search "the utmost importance" at the annual East Asian Summit, which concluded Sunday. He told a press conference that Asian nations would have to strengthen their domestic markets and further liberalize regional trade.
"The old growth model where, simply put, we have still to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here will no longer serve us in the future," said Abhisit, who hosted the meeting.
Asian leaders, a conference document said, noted that the region has shown signs of recovery from the global crisis and "regained its pace of economic growth."
"East Asia could therefore play a crucial role in driving global economic recovery and in reforming the international financial architecture," it said, noting that the Asian Development Bank recently revised its forecasts for East Asian economic growth from 3.4 to 3.9 percent this year and 6 to 6.4 percent in 2010.
The East Asia Summit followed Saturday meetings of leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations with heads of government from China, Japan and South Korea. Sunday's expanded talks brought in Australia, New Zealand and India.
The 16 leaders represent almost half the world's population and more than a third of the global GDP, according to Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The three-day conference included the launch of Southeast Asia's first human rights watchdog, and talks on economic integration of ASEAN by the year 2015, disaster management, climate change and military-ruled Myanmar, an ASEAN member widely criticized internationally for its human rights violations.
Abhisit said Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein told other leaders that he welcomed signs of engagement from various regions, a reference to Washington's recent announcement that it would seek high-level dialogue rather than shunning the junta. Thein Sein also said that he was optimistic that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held in detention for 14 years, could contribute to reconciliation.
"ASEAN has always argued that engagement is the right approach. We feel that if everybody takes this approach we would be encouraging Myanmar in her successful implementation of her own roadmap (to democracy)," Abhisit said.
Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday called on Myanmar to conduct free and fair elections next year when the junta has promised to hold the first polls in two decades. Activists criticized the bloc for failing to take a tougher stand against one of the world's worst human rights offenders.
The conference signed or noted 43 documents, several focused on economic integration.
ASEAN countries have haltingly tried to integrate their economies, and are seeking to eliminate trade barriers within the bloc to bring about a European Union-style grouping by 2015.
"Over the past year we have proved that ASEAN continues to move forward. We have risen to the challenges of the times," Abhisit said, noting regional cooperation in coping with the global economic crisis, swine flu and several natural disasters in the region.
The next summits have been scheduled for Hanoi in April and October next year, when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN chairmanship.
By GRANT PECK, Associated Press Writer – Sun Oct 25, 6:17 am ET
CHA-AM, Thailand (AP) – Leaders of 16 Asian countries gave high priority Sunday to finding a new economic growth model to free half the world's population from merely serving as producers for the West, the Thai prime minister said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the leaders gave such a search "the utmost importance" at the annual East Asian Summit, which concluded Sunday. He told a press conference that Asian nations would have to strengthen their domestic markets and further liberalize regional trade.
"The old growth model where, simply put, we have still to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here will no longer serve us in the future," said Abhisit, who hosted the meeting.
Asian leaders, a conference document said, noted that the region has shown signs of recovery from the global crisis and "regained its pace of economic growth."
"East Asia could therefore play a crucial role in driving global economic recovery and in reforming the international financial architecture," it said, noting that the Asian Development Bank recently revised its forecasts for East Asian economic growth from 3.4 to 3.9 percent this year and 6 to 6.4 percent in 2010.
The East Asia Summit followed Saturday meetings of leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations with heads of government from China, Japan and South Korea. Sunday's expanded talks brought in Australia, New Zealand and India.
The 16 leaders represent almost half the world's population and more than a third of the global GDP, according to Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The three-day conference included the launch of Southeast Asia's first human rights watchdog, and talks on economic integration of ASEAN by the year 2015, disaster management, climate change and military-ruled Myanmar, an ASEAN member widely criticized internationally for its human rights violations.
Abhisit said Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein told other leaders that he welcomed signs of engagement from various regions, a reference to Washington's recent announcement that it would seek high-level dialogue rather than shunning the junta. Thein Sein also said that he was optimistic that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held in detention for 14 years, could contribute to reconciliation.
"ASEAN has always argued that engagement is the right approach. We feel that if everybody takes this approach we would be encouraging Myanmar in her successful implementation of her own roadmap (to democracy)," Abhisit said.
Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday called on Myanmar to conduct free and fair elections next year when the junta has promised to hold the first polls in two decades. Activists criticized the bloc for failing to take a tougher stand against one of the world's worst human rights offenders.
The conference signed or noted 43 documents, several focused on economic integration.
ASEAN countries have haltingly tried to integrate their economies, and are seeking to eliminate trade barriers within the bloc to bring about a European Union-style grouping by 2015.
"Over the past year we have proved that ASEAN continues to move forward. We have risen to the challenges of the times," Abhisit said, noting regional cooperation in coping with the global economic crisis, swine flu and several natural disasters in the region.
The next summits have been scheduled for Hanoi in April and October next year, when Vietnam assumes the ASEAN chairmanship.
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Myanmar, North Korea feature at Asian summit
By DENIS D. GRAY, Associated Press Writer – Sat Oct 24, 9:06 am ET
CHA-AM, Thailand (AP) – Southeast Asian leaders, having launched the region's first human rights watchdog, called Saturday on military-ruled Myanmar to conduct free and fair elections next year but refrained from criticizing one of the world's worst human rights offenders.
Activists said the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was taking a less critical line on Myanmar than in the past, and was ignoring growing demands to press for the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They accused the nations of misinterpreting a new U.S. initiative of engaging Myanmar as an excuse for them to go soft on the junta.
A statement from the ASEAN leaders did not mention Suu Kyi, sparing the junta a public scolding. It only "underscored the importance of achieving national reconciliation and that the general elections to be held in Myanmar in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community."
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya denied there had been any shift on Myanmar, saying the position of ASEAN as well as the international community "remains firm, without any change, in terms of inclusiveness and the release of all the political prisoners."
He suggested that recent contacts between Suu Kyi and the junta, as well as U.S. moves to engage the military regime, were positive developments.
Human rights groups estimate that Myanmar's military government is holding about 2,000 political detainees, including Suu Kyi.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein held out the prospect, in vague terms, that his government could ease restrictions on Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention.
Kodama cited Thein Sein saying in a meeting of ASEAN heads of government with the leaders of Japan, China and India that "if Madame Aung San Suu Kyi maintains a good attitude, it is possible that the Myanmar authorities will relax the current measures on Madame Aung San Suu Kyi."
When the three-day regional summit opened Friday, the Southeast Asian bloc unveiled the region's first human rights commission, but it was immediately derided as toothless by activists who pointed out that its mandate did not extend to prosecution of violators like Myanmar, an ASEAN member. The activists were also angered by the exclusion of several members of civil society from the summit.
"ASEAN no longer feels under pressure from the United States and European Union and as a result is softening its approach," said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. Myanmar is also known as Burma.
He said a recent policy shift by Washington from shunning the junta to seeking high-level dialogue has been misinterpreted by Southeast Asian nations as a move in tandem with their own, long-held policy of engagement.
The Obama administration is sending Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, to Myanmar in the next few weeks. But Washington says it won't lift its economic sanctions and continues to condemn the junta, calling for Suu Kyi's release.
"Basically the whole expectation is that the U.S. policy, which includes the engagement component, will somehow lead to some progress, (but) this will actually increase the complacency of the region," said Debbie Stothard of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma. "What has been clear is the (junta) has been using this as a honeymoon to commit more ... crimes against humanity."
The ASEAN leaders' statement also urged North Korea to return to six-party talks aimed at halting Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, and stressed the need to continue domestic stimulus packages to ensure sustained recovery from the global economic crisis.
ASEAN's 10 member countries include Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. The meeting at a Thai beach resort also includes leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The ASEAN bloc is also following up on China's $25 billion initiative to promote infrastructure development in Southeast Asia, Japan's program on the use of efficient energy, and a $100 million South Korean project to help the region respond to climate change, conference documents said.
The statement also welcomed what it called a "historic point in ASEAN-U.S. relations," a summit of the bloc and the United States scheduled for Nov. 15 in Singapore.
By DENIS D. GRAY, Associated Press Writer – Sat Oct 24, 9:06 am ET
CHA-AM, Thailand (AP) – Southeast Asian leaders, having launched the region's first human rights watchdog, called Saturday on military-ruled Myanmar to conduct free and fair elections next year but refrained from criticizing one of the world's worst human rights offenders.
Activists said the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was taking a less critical line on Myanmar than in the past, and was ignoring growing demands to press for the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They accused the nations of misinterpreting a new U.S. initiative of engaging Myanmar as an excuse for them to go soft on the junta.
A statement from the ASEAN leaders did not mention Suu Kyi, sparing the junta a public scolding. It only "underscored the importance of achieving national reconciliation and that the general elections to be held in Myanmar in 2010 must be conducted in a fair, free, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community."
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya denied there had been any shift on Myanmar, saying the position of ASEAN as well as the international community "remains firm, without any change, in terms of inclusiveness and the release of all the political prisoners."
He suggested that recent contacts between Suu Kyi and the junta, as well as U.S. moves to engage the military regime, were positive developments.
Human rights groups estimate that Myanmar's military government is holding about 2,000 political detainees, including Suu Kyi.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein held out the prospect, in vague terms, that his government could ease restrictions on Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention.
Kodama cited Thein Sein saying in a meeting of ASEAN heads of government with the leaders of Japan, China and India that "if Madame Aung San Suu Kyi maintains a good attitude, it is possible that the Myanmar authorities will relax the current measures on Madame Aung San Suu Kyi."
When the three-day regional summit opened Friday, the Southeast Asian bloc unveiled the region's first human rights commission, but it was immediately derided as toothless by activists who pointed out that its mandate did not extend to prosecution of violators like Myanmar, an ASEAN member. The activists were also angered by the exclusion of several members of civil society from the summit.
"ASEAN no longer feels under pressure from the United States and European Union and as a result is softening its approach," said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. Myanmar is also known as Burma.
He said a recent policy shift by Washington from shunning the junta to seeking high-level dialogue has been misinterpreted by Southeast Asian nations as a move in tandem with their own, long-held policy of engagement.
The Obama administration is sending Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, to Myanmar in the next few weeks. But Washington says it won't lift its economic sanctions and continues to condemn the junta, calling for Suu Kyi's release.
"Basically the whole expectation is that the U.S. policy, which includes the engagement component, will somehow lead to some progress, (but) this will actually increase the complacency of the region," said Debbie Stothard of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma. "What has been clear is the (junta) has been using this as a honeymoon to commit more ... crimes against humanity."
The ASEAN leaders' statement also urged North Korea to return to six-party talks aimed at halting Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, and stressed the need to continue domestic stimulus packages to ensure sustained recovery from the global economic crisis.
ASEAN's 10 member countries include Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. The meeting at a Thai beach resort also includes leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The ASEAN bloc is also following up on China's $25 billion initiative to promote infrastructure development in Southeast Asia, Japan's program on the use of efficient energy, and a $100 million South Korean project to help the region respond to climate change, conference documents said.
The statement also welcomed what it called a "historic point in ASEAN-U.S. relations," a summit of the bloc and the United States scheduled for Nov. 15 in Singapore.
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U.N. slams Myanmar, North Korea, Palestinian rights ills
By Michelle Nichols – Thu Oct 22, 4:32 pm ET
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Human rights violations in Myanmar are alarming, North Koreans are starving and living in continual fear and Palestinians are suffering amid Middle East tensions, U.N. rights envoys said on Thursday.
Special rapporteurs appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva described the human rights conditions in each country to a meeting of the 192 U.N. member states.
While Myanmar rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana was able to visit the military-ruled Asian country twice, communist North Korea denied entry to envoy Vitit Muntarbhorn and envoy Richard Falk was stopped by Israel from entering Palestinian areas.
"The situation of human rights in Myanmar remains alarming. There is a pattern of widespread and systematic violations which in many conflict areas results result in serious abuses of civilian rights and integrity," Quintana said.
"The prevailing impunity allows for the continuation of violations," he added.
