MYANMAR

MYANMAR:

(Suspension from ASEAN): 3.

Mr Inderjit Singh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether ASEAN will consider suspending Myanmar from ASEAN given that the Myanmar government continues to treat Aung San Suu Kyi without regard to representation from ASEAN and ASEAN member countries.

The Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed): Mr Speaker, Sir, domestic developments in Myanmar have adversely affected the reputation and credibility of ASEAN.

ASEAN has repeatedly called on the Myanmar Government to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which Thailand as the ASEAN chair reiterated in its statement of 19th May, expressing and I quote, "grave concern" over recent developments.

As Myanmar has ratified the ASEAN Charter, it has certain obligations to human rights under the Charter. However, the question of expulsion or suspension, which often raised by external observers of ASEAN, is not as straightforward as it seems. Western sanctions have had little effect on Myanmar so long as China and India keep their borders with Myanmar open. We have always believed in ASEAN that we have more influence over Myanmar, however limited, through engagement rather than isolating it. On its part, despite frequent criticisms by ASEAN, Myanmar has remained committed to ASEAN and attended all meetings.

Singapore by itself has also been calling on Myanmar to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and seek national reconciliation. On 15th May 2009, Singapore issued a statement expressing our dismay at the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, could the Senior Minister of State tell us what benefit or value has Myanmar's membership brought to ASEAN other than create concern, dismay and sometimes even revulsion? And if there is no provision in the ASEAN constitution to suspend or expel Myanmar from ASEAN, is there any way ASEAN can persuade Myanmar to resign from the Association? Or is there also no provision for countries to resign from ASEAN?

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know what direct effect we will have in terms of getting rid of Myanmar from ASEAN but I think we know there are benefits in having Myanmar as part of the regional grouping. We started off, as you know, five members, we have grown to six with Brunei, and then later on we have four more joining. So, we have all the 10. And as you can see that Myanmar is really committed to ASEAN by actually attending all meetings.

Although this one area which I think is of concern not only to Singapore and the region but also to the world. We believe that if isolating Myanmar could have resolved this situation, we would have done so. But we believe that engaging Myanmar will, in fact, bring about the possibility of even getting more accountability from Myanmar. So, we believe there is value in us retaining Myanmar in ASEAN and work on Myanmar on the issue. I think we have to be patient here and it may take time but let us work on it because we also believe that while we can do it, ASEAN and even Singapore has taken its own stand, we will continue to support efforts by the international community, in particular that by the UN and its good offices of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, to bring about change in Myanmar. Although we cannot expect change overnight, ASEAN, I believe, must continue like the international community to press for transition and change for Myanmar.

Mr Inderjit Singh: Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he agrees that if we want ASEAN to be taken seriously by the world, concrete steps need to be taken, not just on this issue, but all the things that Myanmar has been blocking ASEAN from doing. Hoping for them to come around is going to take a long time. Is it worth sacrificing ASEAN for this sake? We have five members before – can we re-start at nine and then hope to get to 10 one day? I think that may be a better approach for ASEAN to gain credibility and then build up the numbers again.

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed: Sir, I believe ASEAN's credibility does not just hinge on Myanmar. ASEAN's credibility has been built over the years and we have shown a lot of credibility in many areas in terms of international relations. I think not only ASEAN is facing this stalemate, if you like, but even at the international organisation level, at the UN level, even at the Security Council level. I think we have to be realistic. While we want to be pragmatic, we also have to be realistic that we do not have the leverage to cause the kind of change in Myanmar. We need to understand that Myanmar is a country that is used to isolation by the international community and experience over the years have shown that they will not yield to sanctions and intimidation. So, I think one has to measure credibility and also value to ASEAN, not only in terms of the time – longer term benefits – but also in terms of what will we achieve if we just force the issue. Will we bring about change? Or will change, in fact, be better approached if we take it step by step?

Mr Speaker: One last question, Mr Siew.

Mr Siew Kum Hong (Nominated Member): Sir, I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State.

Sir, Thailand, as the ASEAN chair, issued a statement criticising Myanmar for its trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's response was that Thailand was meddling in Myanmar's internal affairs. So, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, what is the Government's position on Myanmar's statement, on whether it supports perceptions that the ASEAN Charter's principle of non-interference allows for precisely this sort of behaviour by Myanmar.

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed: I think on the question of ASEAN's statement, while Myanmar has a right to rebut it – and this, in fact, was, again, discussed at the meeting yesterday at Phnom Penh with the ASEAN Ministers – I believe that, in fact, Thailand has the right, as the ASEAN chair, to make that kind of statement. So, I think Thailand is not going beyond its boundary of its role and responsibility as ASEAN chair to make that statement.