Asean thumbs-up for Myanmar polls

Li Xueying, The Straits Times, Publication Date : 03-04-2012 ...
 
Asean foreign ministers yesterday welcomed Myanmar's recent landmark by-elections, which the regional grouping's secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan described as orderly with high participation.

Having long argued that engaging rather than isolating Myanmar was the way to go, the Asean ministers cheered the polls held on Sunday as a positive development, noting that they were in line with the once-reclusive nation's reform efforts.

It "has gone rather smoothly, orderly and the participation has been very high", Surin said after Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin briefed his counterparts ahead of the opening of the 20th Asean summit.
An Asean observer delegation said that despite complaints of irregularities, it did not observe any incidents that might have affected the process or the results of the by-elections.

"Based on what our observers tell us, based on media reports, it appears to be a transparent process," said Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam. "It appears to be a process that doesn't carry with it too many complaints."

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa too described the polls as "an opportunity for Myanmar to make the reform process even more irreversible", while Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the election was a "vindication of the global community that believed Myanmar could pursue this democratisation track effectively".

Shanmugam also told Singapore media that the Asean ministers had congratulated Wunna Maung Lwin, and discussed a possible ministerial meeting in Myanmar in June. During the interview, he also touched on Asean's handling of contentious affairs - namely Myanmar and the South China Sea dispute - that observers might see as a reflection of the regional bloc's efficacy - and limitations.

Asean has long come under both internal and external pressure to boot out Myanmar, when it was ruled by a junta. But the bloc, which maintains a policy of non-intervention in members' domestic politics, had insisted that keeping Myanmar within its orbit would exert a positive influence on the country.

Asked whether the latest development vindicates the "Asean way", Shanmugam said: "What I would say is that we have always recognised Myanmar as an Asean member... and we need to anchor it to move along in a path that will help the expression of will by the people, and help the economic status of the people.

"And I think our efforts have shown some results, as you can see."

Echoing this, veteran diplomat K. Kesavapany too said: "We kept our faith with Myanmar. And we are now in a position to extend whatever that country needs, both bilaterally and within the framework of Asean."

Shanmugam also addressed criticism that Asean had been an ineffective platform for resolving the territorial dispute over the South China Sea, which involves China and several Asean members.

The area has seen several naval clashes, despite Asean and China having signed a non-binding declaration on conduct in the sea a decade ago.

"Asean has provided a platform for talking about South China Sea issues," said the Singapore minister. "It's not going to be easy, neither is it going to be quick. But it's a process and everyone is committed to that. It will take time. But meanwhile it reduces tensions. In international relations, there are limits to what you can achieve."

He also gave an update on the Connectivity Masterplan launched two years ago as a precursor to the Asean Economic Community, which the bloc aims to set up by 2015.

Critics note that Asean has struggled to translate the concept into reality, but Shanmugam pointed out: "I don't think anyone will tell you that by 2015, every single person within the Asean community is going to internalise the importance of Asean. That's some way away but we have to work on the goal."

http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=29255