He also criticized the military junta for keeping opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi detained. Western officials fear the government wants to keep her under house arrest during next year's election so that she is unable to run.
Myanmar's representative, who U.N. officials identified as Thaung Tun, described Quintana's report as less than objective, saying insurgents and anti-government groups had been given a "sympathetic ear" and that all the allegations made "should be taken with a grain of salt."
He said steps were being taken to organize 2010 elections in the country, which he said would be "free and fair."
Myanmar also reprimanded the United States and Britain during the meeting for referring to the country by its former name, Burma, while North Korea admonished the United States for not calling it DPRK -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"PERVASIVE REPRESSION"
In North Korea, envoy Muntarbhorn said the food aid situation was desperate with the World Food Program only able to feed about one third of the people in need. He said torture is extensively practiced and described prisons as purgatory.
"Freedoms associated with human rights and democracy, such as the freedom to choose one's government, freedom of association, freedom of expression ... privacy and freedom of religion are flouted on a daily basis by the nature and practices of the regime in power," he said.
"The pervasive repression imposed by the authorities ensures the people live in continual fear and are impressed to inform on each other," he said. "The state practices extensive surveillance over its inhabitants."
North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Pak Tok Hun rejected the report and said the country, which has also drawn international condemnation for nuclear and missile tests, was being "singled out for sinister political purposes."
Falk's report on the Palestinian territories focused on human rights concerns related to issues including the war in December and January between Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, as well as Israel's construction of a land barrier and disputed housing settlements.
He said an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip means "insufficient basic necessities are reaching the population."
Falk also spoke of the "unlawful, noncooperation" of Israel which prevented him from visiting the Palestinian territories. Israel did not respond to Falk's reports at the meeting.
By Michelle Nichols – Thu Oct 22, 4:32 pm ET
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Human rights violations in Myanmar are alarming, North Koreans are starving and living in continual fear and Palestinians are suffering amid Middle East tensions, U.N. rights envoys said on Thursday.
Special rapporteurs appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva described the human rights conditions in each country to a meeting of the 192 U.N. member states.
While Myanmar rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana was able to visit the military-ruled Asian country twice, communist North Korea denied entry to envoy Vitit Muntarbhorn and envoy Richard Falk was stopped by Israel from entering Palestinian areas.
"The situation of human rights in Myanmar remains alarming. There is a pattern of widespread and systematic violations which in many conflict areas results result in serious abuses of civilian rights and integrity," Quintana said.
"The prevailing impunity allows for the continuation of violations," he added.
He also criticized the military junta for keeping opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi detained. Western officials fear the government wants to keep her under house arrest during next year's election so that she is unable to run.
Myanmar's representative, who U.N. officials identified as Thaung Tun, described Quintana's report as less than objective, saying insurgents and anti-government groups had been given a "sympathetic ear" and that all the allegations made "should be taken with a grain of salt."
He said steps were being taken to organize 2010 elections in the country, which he said would be "free and fair."
Myanmar also reprimanded the United States and Britain during the meeting for referring to the country by its former name, Burma, while North Korea admonished the United States for not calling it DPRK -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"PERVASIVE REPRESSION"
In North Korea, envoy Muntarbhorn said the food aid situation was desperate with the World Food Program only able to feed about one third of the people in need. He said torture is extensively practiced and described prisons as purgatory.
"Freedoms associated with human rights and democracy, such as the freedom to choose one's government, freedom of association, freedom of expression ... privacy and freedom of religion are flouted on a daily basis by the nature and practices of the regime in power," he said.
"The pervasive repression imposed by the authorities ensures the people live in continual fear and are impressed to inform on each other," he said. "The state practices extensive surveillance over its inhabitants."
North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Pak Tok Hun rejected the report and said the country, which has also drawn international condemnation for nuclear and missile tests, was being "singled out for sinister political purposes."
Falk's report on the Palestinian territories focused on human rights concerns related to issues including the war in December and January between Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, as well as Israel's construction of a land barrier and disputed housing settlements.
He said an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip means "insufficient basic necessities are reaching the population."
Falk also spoke of the "unlawful, noncooperation" of Israel which prevented him from visiting the Palestinian territories. Israel did not respond to Falk's reports at the meeting.
***********************************************************
Asia leaders express rare hope over Myanmar
Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:22am EDT
By Jason Szep
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Asian leaders expressed rare optimism in Myanmar's junta on Sunday, from hopes of stability on its volatile northern border to signs of softening attitude towards detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
After talks with Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein during a summit of 16 Asia-Pacific nations over the weekend, Asian leaders said the reclusive state acknowledged it needed to show the world it can hold free elections.
The sentencing of opposition leader Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner detained for 14 of the last 20 years, to a further 18 months of detention in August has raised questions over whether next year's election will be a sham.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Myanmar told the meetings Suu Kyi might be able to participate in society and possibly politics again, though no timeframe was given.
"He briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and he feels optimistic that she can contribute also to the process of national reconciliation," Abhisit said of talks with the Myanmar leader in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.
Next year's elections will be the first since 1990, when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party scored a landslide victory that the ruling junta refused to recognise.
Military rulers of the former Burma have been on a recent charm offensive, allowing Suu Kyi to meet with Western diplomats this month to discuss Western sanctions and opening the door to more contact with U.S. government officials.
The comments come a day after Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama quoted Myanmar's leader as saying if Suu Kyi maintained "a good attitude" it was possible Myanmar authorities will relax current measures.
Myanmar's prime minister "recognises full well that the rest of the world expects to see elections as inclusive as possible," Abhisit told a news conference.
That view was generally echoed by other Asian leaders.
"There was an atmosphere of hope that the Myanmar leadership is moving toward normalising its relations with the United States, that they were working towards national reconciliation," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"That's what we all welcome, that next year's election should see a reconciliation of the various segments of Myanmar society," Singh told a separate news conference.
BORDER STABILITY
The United States will send a fact-finding delegation to Myanmar this week as part of an exploratory dialogue with the junta, following the Obama administration's announcement in September it would pursue deeper engagement with Myanmar's military rulers to try to spur democratic reform.
China's premier also expressed confidence in his southern neighbour after meeting with Thein Sein, saying he expected Myanmar will keep the peace on its border after violence pushed thousands of refugees into China in August.
China's Wen Jiabao also pledged more financial aid to Myanmar, according to a Chinese state media report of the closed-door talks.
China's Xinhua state news agency said Wen believed Myanmar "could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region" after the two met on the sidelines of a summit of 16 Asia-Pacific leaders.
In August, Myanmar's army overran Kokang, a territory that lies along the border with the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan and was controlled for years by an ethnic Chinese militia that paid little heed to the central government.
Many of the refugees were ethnic Chinese, some of them Chinese citizens, who complained their houses and businesses had been sacked and looted during the violence. [ID:nSP481510]
Last month, China rapped the former Burma over the violence, demanding the government protect Chinese citizens and make sure such incidents did not happen again. [ID:nPEK179681]
But relations appear to be improving again.
"To develop good neighbourly China-Myanmar relations with mutually beneficial cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of the two countries and will be conducive to regional peace and stability," Wen told Thein Sein, Xinhua said.
Myanmar's prime minister last month visited the U.N. General Assembly for the first time in 16 years to promote next year's elections, part of the junta's recent charm offensive.
Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:22am EDT
By Jason Szep
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Asian leaders expressed rare optimism in Myanmar's junta on Sunday, from hopes of stability on its volatile northern border to signs of softening attitude towards detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
After talks with Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein during a summit of 16 Asia-Pacific nations over the weekend, Asian leaders said the reclusive state acknowledged it needed to show the world it can hold free elections.
The sentencing of opposition leader Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner detained for 14 of the last 20 years, to a further 18 months of detention in August has raised questions over whether next year's election will be a sham.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Myanmar told the meetings Suu Kyi might be able to participate in society and possibly politics again, though no timeframe was given.
"He briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and he feels optimistic that she can contribute also to the process of national reconciliation," Abhisit said of talks with the Myanmar leader in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.
Next year's elections will be the first since 1990, when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party scored a landslide victory that the ruling junta refused to recognise.
Military rulers of the former Burma have been on a recent charm offensive, allowing Suu Kyi to meet with Western diplomats this month to discuss Western sanctions and opening the door to more contact with U.S. government officials.
The comments come a day after Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama quoted Myanmar's leader as saying if Suu Kyi maintained "a good attitude" it was possible Myanmar authorities will relax current measures.
Myanmar's prime minister "recognises full well that the rest of the world expects to see elections as inclusive as possible," Abhisit told a news conference.
That view was generally echoed by other Asian leaders.
"There was an atmosphere of hope that the Myanmar leadership is moving toward normalising its relations with the United States, that they were working towards national reconciliation," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"That's what we all welcome, that next year's election should see a reconciliation of the various segments of Myanmar society," Singh told a separate news conference.
BORDER STABILITY
The United States will send a fact-finding delegation to Myanmar this week as part of an exploratory dialogue with the junta, following the Obama administration's announcement in September it would pursue deeper engagement with Myanmar's military rulers to try to spur democratic reform.
China's premier also expressed confidence in his southern neighbour after meeting with Thein Sein, saying he expected Myanmar will keep the peace on its border after violence pushed thousands of refugees into China in August.
China's Wen Jiabao also pledged more financial aid to Myanmar, according to a Chinese state media report of the closed-door talks.
China's Xinhua state news agency said Wen believed Myanmar "could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region" after the two met on the sidelines of a summit of 16 Asia-Pacific leaders.
In August, Myanmar's army overran Kokang, a territory that lies along the border with the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan and was controlled for years by an ethnic Chinese militia that paid little heed to the central government.
Many of the refugees were ethnic Chinese, some of them Chinese citizens, who complained their houses and businesses had been sacked and looted during the violence. [ID:nSP481510]
Last month, China rapped the former Burma over the violence, demanding the government protect Chinese citizens and make sure such incidents did not happen again. [ID:nPEK179681]
But relations appear to be improving again.
"To develop good neighbourly China-Myanmar relations with mutually beneficial cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of the two countries and will be conducive to regional peace and stability," Wen told Thein Sein, Xinhua said.
Myanmar's prime minister last month visited the U.N. General Assembly for the first time in 16 years to promote next year's elections, part of the junta's recent charm offensive.
***********************************************************
Japan pushes for East Asia bloc
By Jason Szep and Yoko Nishikawa – Sat Oct 24, 9:54 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) – Japan's prime minister backed a U.S. role for a proposed EU-style Asian community on Saturday, telling Southeast Asian leaders Tokyo's alliance with Washington was at the heart of its diplomacy.
Making a case for an East Asian Community at a summit of Asian leaders in Thailand, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said there should be some U.S. involvement in the bloc, which faces stiff obstacles including Japan's historic rivalry with China.
It was unclear how a U.S. role would work. But the comment may help allay concern in some countries that such a body would ultimately fail by shutting out the world's biggest economy.
Hatoyama may also be trying to defuse U.S.-Japan tension over the long-planned reorganization of the American military presence in Japan, the first big test of ties between Washington and the new Japanese government.
"Japan places the U.S.-Japan alliance at the foundation of its diplomacy," Hatoyama said at the meeting, according to a Japanese government spokesman.
"I would like to firmly promote regional cooperation in East Asia with a long-term vision of forming an East Asian Community." Several Southeast Asian leaders expressed support for the bloc, but none spoke of a U.S. role at the meetings.
The talks are part of a three-day leaders' summit which got off to a rancorous start on Friday, marred by a diplomatic spat between Thailand and neighbor Cambodia, a trade feud over Filipino rice and a few no-shows in the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
China had a very different message at the meetings, signaling possible trouble ahead for Hatoyama. While he promoted a new community, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao focused on the current one, delivering what Chinese state media described as a six-point proposal for strengthening links with ASEAN.
This included developing a recently signed China-ASEAN free trade pact and accelerating regional infrastructure construction.
