ASEAN Rejects Secretary Clinton’s Calls to Expel Myanmar

While at the ASEAN Regional Conference, Secretary of State Clinton was very vocal about the United State’s firm belief that Myanmar’s imprisonment of pro-democracy activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, in addition to Myanmar’s failure to abide by international law, should warrant giving serious consideration to the option of kicking Myanmar out of ASEAN. This call was rejected outright by the current chair of the group, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not consider expelling Myanmar over the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, rejecting US calls, Thailand’s prime minister said Thursday.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Thai television Wednesday that the regional bloc should consider kicking out the military-ruled member state if it does not free the Nobel laureate, who is on trial in prison.

But Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, speaking as current chair of the 10-state grouping, said that while ASEAN and the West “have the same goal, we cannot implement the same policy.”

“There are not enough grounds to do that (expel Myanmar). We have already done what we can under the ASEAN mechanism,” said Abhisit, referring to the group’s public statements expressing concern over Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention.

“If Myanmar is expelled it will further isolate (the regime) and would that solve the problem?”

[snip]

Abhisit has rejected the imposing of sanctions on Myanmar, such as those enforced by the United States and European Union.

“We are still insisting on our policy of constructive engagement and hope that the US will understand,” Abhisit added.

Clinton on Thursday urged Myanmar to ensure free and fair elections that would require the release of political prisoners, of whom there are more than 2,100 behind bars according to UN figures.

“We hope there is going to be a recognition on part of the Burmese leadership that they have more to gain by joining the international community and by effectively taking care of their people and putting Burma on the path to democracy,” Clinton said, referring to Myanmar by its former name, Burma.

“(But) we don’t see a change overnight,” she added. . .Clinton has also dangled a carrot to Myanmar’s junta, saying on Wednesday that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi could pave the way for investments from the United States. Abhisit urged Myanmar to heed Clinton’s call.[emphasis added]

Once again, just as with Iran, Secretary Clinton is offering Myanmar the opportunity for meaningful dialogue and the ball is now in Myanmar’s court.

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