MYANMAR, NORTH KOREA
An ASEAN statement summing up talks within its own members urged its most recalcitrant state, Myanmar, to ensure elections next year are free and fair, though it stopped short of seeking the release of detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
That came a day after ASEAN launched a human rights commission as part of a plan to build an economic and political community by 2015, and drew a scathing rebuke from rights activists who said it was toothless and lacked independence.
The region's leaders also called on North Korea to return to six-way nuclear disarmament talks.
The summit in the resort town of Hua Hin gave Asia's economic titans, China and Japan, a chance to jockey for influence in Southeast Asia, a region of 570 million people with a combined $1.1 trillion economy, as it pulls out of recession.
Japan's new government sees its influence bound to the East Asian Community, an idea inspired by the European Union that would account for nearly a quarter of global economic output.
It would encompass Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, along with ASEAN countries.
After meetings with China, Japan and South Korea, ASEAN holds talks on Sunday with India, Australia and New Zealand.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Sunday will push another idea for a new, separate forum of Asia-Pacific nations to respond to regional crises. His idea includes the United States.
Washington has stepped up Asian diplomacy under the Obama administration and fears missing out on such groupings, especially as Japan considers redefining its U.S. security alliance, and Beijing expands its diplomatic and trade presence.
Exactly how Washington would participate is uncertain.
Asked if Washington would be a member of the Community, a Japanese government official told reporters: "It remains unclear. We have to see how multilateral meetings will turn out today."
The proposal wasn't elaborated upon, said Mari Elka Pangestu, trade minister of Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy. "How the U.S. participates -- because the U.S. is one of our dialogue partners -- we need to think through."
China has been coy about the idea while rapidly expanding ties across Southeast Asia -- from building sleek new government offices in Cambodia to working closely with reclusive Myanmar.
"China wants to establish healthy relations with the new government in Japan, so it is not going to object to discussing this idea," said Shi Yinhong, a regional security professor at Beijing's Renmin University.
"But everybody understands the idea of an East Asia Community is extremely far off," he added.
Host Thailand deployed about 18,000 security personnel backed by military gunships, determined to avoid a rerun of mishaps at past summits.
By Jason Szep and Yoko Nishikawa – Sat Oct 24, 9:54 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) – Japan's prime minister backed a U.S. role for a proposed EU-style Asian community on Saturday, telling Southeast Asian leaders Tokyo's alliance with Washington was at the heart of its diplomacy.
Making a case for an East Asian Community at a summit of Asian leaders in Thailand, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said there should be some U.S. involvement in the bloc, which faces stiff obstacles including Japan's historic rivalry with China.
It was unclear how a U.S. role would work. But the comment may help allay concern in some countries that such a body would ultimately fail by shutting out the world's biggest economy.
Hatoyama may also be trying to defuse U.S.-Japan tension over the long-planned reorganization of the American military presence in Japan, the first big test of ties between Washington and the new Japanese government.
"Japan places the U.S.-Japan alliance at the foundation of its diplomacy," Hatoyama said at the meeting, according to a Japanese government spokesman.
"I would like to firmly promote regional cooperation in East Asia with a long-term vision of forming an East Asian Community." Several Southeast Asian leaders expressed support for the bloc, but none spoke of a U.S. role at the meetings.
The talks are part of a three-day leaders' summit which got off to a rancorous start on Friday, marred by a diplomatic spat between Thailand and neighbor Cambodia, a trade feud over Filipino rice and a few no-shows in the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
China had a very different message at the meetings, signaling possible trouble ahead for Hatoyama. While he promoted a new community, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao focused on the current one, delivering what Chinese state media described as a six-point proposal for strengthening links with ASEAN.
This included developing a recently signed China-ASEAN free trade pact and accelerating regional infrastructure construction.
MYANMAR, NORTH KOREA
An ASEAN statement summing up talks within its own members urged its most recalcitrant state, Myanmar, to ensure elections next year are free and fair, though it stopped short of seeking the release of detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
That came a day after ASEAN launched a human rights commission as part of a plan to build an economic and political community by 2015, and drew a scathing rebuke from rights activists who said it was toothless and lacked independence.
The region's leaders also called on North Korea to return to six-way nuclear disarmament talks.
The summit in the resort town of Hua Hin gave Asia's economic titans, China and Japan, a chance to jockey for influence in Southeast Asia, a region of 570 million people with a combined $1.1 trillion economy, as it pulls out of recession.
Japan's new government sees its influence bound to the East Asian Community, an idea inspired by the European Union that would account for nearly a quarter of global economic output.
It would encompass Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, along with ASEAN countries.
After meetings with China, Japan and South Korea, ASEAN holds talks on Sunday with India, Australia and New Zealand.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Sunday will push another idea for a new, separate forum of Asia-Pacific nations to respond to regional crises. His idea includes the United States.
Washington has stepped up Asian diplomacy under the Obama administration and fears missing out on such groupings, especially as Japan considers redefining its U.S. security alliance, and Beijing expands its diplomatic and trade presence.
Exactly how Washington would participate is uncertain.
Asked if Washington would be a member of the Community, a Japanese government official told reporters: "It remains unclear. We have to see how multilateral meetings will turn out today."
The proposal wasn't elaborated upon, said Mari Elka Pangestu, trade minister of Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy. "How the U.S. participates -- because the U.S. is one of our dialogue partners -- we need to think through."
China has been coy about the idea while rapidly expanding ties across Southeast Asia -- from building sleek new government offices in Cambodia to working closely with reclusive Myanmar.
"China wants to establish healthy relations with the new government in Japan, so it is not going to object to discussing this idea," said Shi Yinhong, a regional security professor at Beijing's Renmin University.
"But everybody understands the idea of an East Asia Community is extremely far off," he added.
Host Thailand deployed about 18,000 security personnel backed by military gunships, determined to avoid a rerun of mishaps at past summits.
***********************************************************
Asian leaders seek to reduce Western trade ties
By Jason Szep and Martin Petty – Sun Oct 25, 8:01 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) – Asia-Pacific leaders called on Sunday for regional-wide free trade and other measures to reduce dependence on the United States and big Western markets as Asia leads the way out of the global economic downturn.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama urged Asian leaders to keep up fiscal and monetary stimulus measures even as their economies show mounting signs of recovery, saying there was "no room for complacency" and that the job market was still "dire."
"At the moment the global economy is showing signs of recovery, mainly in Asia," Hatoyama told the closed-door East Asia Summit of 16 Asia-Pacific leaders in the Thai town of Hua Hin, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama.
At the meetings, held under tight security, Hatoyama found tentative support from his Asian counterparts for a proposed regional community inspired by the European Union that would account for nearly a quarter of global economic output.
"I think my long-term vision of forming an East Asia Community was largely welcomed by participants," Hatoyama told reporters. The bloc, however, would take more than 10 years to create and may include some sort of regional currency, he added.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, host of the meetings, said Asia clearly needed a new growth model leaning less on big Western trading partners and more on Asia-wide trade pacts. The global financial crisis, he said, bore this out.
"The old growth model, where simply put we have to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here, we feel will no longer serve us as we move to the future," Abhisit told a news conference.
Asia's leaders also called on North Korea to end its nuclear arms program and resume stalled six-country talks, and urged military-ruled Myanmar to ensure its elections next year were free and fair.
And they mostly agreed it was too early to end government spending and other measures designed to get Asia back on its feet, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the helm of Asia's third-biggest economy.
"The world's eyes are on Asia as the region which can lead the global economic revival," he said.
REGIONAL TENSION
But there were signs that integrating Asia's wildly divergent countries -- from the economic powerhouses of Japan and China to the hermit state of Myanmar and impoverished regions of Southeast Asia -- is easier said than done.
Thailand, the world's biggest rice exporter, and the Philippines failed to reach agreement on the weekend in a row over import tariffs that could derail a trade pact at the heart of Southeast's bid to build an economic community by 2015.
A free-trade pact in Southeast Asia, a region of 570 million people, calls for Philippine rice import tariffs to be cut to 20 percent from 40 percent by January 1, and then be progressively cut further. But Manila says the tariffs should stay at 35 percent.
"The Philippines is not ready to change its figure as far as tariff rates are concerned because it has to protect its own farmers," said Philippine Trade Secretary Peter Favila.
There were other ways to propel the region's budding economic recovery, said Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda, urging Asian leaders to keep stimulating domestic demand along with regional demand to become less dependant on the U.S. market.
"A rebalancing of the sources of growth in Asia is a very important challenge," he was quoted by a Japanese official as saying.
Japan's idea for an East Asian Community would encompass Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, along with the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Leaders from all those states joined Sunday's talks.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pushed another idea for a new, separate forum of Asia-Pacific nations to respond to regional crises -- from natural disasters to security scares and economic meltdowns. His idea includes the United States.
The meetings followed an ASEAN summit that got off to a rancorous start on Friday, overshadowed by a diplomatic spat between Thailand and neighbor Cambodia, and marred by the absence of three leaders at the opening ceremony.
Host Thailand deployed about 18,000 security personnel backed by military gunships, determined to avoid a rerun of mishaps at past summits.
The summit was initially scheduled for December last year but was postponed when anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's airports. It was moved to the Thai resort area of Pattaya in April but was subsequently aborted when a rival protest group broke through police and army lines and stormed the summit venue.
By Jason Szep and Martin Petty – Sun Oct 25, 8:01 am ET
HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) – Asia-Pacific leaders called on Sunday for regional-wide free trade and other measures to reduce dependence on the United States and big Western markets as Asia leads the way out of the global economic downturn.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama urged Asian leaders to keep up fiscal and monetary stimulus measures even as their economies show mounting signs of recovery, saying there was "no room for complacency" and that the job market was still "dire."
"At the moment the global economy is showing signs of recovery, mainly in Asia," Hatoyama told the closed-door East Asia Summit of 16 Asia-Pacific leaders in the Thai town of Hua Hin, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama.
At the meetings, held under tight security, Hatoyama found tentative support from his Asian counterparts for a proposed regional community inspired by the European Union that would account for nearly a quarter of global economic output.
"I think my long-term vision of forming an East Asia Community was largely welcomed by participants," Hatoyama told reporters. The bloc, however, would take more than 10 years to create and may include some sort of regional currency, he added.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, host of the meetings, said Asia clearly needed a new growth model leaning less on big Western trading partners and more on Asia-wide trade pacts. The global financial crisis, he said, bore this out.
"The old growth model, where simply put we have to rely on consumption in the West for goods and services produced here, we feel will no longer serve us as we move to the future," Abhisit told a news conference.
Asia's leaders also called on North Korea to end its nuclear arms program and resume stalled six-country talks, and urged military-ruled Myanmar to ensure its elections next year were free and fair.
And they mostly agreed it was too early to end government spending and other measures designed to get Asia back on its feet, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the helm of Asia's third-biggest economy.
"The world's eyes are on Asia as the region which can lead the global economic revival," he said.
REGIONAL TENSION
But there were signs that integrating Asia's wildly divergent countries -- from the economic powerhouses of Japan and China to the hermit state of Myanmar and impoverished regions of Southeast Asia -- is easier said than done.
Thailand, the world's biggest rice exporter, and the Philippines failed to reach agreement on the weekend in a row over import tariffs that could derail a trade pact at the heart of Southeast's bid to build an economic community by 2015.
A free-trade pact in Southeast Asia, a region of 570 million people, calls for Philippine rice import tariffs to be cut to 20 percent from 40 percent by January 1, and then be progressively cut further. But Manila says the tariffs should stay at 35 percent.
"The Philippines is not ready to change its figure as far as tariff rates are concerned because it has to protect its own farmers," said Philippine Trade Secretary Peter Favila.
There were other ways to propel the region's budding economic recovery, said Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda, urging Asian leaders to keep stimulating domestic demand along with regional demand to become less dependant on the U.S. market.
"A rebalancing of the sources of growth in Asia is a very important challenge," he was quoted by a Japanese official as saying.
Japan's idea for an East Asian Community would encompass Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, along with the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Leaders from all those states joined Sunday's talks.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pushed another idea for a new, separate forum of Asia-Pacific nations to respond to regional crises -- from natural disasters to security scares and economic meltdowns. His idea includes the United States.
The meetings followed an ASEAN summit that got off to a rancorous start on Friday, overshadowed by a diplomatic spat between Thailand and neighbor Cambodia, and marred by the absence of three leaders at the opening ceremony.
Host Thailand deployed about 18,000 security personnel backed by military gunships, determined to avoid a rerun of mishaps at past summits.
The summit was initially scheduled for December last year but was postponed when anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's airports. It was moved to the Thai resort area of Pattaya in April but was subsequently aborted when a rival protest group broke through police and army lines and stormed the summit venue.
***********************************************************
AsiaOne - Asia lets Myanmar off hook over Suu Kyi again: analysts
Sun, Oct 25, 2009 - AFP
by Rachel O'Brien
HUA HIN, Thailand - Asian leaders barely mentioned Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi at a weekend summit, making a mockery of the region's grand claims for its new rights body, analysts said.
Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, devoted just three lines to the military-ruled nation's political situation in the nine pages of their final declaration.
While the statement called for elections promised by the junta in 2010 to be "fair, free, inclusive and transparent", it made no mention of the opposition leader, who has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years.
The summit at the Thai resort of Hua Hin opened with the inauguration of ASEAN's first human rights body, hailed by members as "historic" but widely derided by activists, given the lack of action on Myanmar.
"The whole thing is a bit of a farce," David Mathieson, a Myanmar expert at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.
"There were pretty low expectations for the human rights commission and ASEAN has probably fulfilled these expectations. There's no way ASEAN can maintain any credibility while kowtowing to the Burmese leaders," he added.
Burma is Myanmar's former name.
Suu Kyi had her house arrest extended in August for 18 months after she was convicted over an incident in which an American man swam uninvited to her home. It effectively keeps her out of the way for next year's elections.
A senior Southeast Asian diplomat confirmed to AFP that Myanmar and Suu Kyi were not discussed at the ASEAN leaders' retreat, although they did come up when the bloc met with leaders from China, Japan and South Korea on Saturday.
Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein told his counterparts that the junta could relax the conditions of Suu Kyi's detention, a Japanese official said - but this possibility was earlier raised by the junta at her conviction.
The rights commission's launch was also marred by a row over the barring of rights activists from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore, who were meant to meet ASEAN leaders at Hua Hin to discuss the new watchdog.
The Myanmar representative, Khin Ohmar, said their exclusion was an "extreme disappointment", but not a surprise.
"Now the trial is done and Aung San Suu Kyi is back in house arrest, ASEAN is coming back to avoiding the whole Burma issue again," she added.
Khin Ohmar said ASEAN was prevented from applying any real pressure on the military regime because of its long-standing policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs.
"As long as they have that they will not be able to solve the Burma problem", she added.
Myanmar's ruling generals did allow Suu Kyi two meetings with a minister this month after she wrote a letter to junta chief Than Shwe offering suggestions for getting Western sanctions against Myanmar lifted.
The move coincided with a recent shift in US policy to re-engage the isolated regime, after decades of hostility.
"These are positive developments and I think Myanmar authorities have promised their commitment to the... roadmap (to democracy)", Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters in Hua Hin.
The positions of ASEAN and the international community "remain firm", he said, reiterating the call for free and fair elections and the release of all political prisoners.
But ASEAN nations have been reluctant to admonish Myanmar when they face their own rights issues, especially in communist Vietnam and Laos but also in Thailand, which has been under fire for its treatment of ethnic minorities.
"The change in the US approach reduces the pressure on ASEAN to push for reform in Myanmar," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert at the Singapore Management University.
"ASEAN has usually had limited impact on reforms in Myanmar, and this pattern is likely to continue," she added.
Sun, Oct 25, 2009 - AFP
by Rachel O'Brien
HUA HIN, Thailand - Asian leaders barely mentioned Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi at a weekend summit, making a mockery of the region's grand claims for its new rights body, analysts said.
Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, devoted just three lines to the military-ruled nation's political situation in the nine pages of their final declaration.
While the statement called for elections promised by the junta in 2010 to be "fair, free, inclusive and transparent", it made no mention of the opposition leader, who has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years.
The summit at the Thai resort of Hua Hin opened with the inauguration of ASEAN's first human rights body, hailed by members as "historic" but widely derided by activists, given the lack of action on Myanmar.
"The whole thing is a bit of a farce," David Mathieson, a Myanmar expert at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.
"There were pretty low expectations for the human rights commission and ASEAN has probably fulfilled these expectations. There's no way ASEAN can maintain any credibility while kowtowing to the Burmese leaders," he added.
Burma is Myanmar's former name.
Suu Kyi had her house arrest extended in August for 18 months after she was convicted over an incident in which an American man swam uninvited to her home. It effectively keeps her out of the way for next year's elections.
A senior Southeast Asian diplomat confirmed to AFP that Myanmar and Suu Kyi were not discussed at the ASEAN leaders' retreat, although they did come up when the bloc met with leaders from China, Japan and South Korea on Saturday.
Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein told his counterparts that the junta could relax the conditions of Suu Kyi's detention, a Japanese official said - but this possibility was earlier raised by the junta at her conviction.
The rights commission's launch was also marred by a row over the barring of rights activists from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore, who were meant to meet ASEAN leaders at Hua Hin to discuss the new watchdog.
The Myanmar representative, Khin Ohmar, said their exclusion was an "extreme disappointment", but not a surprise.
"Now the trial is done and Aung San Suu Kyi is back in house arrest, ASEAN is coming back to avoiding the whole Burma issue again," she added.
Khin Ohmar said ASEAN was prevented from applying any real pressure on the military regime because of its long-standing policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs.
"As long as they have that they will not be able to solve the Burma problem", she added.
Myanmar's ruling generals did allow Suu Kyi two meetings with a minister this month after she wrote a letter to junta chief Than Shwe offering suggestions for getting Western sanctions against Myanmar lifted.
The move coincided with a recent shift in US policy to re-engage the isolated regime, after decades of hostility.
"These are positive developments and I think Myanmar authorities have promised their commitment to the... roadmap (to democracy)", Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters in Hua Hin.
The positions of ASEAN and the international community "remain firm", he said, reiterating the call for free and fair elections and the release of all political prisoners.
But ASEAN nations have been reluctant to admonish Myanmar when they face their own rights issues, especially in communist Vietnam and Laos but also in Thailand, which has been under fire for its treatment of ethnic minorities.
"The change in the US approach reduces the pressure on ASEAN to push for reform in Myanmar," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert at the Singapore Management University.
"ASEAN has usually had limited impact on reforms in Myanmar, and this pattern is likely to continue," she added.
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India says left-wing rebels procuring arms from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-24 19:32:45
NEW DELHI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Reiterating that the extreme left-wing Naxal rebels are the biggest internal security threat, India Saturday claimed that the rebels are procuring arms from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal to carry out their attacks in the country.
"Naxals are acquiring weapons through Bangladesh, Myanmar and possibly Nepal. In terms of the threat to security from Indian sources or internal sources, Naxalism remains the biggest threat. There is, of course, the other threat which is cross border terrorism but that is emanating from across the border," Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in a media interview.
He added: "There is no evidence of any money flowing in from abroad to the Naxals. But there is certainly evidence of weapons being smuggled from abroad through Myanmar or Bangladesh which reach the Naxals."
The Home Minister's statement came a day after he made it clear that it would not under any circumstances enter into any dialogue with the extreme left-wing rebels or Naxals until they give up arms and violence.
"No talks until Naxals abjure violence," he had said.
Claiming that the Naxal violence has been proving to be costly for the country, Chidambaram had also said: "India is going through a difficult phase of internal security, but we will overcome the challenges."
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-24 19:32:45
NEW DELHI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Reiterating that the extreme left-wing Naxal rebels are the biggest internal security threat, India Saturday claimed that the rebels are procuring arms from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal to carry out their attacks in the country.
"Naxals are acquiring weapons through Bangladesh, Myanmar and possibly Nepal. In terms of the threat to security from Indian sources or internal sources, Naxalism remains the biggest threat. There is, of course, the other threat which is cross border terrorism but that is emanating from across the border," Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in a media interview.
He added: "There is no evidence of any money flowing in from abroad to the Naxals. But there is certainly evidence of weapons being smuggled from abroad through Myanmar or Bangladesh which reach the Naxals."
The Home Minister's statement came a day after he made it clear that it would not under any circumstances enter into any dialogue with the extreme left-wing rebels or Naxals until they give up arms and violence.
"No talks until Naxals abjure violence," he had said.
Claiming that the Naxal violence has been proving to be costly for the country, Chidambaram had also said: "India is going through a difficult phase of internal security, but we will overcome the challenges."
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Myanmar, China to strengthen bilateral trade, friendly ties: state media
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-24 13:42:24
YANGON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and China will further strengthen Paukphaw relations between the two countries and constantly promote bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade sectors, Myanmar state media said Saturday.
Hailing the successful China visit of the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, who attended the 6th China-ASEAN Expo (CAExpo) and CA Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, capital of southwest China' Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the New Light of Myanmar said in its editorial that the friendly relations between the governments and peoples of the two countries have been mutually beneficial in the international arena, adding that the two countries have been able to promote cooperation in various sectors.
According to the editorial, Tin Aung Myint said the two countries' bilateral cooperation has expanded in various sectors, especially in the agriculture, hydropower, industrial, mining, oil and gas sectors and infrastructural building industry.
Myanmar and China have established friendly relations for many years, and the diplomatic ties between the two countries will mark the 60th anniversary next year.
The 6th China-ASEAN Expo, which was held from Tuesday to Saturday, attracted 242 Myanmar entrepreneurs of 83 companies in agriculture, fishery, industry, manufacturing, gems, traditional handicrafts, forestry and hotel and tourism.
According to Chinese official statistics, China-Myanmar bilateral trade amounted to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 26.4 percent. Of the total, China's exports took 1.978 billion dollars.
Up to the end of 2008, China's contracted investment in Myanmar reached 1.33 billion dollars, among which, mining, electric power, and oil and gas took up 866 million dollars, 281 million dollars and 124 million dollars respectively.
China has risen from the 6th position to the 4th in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-24 13:42:24
YANGON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and China will further strengthen Paukphaw relations between the two countries and constantly promote bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade sectors, Myanmar state media said Saturday.
Hailing the successful China visit of the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, who attended the 6th China-ASEAN Expo (CAExpo) and CA Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, capital of southwest China' Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the New Light of Myanmar said in its editorial that the friendly relations between the governments and peoples of the two countries have been mutually beneficial in the international arena, adding that the two countries have been able to promote cooperation in various sectors.
According to the editorial, Tin Aung Myint said the two countries' bilateral cooperation has expanded in various sectors, especially in the agriculture, hydropower, industrial, mining, oil and gas sectors and infrastructural building industry.
Myanmar and China have established friendly relations for many years, and the diplomatic ties between the two countries will mark the 60th anniversary next year.
The 6th China-ASEAN Expo, which was held from Tuesday to Saturday, attracted 242 Myanmar entrepreneurs of 83 companies in agriculture, fishery, industry, manufacturing, gems, traditional handicrafts, forestry and hotel and tourism.
According to Chinese official statistics, China-Myanmar bilateral trade amounted to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 26.4 percent. Of the total, China's exports took 1.978 billion dollars.
Up to the end of 2008, China's contracted investment in Myanmar reached 1.33 billion dollars, among which, mining, electric power, and oil and gas took up 866 million dollars, 281 million dollars and 124 million dollars respectively.
China has risen from the 6th position to the 4th in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up.
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China expects Myanmar to safeguard peace, stability on border: Wen
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-25 04:01:35
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday that he believed Myanmar could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region.
"To develop good-neighborly China-Myanmar relations with mutually beneficial cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of the two countries and will be conducive to regional peace and stability," Wen told his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits.
China hopes Myanmar would realize stability, reconciliation and development, Wen said, pledging to offer affordable assistance to the Southeast Asian nation.
While appreciating China's long-term assistance and help, Thein Sein said his country will further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with China.
More than 10,000 Myanmar border inhabitants, who fled into China's southwest Yunnan province in August, had returned home after the end of the fighting in northern Myanmar.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-10-25 04:01:35
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday that he believed Myanmar could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region.
"To develop good-neighborly China-Myanmar relations with mutually beneficial cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of the two countries and will be conducive to regional peace and stability," Wen told his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits.
China hopes Myanmar would realize stability, reconciliation and development, Wen said, pledging to offer affordable assistance to the Southeast Asian nation.
While appreciating China's long-term assistance and help, Thein Sein said his country will further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with China.
More than 10,000 Myanmar border inhabitants, who fled into China's southwest Yunnan province in August, had returned home after the end of the fighting in northern Myanmar.
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October 24, 2009 16:00 PM
Myanmar Won't Allow Thailand's Foe To Use Its Soil, Says PM
HUA HIN, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein has assured his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva that his country would not allow anyone opposing Thailand to use its soil as a springboard to attack the kingdom, according to the Thai News Agency (TNA).
Thein Sein, who is now attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit being held in the Thai resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am, reportedly told Abhisit on the sidelines of the summit Friday, that Myanmar upheld the principle of living in harmony and that it would not allow anyone opposing Thailand wishing to use his country as springboard in attacking this country.
Expressing his confidence that Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, could sail through obstacles and negative challenges, Thein Sein told Abhisit that both Myanmar and Thailand share a long border and both countries have to depend with each other and good neighbourliness is, therefore, significant.
Thein Sein's remarks were made after Abhisit and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen traded words after the Khmer leader reasserted Friday on arriving for the ASEAN summit that his government would reject any Thai request to extradite former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if the self-exiled ex-premier accepts an invitation for refuge in Cambodia.
Hun Sen told journalists to read the extradition treaty thoroughly to understand why the former Thai premier, whom he described as his friend, can stay in Cambodia as a guest of the Cambodian government.
Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, Thaksin jumped bail and fled sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok's Ratchadapisek land purchase case.
The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Thanking Myanmar for its support given to Thailand as chairman of ASEAN, Abhisit told Thein Sein that his government supports Japan's financial assistance bestowed to Myanmar on various projects, including developing hospitals and schools.
Abhisit said his government, as a close neighbour to Myanmar and host of ASEAN, had told every country to strengthen ties with Myanmar and had requested the Myanmar government leader to "unofficially report" on progress on development projects in his country during the ASEAN summit on Saturday.
Wishing Myanmar to successfully hold its general election next year, Abhisit also told Thein Sein that he hopes to officially visit Myanmar when he has the opportunity and to also meet Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to boost democracy for the world community.
The leaders of ASEAN's 10 member countries--Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam-- are holding their three-day summit in the Thai resorts with their six dialogue partners--China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The summit ends Sunday.
Myanmar Won't Allow Thailand's Foe To Use Its Soil, Says PM
HUA HIN, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein has assured his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva that his country would not allow anyone opposing Thailand to use its soil as a springboard to attack the kingdom, according to the Thai News Agency (TNA).
Thein Sein, who is now attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit being held in the Thai resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am, reportedly told Abhisit on the sidelines of the summit Friday, that Myanmar upheld the principle of living in harmony and that it would not allow anyone opposing Thailand wishing to use his country as springboard in attacking this country.
Expressing his confidence that Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, could sail through obstacles and negative challenges, Thein Sein told Abhisit that both Myanmar and Thailand share a long border and both countries have to depend with each other and good neighbourliness is, therefore, significant.
Thein Sein's remarks were made after Abhisit and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen traded words after the Khmer leader reasserted Friday on arriving for the ASEAN summit that his government would reject any Thai request to extradite former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if the self-exiled ex-premier accepts an invitation for refuge in Cambodia.
Hun Sen told journalists to read the extradition treaty thoroughly to understand why the former Thai premier, whom he described as his friend, can stay in Cambodia as a guest of the Cambodian government.
Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, Thaksin jumped bail and fled sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok's Ratchadapisek land purchase case.
The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Thanking Myanmar for its support given to Thailand as chairman of ASEAN, Abhisit told Thein Sein that his government supports Japan's financial assistance bestowed to Myanmar on various projects, including developing hospitals and schools.
Abhisit said his government, as a close neighbour to Myanmar and host of ASEAN, had told every country to strengthen ties with Myanmar and had requested the Myanmar government leader to "unofficially report" on progress on development projects in his country during the ASEAN summit on Saturday.
Wishing Myanmar to successfully hold its general election next year, Abhisit also told Thein Sein that he hopes to officially visit Myanmar when he has the opportunity and to also meet Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to boost democracy for the world community.
The leaders of ASEAN's 10 member countries--Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam-- are holding their three-day summit in the Thai resorts with their six dialogue partners--China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The summit ends Sunday.
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UN envoy asks Myanmar's junta to release political prisoners
Updated on Saturday, October 24, 2009, 09:55 IST
New York: Describing the human rights situation in Myanmar as "alarming", a top UN official has asked the ruling military junta to release all political prisoners and ensure that the elections in 2010 are fair and transparent.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, also asked the junta to create an independent judiciary and reform the country's military to respect humanitarian law in conflict areas.
"There is a pattern of widespread and systematic violations...the prevailing impunity allows for the continuation of these violations," Quintana said.
"I urged the government to take prompt measure to establish accountability and responsibility with regard to those systematic and widespread violations," he added.
He urged the government to ensure that the elections in 2010 are fair and transparent.
"The freedom of speech and movement should be guaranteed in the country and all prisoners of conscience should be released before those elections," he said.
During his visit to Myanmar in July, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon made similar demands but were largely ignored by the government. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's continued detention will prevent her from contesting elections next year. In September, only 131 out of more than 2000 prisoners of conscience were released.
In his report to the UN, Quintana recommends the repeal of a discriminatory legislation in Northern Rakhine State where many Muslims have been deprived of citizenship, movement and fundamental freedoms.
He welcomed the decision by the Myanmar Supreme Court that allows the Rohingya Muslim, from the Arkan state in the west, to marry without restrictions.
"I think that is a positive development from the judiciary in Myanmar," he said. "The Supreme Court in those cases recognised that the Rohingya had the right to marry each other."
Quintana also pointed out patterns of starvation in many areas of the country, and called the government and international community to eradicate poverty for relieving dire economic and social conditions in areas like Kayin, North Rakhine, Chin, North Shan and East Shan states.
Since being appointed in 2008, Quintana will make his third visit to Myanmar in November. He told journalists here that he faces many limitations in terms of access to people and cannot walk around freely. Previously, permission to meet Suu Kyi has been denied.
Updated on Saturday, October 24, 2009, 09:55 IST
New York: Describing the human rights situation in Myanmar as "alarming", a top UN official has asked the ruling military junta to release all political prisoners and ensure that the elections in 2010 are fair and transparent.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, also asked the junta to create an independent judiciary and reform the country's military to respect humanitarian law in conflict areas.
"There is a pattern of widespread and systematic violations...the prevailing impunity allows for the continuation of these violations," Quintana said.
"I urged the government to take prompt measure to establish accountability and responsibility with regard to those systematic and widespread violations," he added.
He urged the government to ensure that the elections in 2010 are fair and transparent.
"The freedom of speech and movement should be guaranteed in the country and all prisoners of conscience should be released before those elections," he said.
During his visit to Myanmar in July, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon made similar demands but were largely ignored by the government. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's continued detention will prevent her from contesting elections next year. In September, only 131 out of more than 2000 prisoners of conscience were released.
In his report to the UN, Quintana recommends the repeal of a discriminatory legislation in Northern Rakhine State where many Muslims have been deprived of citizenship, movement and fundamental freedoms.
He welcomed the decision by the Myanmar Supreme Court that allows the Rohingya Muslim, from the Arkan state in the west, to marry without restrictions.
"I think that is a positive development from the judiciary in Myanmar," he said. "The Supreme Court in those cases recognised that the Rohingya had the right to marry each other."
Quintana also pointed out patterns of starvation in many areas of the country, and called the government and international community to eradicate poverty for relieving dire economic and social conditions in areas like Kayin, North Rakhine, Chin, North Shan and East Shan states.
Since being appointed in 2008, Quintana will make his third visit to Myanmar in November. He told journalists here that he faces many limitations in terms of access to people and cannot walk around freely. Previously, permission to meet Suu Kyi has been denied.
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MCOT - Thailand proposes using China's ASEAN loan for highway projects
CHA-AM, Oct 24 (TNA) – As China met with ASEAN Saturday in the context of the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, Thailand proposed to apply the Chinese funds to build a highway network linking China with Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to promote infrastructure development as well as boosting trade, investment and contacts between the peoples of ASEAN and China, Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai said on Saturday.
Mrs Pornthiva told journalists after meeting with China’s Trade Minister Chen Deming earlier in the day that Thailand thanked China for its financial assistance in setting up the China-ASEAN Funds on Investment Cooperation and on Commercial Credit, both funds aimed at supporting infrastructure development in the China-ASEAN region and enhancing trade and economic ties.
The bilateral meeting between the Thai and Chinese trade ministers followed the formal establishment of the China-ASEAN Funds on Investment Cooperation and on Commercial Credit, to which China pledged to contribute US$10 billion and $15 billion respectively.
The establishment of the Funds was first announced by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in April during the annual Boao Forum in Hainan, aiming at supporting infrastructure development in the China-ASEAN region and enhancing trade and economic ties.
Applying the funds to infrastructure development will benefit expanded trade, investment and mutual people-to-people contacts after the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) in January next year.
The proposed roadway will link the central Vietnamese city of Danang via Thailand to the Myanmar seaport of Moulmein, and also link Thailand's western province of Kanchanaburi to Myanmar's deep-sea port of Tavoy and provide a route from China’s Yunnan province to Singapore, passing through Bangkok.
Mrs. Pornthiva said the Chinese minister reaffirmed that the ASEAN-China Loan Programme can be used to build the highway network for routes passing through any ASEAN member countries but that feasibility studies should be done.
The announcement was made as the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hold a three-day summit with six dialogue partners -- China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand -- in the Thai resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin. The summit ends Sunday.
CHA-AM, Oct 24 (TNA) – As China met with ASEAN Saturday in the context of the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, Thailand proposed to apply the Chinese funds to build a highway network linking China with Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to promote infrastructure development as well as boosting trade, investment and contacts between the peoples of ASEAN and China, Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai said on Saturday.
Mrs Pornthiva told journalists after meeting with China’s Trade Minister Chen Deming earlier in the day that Thailand thanked China for its financial assistance in setting up the China-ASEAN Funds on Investment Cooperation and on Commercial Credit, both funds aimed at supporting infrastructure development in the China-ASEAN region and enhancing trade and economic ties.
The bilateral meeting between the Thai and Chinese trade ministers followed the formal establishment of the China-ASEAN Funds on Investment Cooperation and on Commercial Credit, to which China pledged to contribute US$10 billion and $15 billion respectively.
The establishment of the Funds was first announced by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in April during the annual Boao Forum in Hainan, aiming at supporting infrastructure development in the China-ASEAN region and enhancing trade and economic ties.
Applying the funds to infrastructure development will benefit expanded trade, investment and mutual people-to-people contacts after the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) in January next year.
The proposed roadway will link the central Vietnamese city of Danang via Thailand to the Myanmar seaport of Moulmein, and also link Thailand's western province of Kanchanaburi to Myanmar's deep-sea port of Tavoy and provide a route from China’s Yunnan province to Singapore, passing through Bangkok.
Mrs. Pornthiva said the Chinese minister reaffirmed that the ASEAN-China Loan Programme can be used to build the highway network for routes passing through any ASEAN member countries but that feasibility studies should be done.
The announcement was made as the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hold a three-day summit with six dialogue partners -- China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand -- in the Thai resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin. The summit ends Sunday.
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The National - Nats, moustaches and generals in Myanmar
Tom Spender
Last Updated: October 23. 2009 6:07PM UAE / October 23. 2009 2:07PM GMT
Our pick-up bowls through a patchwork countryside of green rice-paddy fields criss-crossed by small waterways. About 20 people are crammed into the back, sitting on narrow wooden benches. A further 10, myself included, are sitting cross-legged on the roof, cheerfully chewing betel nut and spitting jets of crimson saliva over the side.
We are on our way to a nat festival – a week-long party celebrating a folk religion that predates Buddhism in Myanmar and continues to exist alongside it today. Nat spirits are divided between the 37 Great Nats, the spirits of human beings who met a violent death, and the rest, the spirits of trees, water and other parts of nature.
We turn off the main route out of Mandalay and on to a road where the two lanes are separated by a small canal. Children are waiting by the roadside in a state of excitement; as soon as our pick-up comes near they begin to run alongside it, yelling as passengers toss out a few tiny-denomination notes of kyat, Myanmar’s currency. Very few of the kids catch any money and as we rattle past they give up and look for the next vehicle or jump into the canal. They know many more people will be passing this way.
We arrive at the festival village of Taungbyone, disembark and enter a sprawling market. Pretty girls sit on raised platforms with trays of Burmese sweets in their hands. Stalls sell CDs of Myanmar’s distinctive pop music, lightly syrupy songs with perky guitar riffs, as well as piles of smallish logs that are used for thanaka, the traditional makeup of golden cream made from bark that Burmese women smear on their cheeks. Crowds throng past, men stripped to the waist climb bamboo scaffolding to put the finishing touches on a big thatched hall. As the stalls segue into village streets, we see homes with raised and covered outdoor lounging areas containing twin effigies with faces made of gold-coloured plastic or metal, the residents snoozing on nearby cushions.
However, while it is obvious that some major cultural event must be happening here, we don’t know exactly what, or where, it is. “Where is the nat?” I ask, ready for the blank looks that sometimes follow a question that no local person would ever pose. But a man understands and takes us to a temple complex where girls are selling bunches of flowers and families are sprawled all over the floor. The enclosed space is full of Burmese carrying huge platters of bananas, coconuts and flowers and all attempting to gain entry to a small chamber to make their offerings to the nat said to reside there.
In the temple, the nats are represented by the figures of a man and a woman with golden faces that are much smaller than the carvings of Buddha that are on display in Myanmar’s Buddhist temples. As the Burmese squeeze in to pray, hands holding big plants clasped in front of their faces, specially employed men take the fruit from the platters and distribute them around the two nat figurines. There is no way this can carry on much longer before the figurines are buried in fruit, I think, but somehow the piles around them don’t seem to grow despite the deluge of offerings. Red-robed Buddhist monks and pink-clad nuns are among the worshippers, while outside children hurl flowers around amid peals of laughter.
As we leave at sundown, exploiting our status as foreign curiosities to attract attention and beg a lift in a lorry, a bright rainbow arcs over the rice paddies and Burmese from all over the country continue to arrive on bicycles, tractors and pick-ups for celebrations that will continue for days.
From Mandalay we travel by bus to Bagan, a vast collection of about 4,400 Buddhist temples scattered across 42 square kilometres on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River (formerly known as the Irrawaddy).
The bus proves much tougher than its appearance might suggest and it needs to be – most of the country is not linked by highways or even paved roads and our route takes us along bumpy dirt tracks. At one point we seem to be stuck in the middle of a small river, but when I look outside I see the driver’s assistant is simply taking the opportunity to throw water onto the diesel engine to cool it down. The driver guns the engine and we surge out of the river and push on.
While Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is undoubtedly more famous, Bagan is also among of the top Buddhist temple sites in South-east Asia and is around a thousand years old. You can simply wander from temple to temple, the larger ones containing huge gold-painted statues of the Buddha.
Before leaving Mandalay for Bagan, we visit the Moustache Brothers, a troupe of three dissident comedians. Their response to being banned from performing to their fellow Burmese or holding any kind of performance outside their modest home has been to stage a folk opera entirely in English each night in their house. We are among a gaggle of tourists taking seats in their front room, where the walls are adorned with puppets and photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader who has spent about 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. The brothers never intended to be political, says Lu Maw, one of the brothers, but in the 1970s as the military regime proved unable to provide the people with basic services such as electricity, it became a natural target for jokes.
Myanmar achieved independence from the British Empire in 1948, when it was known as Burma, and was a democratic republic until 1962, when General Ne Win seized power in a coup d’etat and kicked off a period of military rule marked by economic stultification and human rights abuses that continues to this day. After another coup in 1988, the new military junta in 1990 held elections that were won convincingly by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of General Aung San, who many years before negotiated the country’s independence from the British. Unwilling to cede power, the junta simply annulled the election results, put Suu Kyi under house arrest at her Yangon home, and carried on ruling.
The junta’s reign has also been marked by a long-running conflict between the junta’s 350,000-strong army, the Tatmadaw, and the guerilla forces of the various ethnic groups that live in Myanmar and harbour dreams of regional autonomy. As part of its ongoing campaign to crush opposition forces, the Tatmadaw has been accused by rights groups of press ganging children into its forces, carrying out summary executions, destroying villages and relocating their populations and using villagers as forced labour.
But western-led economic sanctions against Myanmar, intensified after Suu Kyi was sentenced to yet more time under house arrest in August this year, have proved ineffective in the face of the regional appetite for the country’s gas, timber and gemstones. In a major shift, the US in September said it would start talking to the Burmese regime. Suu Kyi, who had supported a boycott of the regime – including preventing the regime from receiving money from tourism through a travel boycott – has also said she is willing to see sanctions lifted if it helps movement towards political reconciliation.
Back in the Moustache Brothers’ Mandalay home, I ask Lu why he and his brothers continue to defy the authorities. It is, after all, a serious matter; his two brothers were sentenced to seven years’ hard labour in 1996 for telling political jokes. “We are dead meat already” is his response. The brothers hope that as long as they remain popular with tourists they will not be arrested.
Theirs is a slapstick show spliced with displays of old-style Burmese clothing and other traditions, but for me the highlight is the traditional dancing by Lu Maw’s wife, Ni Ni Lin, who is obviously a master of her art. In the dance she is transformed, and her forceful but nuanced movements speak of a cultural depth to Myanmar that I for one was unaware of until visiting, so little did I know about this closed country.
For many Burmese, the opposite is true. They know a world exists outside Myanmar but have little chance of getting permission to see it from the authorities. Many in the impoverished country would not be able to afford to travel anyway, but they long for the opportunity.
“We can’t do anything, so we just try to cultivate a positive mental attitude and hope things will get better,” said one man.
Tom Spender
Last Updated: October 23. 2009 6:07PM UAE / October 23. 2009 2:07PM GMT
Our pick-up bowls through a patchwork countryside of green rice-paddy fields criss-crossed by small waterways. About 20 people are crammed into the back, sitting on narrow wooden benches. A further 10, myself included, are sitting cross-legged on the roof, cheerfully chewing betel nut and spitting jets of crimson saliva over the side.
We are on our way to a nat festival – a week-long party celebrating a folk religion that predates Buddhism in Myanmar and continues to exist alongside it today. Nat spirits are divided between the 37 Great Nats, the spirits of human beings who met a violent death, and the rest, the spirits of trees, water and other parts of nature.
We turn off the main route out of Mandalay and on to a road where the two lanes are separated by a small canal. Children are waiting by the roadside in a state of excitement; as soon as our pick-up comes near they begin to run alongside it, yelling as passengers toss out a few tiny-denomination notes of kyat, Myanmar’s currency. Very few of the kids catch any money and as we rattle past they give up and look for the next vehicle or jump into the canal. They know many more people will be passing this way.
We arrive at the festival village of Taungbyone, disembark and enter a sprawling market. Pretty girls sit on raised platforms with trays of Burmese sweets in their hands. Stalls sell CDs of Myanmar’s distinctive pop music, lightly syrupy songs with perky guitar riffs, as well as piles of smallish logs that are used for thanaka, the traditional makeup of golden cream made from bark that Burmese women smear on their cheeks. Crowds throng past, men stripped to the waist climb bamboo scaffolding to put the finishing touches on a big thatched hall. As the stalls segue into village streets, we see homes with raised and covered outdoor lounging areas containing twin effigies with faces made of gold-coloured plastic or metal, the residents snoozing on nearby cushions.
However, while it is obvious that some major cultural event must be happening here, we don’t know exactly what, or where, it is. “Where is the nat?” I ask, ready for the blank looks that sometimes follow a question that no local person would ever pose. But a man understands and takes us to a temple complex where girls are selling bunches of flowers and families are sprawled all over the floor. The enclosed space is full of Burmese carrying huge platters of bananas, coconuts and flowers and all attempting to gain entry to a small chamber to make their offerings to the nat said to reside there.
In the temple, the nats are represented by the figures of a man and a woman with golden faces that are much smaller than the carvings of Buddha that are on display in Myanmar’s Buddhist temples. As the Burmese squeeze in to pray, hands holding big plants clasped in front of their faces, specially employed men take the fruit from the platters and distribute them around the two nat figurines. There is no way this can carry on much longer before the figurines are buried in fruit, I think, but somehow the piles around them don’t seem to grow despite the deluge of offerings. Red-robed Buddhist monks and pink-clad nuns are among the worshippers, while outside children hurl flowers around amid peals of laughter.
As we leave at sundown, exploiting our status as foreign curiosities to attract attention and beg a lift in a lorry, a bright rainbow arcs over the rice paddies and Burmese from all over the country continue to arrive on bicycles, tractors and pick-ups for celebrations that will continue for days.
From Mandalay we travel by bus to Bagan, a vast collection of about 4,400 Buddhist temples scattered across 42 square kilometres on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River (formerly known as the Irrawaddy).
The bus proves much tougher than its appearance might suggest and it needs to be – most of the country is not linked by highways or even paved roads and our route takes us along bumpy dirt tracks. At one point we seem to be stuck in the middle of a small river, but when I look outside I see the driver’s assistant is simply taking the opportunity to throw water onto the diesel engine to cool it down. The driver guns the engine and we surge out of the river and push on.
While Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is undoubtedly more famous, Bagan is also among of the top Buddhist temple sites in South-east Asia and is around a thousand years old. You can simply wander from temple to temple, the larger ones containing huge gold-painted statues of the Buddha.
Before leaving Mandalay for Bagan, we visit the Moustache Brothers, a troupe of three dissident comedians. Their response to being banned from performing to their fellow Burmese or holding any kind of performance outside their modest home has been to stage a folk opera entirely in English each night in their house. We are among a gaggle of tourists taking seats in their front room, where the walls are adorned with puppets and photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader who has spent about 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest. The brothers never intended to be political, says Lu Maw, one of the brothers, but in the 1970s as the military regime proved unable to provide the people with basic services such as electricity, it became a natural target for jokes.
Myanmar achieved independence from the British Empire in 1948, when it was known as Burma, and was a democratic republic until 1962, when General Ne Win seized power in a coup d’etat and kicked off a period of military rule marked by economic stultification and human rights abuses that continues to this day. After another coup in 1988, the new military junta in 1990 held elections that were won convincingly by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of General Aung San, who many years before negotiated the country’s independence from the British. Unwilling to cede power, the junta simply annulled the election results, put Suu Kyi under house arrest at her Yangon home, and carried on ruling.
The junta’s reign has also been marked by a long-running conflict between the junta’s 350,000-strong army, the Tatmadaw, and the guerilla forces of the various ethnic groups that live in Myanmar and harbour dreams of regional autonomy. As part of its ongoing campaign to crush opposition forces, the Tatmadaw has been accused by rights groups of press ganging children into its forces, carrying out summary executions, destroying villages and relocating their populations and using villagers as forced labour.
But western-led economic sanctions against Myanmar, intensified after Suu Kyi was sentenced to yet more time under house arrest in August this year, have proved ineffective in the face of the regional appetite for the country’s gas, timber and gemstones. In a major shift, the US in September said it would start talking to the Burmese regime. Suu Kyi, who had supported a boycott of the regime – including preventing the regime from receiving money from tourism through a travel boycott – has also said she is willing to see sanctions lifted if it helps movement towards political reconciliation.
Back in the Moustache Brothers’ Mandalay home, I ask Lu why he and his brothers continue to defy the authorities. It is, after all, a serious matter; his two brothers were sentenced to seven years’ hard labour in 1996 for telling political jokes. “We are dead meat already” is his response. The brothers hope that as long as they remain popular with tourists they will not be arrested.
Theirs is a slapstick show spliced with displays of old-style Burmese clothing and other traditions, but for me the highlight is the traditional dancing by Lu Maw’s wife, Ni Ni Lin, who is obviously a master of her art. In the dance she is transformed, and her forceful but nuanced movements speak of a cultural depth to Myanmar that I for one was unaware of until visiting, so little did I know about this closed country.
For many Burmese, the opposite is true. They know a world exists outside Myanmar but have little chance of getting permission to see it from the authorities. Many in the impoverished country would not be able to afford to travel anyway, but they long for the opportunity.
“We can’t do anything, so we just try to cultivate a positive mental attitude and hope things will get better,” said one man.
***********************************************************
Bangkok Post - Ongoing concerns over human rights in Burma
Published: 25/10/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
CHA-AM : The Asean Charter must be implemented immediately to address ongoing human rights violations in Burma and keep a close watch on any offences against ethnic people ahead of next year's elections there, politicians and activists urged yesterday.
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the junta had yet to show a willingness to adhere to the principles of democratic governance under the Asean Charter.
Asean's long-held assertion that Burma's political and human rights issues were internal affairs is no longer applicable, especially since the problems in Burma have impacted all countries in the region, Mr Kraisak said.
Burma's junta has in recent months stepped up operations against ethnic people in the east as part of preparations for planned elections next year, resulting in an influx of thousands of refugees to neighbouring countries such as China and Thailand, said Charm Tong, of the Shan Women's Action Network in Burma.
Asean politicians and exiled Burmese activists have gathered at the sidelines of the 15th Asean summit to remind the bloc the problem has not gone away, even though there might be some positive developments including the direct engagement of the US and EU.
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, chair of the EU presidency, are to make separate visits to Burma soon to discuss humanitarian and economic packages as well as future political dialogue with the junta.
Voravit Suwanvanichkij, a research associate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, said Burma truly needed more assistance, but people must be aware of the reality that many problems have their roots in structural causes.
Deeply flawed economic policies and military impunity in human rights abuses systematically perpetrated on the people - from forced relocation, forced labour, seizure of property, destruction of farms and villages, to arbitrary taxation - must be addressed.
"From a health standpoint, we are already at a critical juncture. Malaria remains uncontrollable in many parts of the Thai-Burma border and we are now faced with the very real possibility of increasing resistance," Mr Voravit told the Bangkok Post. He also expressed concern over the spread of new strains of TB and recent cholera outbreaks in border areas where medical treatment was inadequate.
Published: 25/10/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
CHA-AM : The Asean Charter must be implemented immediately to address ongoing human rights violations in Burma and keep a close watch on any offences against ethnic people ahead of next year's elections there, politicians and activists urged yesterday.
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, said the junta had yet to show a willingness to adhere to the principles of democratic governance under the Asean Charter.
Asean's long-held assertion that Burma's political and human rights issues were internal affairs is no longer applicable, especially since the problems in Burma have impacted all countries in the region, Mr Kraisak said.
Burma's junta has in recent months stepped up operations against ethnic people in the east as part of preparations for planned elections next year, resulting in an influx of thousands of refugees to neighbouring countries such as China and Thailand, said Charm Tong, of the Shan Women's Action Network in Burma.
Asean politicians and exiled Burmese activists have gathered at the sidelines of the 15th Asean summit to remind the bloc the problem has not gone away, even though there might be some positive developments including the direct engagement of the US and EU.
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, chair of the EU presidency, are to make separate visits to Burma soon to discuss humanitarian and economic packages as well as future political dialogue with the junta.
Voravit Suwanvanichkij, a research associate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, said Burma truly needed more assistance, but people must be aware of the reality that many problems have their roots in structural causes.
Deeply flawed economic policies and military impunity in human rights abuses systematically perpetrated on the people - from forced relocation, forced labour, seizure of property, destruction of farms and villages, to arbitrary taxation - must be addressed.
"From a health standpoint, we are already at a critical juncture. Malaria remains uncontrollable in many parts of the Thai-Burma border and we are now faced with the very real possibility of increasing resistance," Mr Voravit told the Bangkok Post. He also expressed concern over the spread of new strains of TB and recent cholera outbreaks in border areas where medical treatment was inadequate.
***********************************************************
The Irrawaddy - Getting the Facts First
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Andrew Heyn, the new British ambassador to Burma, met with Aung San Suu Kyi recently to discuss the issue of Western sanctions on the military-ruled country. He found her engaging and fully focused on the subject at hand—clearly intent on learning all the facts before coming to any conclusions.
In this exclusive interview with The Irrawaddy, Ambassador Heyn describes his encounter with Burma’s leading pro-democracy activist, and discusses some of the challenges of his latest diplomatic posting.
Question: After meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, can you describe the position she is now taking on sanctions?
Answer: The meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a very welcome opportunity to discuss the issue of sanctions with her in person. She was clear that this was a fact-finding exercise and that she had not yet reached a policy position. She wanted to know more about what sanctions are in place, what led to the measures being imposed and whether there had been any assessment made of the impact of sanctions on the ground. It is too early to discuss specific proposals—she wants to know the facts first, and then discuss the issue with her party. I hope our meeting with her is the first of many. We would also be encouraged if the regime permitted her to meet her party members, and a broader range of Burmese and international interlocutors.
Q: Did she talk about the conditions of her house arrest or about the recent court case against her? Did you detect optimism on her part?
A: I had seen her once during her trial earlier this year but this was my first opportunity to engage with her in discussion. She is impressively articulate, focused and gracious.
She did not talk about the conditions of her house arrest—our conversation was limited to the issue of sanctions, as requested by the regime. Throughout the meeting she had a positive, constructive approach to the discussion.
Q: Your predecessor as ambassador, Mark Canning, was notably forthright in his criticism of regime policy, particularly of the violent crackdown on the demonstrations of September and October 2007. How would you describe your relationship with the Burmese leadership so far? What is your benchmark on Burma?
A: Each ambassador will have his or her own distinctive style, but the key thing is that in this job you represent the UK view. I think Mark put it pretty well when he said “UK ambassadors to Burma might change, but our commitment to this country does not.” We are committed to this country—to seeing a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable settlement for the people of Burma, to seeing broad socio-economic development and to seeing a country where a government is committed to protecting and responding to the needs of its people, and to promoting the diverse cultures and identities of its diverse ethnicities.
Q: Former Ambassador Canning was a valuable source of news for Burma-watchers and journalists, and he wrote a regular blog for the British newspaper The Guardian. He left something of a legacy for you to follow.
A: The Guardian requested that I carry on the ambassador’s blog. You can find my early efforts at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/oct/09/aung-san-suu-kyi-burma.
Q: What are the most difficult challenges for a British ambassador in Burma? Is Britain’s troubled history in Burma a problem in dealing with the current regime?
A: It is a great honor to have been asked to do this job. My previous posting was in Ireland, where the bilateral relationship has been at times extremely difficult. But both there and in Burma, the important thing is to look forward and try to build on the good things that our historic links have brought and show due sensitivity on issues where our previous links raise particular complications.
Q: The US recently announced that it would engage in direct talks with the Burmese junta while maintaining sanctions.
What do you think of this approach?
A: One of the first rules of diplomacy is to tread very carefully when talking about other country’s foreign policy choices! But the UK has welcomed the US approach, which rings it more closely into line with the EU’s position. This is to allow dialogue up to a certain level with flexibility to go above that level in particular circumstances.
Both the US and the EU will maintain sanctions and other restrictive measures for the time being. But we have both made it clear that we would stand ready to relax or remove these measures if there is concrete progress towards our key priorities, such as respect for human rights, the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, inclusive dialogue with ethnic groups and free and fair elections next year.
Q: Britain is a firm supporter of the EU policy on sanctions, which currently mirrors the US stand. Can you foresee circumstances where the US and the EU might part company in their sanctions policies? Is there any likelihood of individual Western countries lifting sanctions unilaterally?
A: The EU sanctions are agreed to by all 27 Member States and can only be lifted if there is clear consensus across the EU to take such a step.
Q: In the ongoing military offensive against ethnic rebels in Karen and Shan states, there have been numerous reports of systematic human rights violations, including wanton killings and rape. The regime is trying to pressure the ethnic armed groups to transform themselves into border guard forces. How do you view these ethnic issues?
A: Creating a peaceful, just and inclusive solution is the key to sustainable reconciliation in Burma. This means addressing grievances and abuses of power, wherever they have taken place. It also means respecting the cultural, political and socio-economic rights of all Burma’s ethnic groups. A solution that does not provide adequate protection and inclusion for all is not a solution that can last.
Q: How do you view the regime’s plan to hold a general election in 2010? Most Burmese remain very skeptical. What kind of role can the international community, especially Western countries, play in ensuring that the elections are fair, credible and inclusive?
A: We have been clear that for these elections to have any credibility, they need to meet international standards of being free and fair. This means opposition parties being able to campaign freely, the release of political prisoners, and so on. As things stand, the process looks like falling short of these international standards. We will continue to press the authorities here to make the process one that would give any post-election government legitimacy in the eyes of the outside world.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Andrew Heyn, the new British ambassador to Burma, met with Aung San Suu Kyi recently to discuss the issue of Western sanctions on the military-ruled country. He found her engaging and fully focused on the subject at hand—clearly intent on learning all the facts before coming to any conclusions.
In this exclusive interview with The Irrawaddy, Ambassador Heyn describes his encounter with Burma’s leading pro-democracy activist, and discusses some of the challenges of his latest diplomatic posting.
Question: After meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, can you describe the position she is now taking on sanctions?
Answer: The meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a very welcome opportunity to discuss the issue of sanctions with her in person. She was clear that this was a fact-finding exercise and that she had not yet reached a policy position. She wanted to know more about what sanctions are in place, what led to the measures being imposed and whether there had been any assessment made of the impact of sanctions on the ground. It is too early to discuss specific proposals—she wants to know the facts first, and then discuss the issue with her party. I hope our meeting with her is the first of many. We would also be encouraged if the regime permitted her to meet her party members, and a broader range of Burmese and international interlocutors.
Q: Did she talk about the conditions of her house arrest or about the recent court case against her? Did you detect optimism on her part?
A: I had seen her once during her trial earlier this year but this was my first opportunity to engage with her in discussion. She is impressively articulate, focused and gracious.
She did not talk about the conditions of her house arrest—our conversation was limited to the issue of sanctions, as requested by the regime. Throughout the meeting she had a positive, constructive approach to the discussion.
Q: Your predecessor as ambassador, Mark Canning, was notably forthright in his criticism of regime policy, particularly of the violent crackdown on the demonstrations of September and October 2007. How would you describe your relationship with the Burmese leadership so far? What is your benchmark on Burma?
A: Each ambassador will have his or her own distinctive style, but the key thing is that in this job you represent the UK view. I think Mark put it pretty well when he said “UK ambassadors to Burma might change, but our commitment to this country does not.” We are committed to this country—to seeing a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable settlement for the people of Burma, to seeing broad socio-economic development and to seeing a country where a government is committed to protecting and responding to the needs of its people, and to promoting the diverse cultures and identities of its diverse ethnicities.
Q: Former Ambassador Canning was a valuable source of news for Burma-watchers and journalists, and he wrote a regular blog for the British newspaper The Guardian. He left something of a legacy for you to follow.
A: The Guardian requested that I carry on the ambassador’s blog. You can find my early efforts at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/oct/09/aung-san-suu-kyi-burma.
Q: What are the most difficult challenges for a British ambassador in Burma? Is Britain’s troubled history in Burma a problem in dealing with the current regime?
A: It is a great honor to have been asked to do this job. My previous posting was in Ireland, where the bilateral relationship has been at times extremely difficult. But both there and in Burma, the important thing is to look forward and try to build on the good things that our historic links have brought and show due sensitivity on issues where our previous links raise particular complications.
Q: The US recently announced that it would engage in direct talks with the Burmese junta while maintaining sanctions.
What do you think of this approach?
A: One of the first rules of diplomacy is to tread very carefully when talking about other country’s foreign policy choices! But the UK has welcomed the US approach, which rings it more closely into line with the EU’s position. This is to allow dialogue up to a certain level with flexibility to go above that level in particular circumstances.
Both the US and the EU will maintain sanctions and other restrictive measures for the time being. But we have both made it clear that we would stand ready to relax or remove these measures if there is concrete progress towards our key priorities, such as respect for human rights, the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, inclusive dialogue with ethnic groups and free and fair elections next year.
Q: Britain is a firm supporter of the EU policy on sanctions, which currently mirrors the US stand. Can you foresee circumstances where the US and the EU might part company in their sanctions policies? Is there any likelihood of individual Western countries lifting sanctions unilaterally?
A: The EU sanctions are agreed to by all 27 Member States and can only be lifted if there is clear consensus across the EU to take such a step.
Q: In the ongoing military offensive against ethnic rebels in Karen and Shan states, there have been numerous reports of systematic human rights violations, including wanton killings and rape. The regime is trying to pressure the ethnic armed groups to transform themselves into border guard forces. How do you view these ethnic issues?
A: Creating a peaceful, just and inclusive solution is the key to sustainable reconciliation in Burma. This means addressing grievances and abuses of power, wherever they have taken place. It also means respecting the cultural, political and socio-economic rights of all Burma’s ethnic groups. A solution that does not provide adequate protection and inclusion for all is not a solution that can last.
Q: How do you view the regime’s plan to hold a general election in 2010? Most Burmese remain very skeptical. What kind of role can the international community, especially Western countries, play in ensuring that the elections are fair, credible and inclusive?
A: We have been clear that for these elections to have any credibility, they need to meet international standards of being free and fair. This means opposition parties being able to campaign freely, the release of political prisoners, and so on. As things stand, the process looks like falling short of these international standards. We will continue to press the authorities here to make the process one that would give any post-election government legitimacy in the eyes of the outside world.
***********************************************************
The Irrwaddy - Burmese PM: Electoral Law Coming Very Soon
By WAI MOE, Saturday, October 24, 2009
CHA-AM, Thailand — Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein told his Thai counterpart yesterday that his country’s ruling military junta would soon announce an electoral law for next year’s planned election.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, speaking after a meeting with Thein Sein on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) in the Thai resort town of Cha-am, said that the two had discussed the election and Burma’s national reconciliation process, among other topics.
“Gen Thein Sein said the electoral law will be announced very soon,” said Abhisit, adding that the Burmese prime minister provided no further details.
Thein Sein also told Abhisit that Burma would not allow anyone to use the country to attack neighboring Thailand, according the Thai News Agency.
Burma “upheld the principle of living in harmony and … would not allow anyone opposing Thailand [to use Burma] in attacking this country,” the agency reported Thein Sein as saying.
Thein Sein’s comment came soon after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his country would not extradite Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai prime minister who was ousted in a coup in 2006, if requested to do so by Thailand.
Hun Sen also compared Thaksin to detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, suggesting that the billionaire businessman who went on to become Thailand’s most powerful politician was also a victim of political persecution.
The subject of Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in prison or under house arrest, also came up in Abhisit’s talks with Thein Sein. Abhisit said he wanted to meet with Suu Kyi when he visits Burma.
Although no dates have been confirmed for next year’s election, both Thein Sein and Foreign Minister ex-Maj-Gen Nyan Win said at the Asean summit that the electoral law would be announced soon.
However, observers noted that Burmese officials have often made similar comments during meetings with foreign officials since the regime declared in February 2008 that the election would be held in 2010.
Diplomats said that fellow Asean members have repeated their offers of assistance with the 2010 election at various meetings held over the past few days, but so far, the junta has remained tightlipped about whether it will allow international involvement in the nationwide vote.
On Thursday, Nyan Win assured his Asean counterparts that the coming election would meet the standards demanded by the international community.
“The Myanmar [Burmese] government says the election next year will be inclusive, free and fair,” said Thailand’s foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, at a press conference.
Others, however, expressed skepticism, saying that the regime has made such promises in the past without ever honoring them.
Kraisak Choonhavan, the president of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar [Burma] Caucus, said the junta has often offered assurances that it would respect democratic principles, but has repeatedly refused to allow its opponents to participate freely in the political process.
On Friday, representatives of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly called on the international community to unite to deal with Burma more effectively.
“We have to have a common policy for Burma,” said Kraisak, adding that the policy should fall somewhere between that of the US and the EU on the one hand and Asian countries on the other.
Also on Friday, civic activists were shocked to learn that the Burmese regime had handpicked two former police officers, Win Myaing and Sitt Aung, to attend the Informal Meeting with Representatives from Asean’s Civil Society, after refusing to allow Khin Ohmar, a prominent exiled activist, to attend.
They also expressed surprise at the junta’s choice of Kyaw Tint Swe, a former military official and Burmese representative to the UN, as the Burmese human rights commissioner.
“Burmese civil society and human rights under the Asean Charter will be ‘improved’ by human rights oppressors,” said Debbie Stothard, the coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network (Altsean), noting that Burmese security forces are the country’s worst perpetrators of human rights violations.
Asean has moved to approve the Asean Human Rights Body by forming the Asean Human Rights Commission during the 15th Summit. However, analysts say that the new rights body will be powerless to promote and protect human rights in countries in the region such as Burma.
“Asean’s Human Rights Commission is a great idea but is essentially of little practical benefit to the Burmese suffering from systematic abuses of their human rights because it is a toothless body with no enforcement mechanisms and no ability to levy penalties,” said Jeff Kingston, the director of Asian Studies at Temple University’s Japan campus.
By WAI MOE, Saturday, October 24, 2009
CHA-AM, Thailand — Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein told his Thai counterpart yesterday that his country’s ruling military junta would soon announce an electoral law for next year’s planned election.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, speaking after a meeting with Thein Sein on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) in the Thai resort town of Cha-am, said that the two had discussed the election and Burma’s national reconciliation process, among other topics.
“Gen Thein Sein said the electoral law will be announced very soon,” said Abhisit, adding that the Burmese prime minister provided no further details.
Thein Sein also told Abhisit that Burma would not allow anyone to use the country to attack neighboring Thailand, according the Thai News Agency.
Burma “upheld the principle of living in harmony and … would not allow anyone opposing Thailand [to use Burma] in attacking this country,” the agency reported Thein Sein as saying.
Thein Sein’s comment came soon after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his country would not extradite Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai prime minister who was ousted in a coup in 2006, if requested to do so by Thailand.
Hun Sen also compared Thaksin to detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, suggesting that the billionaire businessman who went on to become Thailand’s most powerful politician was also a victim of political persecution.
The subject of Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in prison or under house arrest, also came up in Abhisit’s talks with Thein Sein. Abhisit said he wanted to meet with Suu Kyi when he visits Burma.
Although no dates have been confirmed for next year’s election, both Thein Sein and Foreign Minister ex-Maj-Gen Nyan Win said at the Asean summit that the electoral law would be announced soon.
However, observers noted that Burmese officials have often made similar comments during meetings with foreign officials since the regime declared in February 2008 that the election would be held in 2010.
Diplomats said that fellow Asean members have repeated their offers of assistance with the 2010 election at various meetings held over the past few days, but so far, the junta has remained tightlipped about whether it will allow international involvement in the nationwide vote.
On Thursday, Nyan Win assured his Asean counterparts that the coming election would meet the standards demanded by the international community.
“The Myanmar [Burmese] government says the election next year will be inclusive, free and fair,” said Thailand’s foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, at a press conference.
Others, however, expressed skepticism, saying that the regime has made such promises in the past without ever honoring them.
Kraisak Choonhavan, the president of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar [Burma] Caucus, said the junta has often offered assurances that it would respect democratic principles, but has repeatedly refused to allow its opponents to participate freely in the political process.
On Friday, representatives of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly called on the international community to unite to deal with Burma more effectively.
“We have to have a common policy for Burma,” said Kraisak, adding that the policy should fall somewhere between that of the US and the EU on the one hand and Asian countries on the other.
Also on Friday, civic activists were shocked to learn that the Burmese regime had handpicked two former police officers, Win Myaing and Sitt Aung, to attend the Informal Meeting with Representatives from Asean’s Civil Society, after refusing to allow Khin Ohmar, a prominent exiled activist, to attend.
They also expressed surprise at the junta’s choice of Kyaw Tint Swe, a former military official and Burmese representative to the UN, as the Burmese human rights commissioner.
“Burmese civil society and human rights under the Asean Charter will be ‘improved’ by human rights oppressors,” said Debbie Stothard, the coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network (Altsean), noting that Burmese security forces are the country’s worst perpetrators of human rights violations.
Asean has moved to approve the Asean Human Rights Body by forming the Asean Human Rights Commission during the 15th Summit. However, analysts say that the new rights body will be powerless to promote and protect human rights in countries in the region such as Burma.
“Asean’s Human Rights Commission is a great idea but is essentially of little practical benefit to the Burmese suffering from systematic abuses of their human rights because it is a toothless body with no enforcement mechanisms and no ability to levy penalties,” said Jeff Kingston, the director of Asian Studies at Temple University’s Japan campus.
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Chinese energy firm to expand exploration
by Moe Thu
Saturday, 24 October 2009 22:23
Rangoon (Mizzima) – The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) will expand its operations in Burma, christening three new drilling wells off the gulf of Martaban, according to an informed source within the energy sector.
The corporation, China’s third largest national oil company, will undertake exploration from November 1st to December 31st, investing more than US$40 million in the process, the source added.
The operation is located at an offshore block named M-10, bordering to the south of the M-12 and M-13 blocks, site of the Yetagon natural gas field, and to the east of M-9, a commercially viable gas deposit uncovered by Thailand’s PTTEP.
The source said a similar well was drilled at the same block in early last year but, while finding a gas deposit, was deemed not commercially feasible.
CNOOC is one of the major investors in Burma’s oil and gas sector, operating in five onshore and offshore blocks.
So far, four Chinese oil companies – SNOPEC, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), CNOOC and Chinnery Assets – are active in a total of ten onshore and offshore blocks in Burma.
According to official figures, as of March 31, 2009, China has invested $1.33 billion into Burma’s economy and infrastructure, with the oil and gas sector placing third in the list with investment of $124 million dollars – while the mining sector ranks as the most prominent target of Chinese development funds, claiming some $866 million dollars of the sum.
by Moe Thu
Saturday, 24 October 2009 22:23
Rangoon (Mizzima) – The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) will expand its operations in Burma, christening three new drilling wells off the gulf of Martaban, according to an informed source within the energy sector.
The corporation, China’s third largest national oil company, will undertake exploration from November 1st to December 31st, investing more than US$40 million in the process, the source added.
The operation is located at an offshore block named M-10, bordering to the south of the M-12 and M-13 blocks, site of the Yetagon natural gas field, and to the east of M-9, a commercially viable gas deposit uncovered by Thailand’s PTTEP.
The source said a similar well was drilled at the same block in early last year but, while finding a gas deposit, was deemed not commercially feasible.
CNOOC is one of the major investors in Burma’s oil and gas sector, operating in five onshore and offshore blocks.
So far, four Chinese oil companies – SNOPEC, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), CNOOC and Chinnery Assets – are active in a total of ten onshore and offshore blocks in Burma.
According to official figures, as of March 31, 2009, China has invested $1.33 billion into Burma’s economy and infrastructure, with the oil and gas sector placing third in the list with investment of $124 million dollars – while the mining sector ranks as the most prominent target of Chinese development funds, claiming some $866 million dollars of the sum.
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