Monday, April 11, 2005
Legislators ask Asean to oppose Myanmar chairmanship
By LINETTE C. RAMOS
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
PUSHING for democracy in all Southeast Asian countries, Reps. Antonio Cuenco and Loretta Rosales led the House of Representatives in asking Asean to oppose Myanmar’s chairmanship of the association in 2006.
Unless democratic reforms are instituted in Myanmar and its political prisoners are released, Myanmar should not be given the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year, members of the Lower House said.
Cuenco and Rosales made an unscheduled appearance at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort yesterday afternoon to give the ministers a copy of the House resolution.
The legislators dropped by during the signing of the Laos-Philippines bilateral agreement on visa exemptions, to give Laos Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad the House documents.
Lengsavad, also foreign minister of Laos and this year’s Asean chairman, refused to accept the documents.
Diplomatic channels
He instead asked Rosales through an interpreter to course the documents through diplomatic channels.
“We understand that they are being cautious. They’re just being very careful, they don’t want to antagonize the minister of Myanmar,” Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, told local and foreign media after the agreement signing.
There have been mounting calls from politicians in some Asean countries to prevent Myanmar’s military rulers from taking over as chair next year because of questions over their human rights record.
The continued imprisonment of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected parliamentarians also harms Myanmar’s chances at assuming the post.
“In the Asean, there is a policy of non-interference but we’re going to break the barrier because human rights and democracy should be of primordial importance. Each of the 10 member countries must observe democracy and it’s important that we tell our neighbors that they should observe democratic process,” said Cuenco.
The 10 ministers, their wives and children and top government officials from Asean member countries arrived in Cebu yesterday, amid tight security in Mactan Island and neighboring cities.
With the support of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), Rosales, chairperson of the House committee on human rights, asked the Asean to oppose the assumption of chairmanship by Myanmar’ military junta unless it releases Aung San Suu Kyi, restores democratic rule and releases and includes in government the elected parliamentarians.
Vocal
While the legislators are vocal about their position, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo is mum on the issue, saying only that the matter will be discussed during today’s retreat.
Cuenco and Rosales are confident, though, that Romulo will support the Lower House’s stand and will discreetly discuss their position paper with his counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Asean Secretary General.
During his press briefing yesterday, Romulo said he expects to have a vigorous debate on the matter before they arrive at a consensus.
“Whatever is good for Asean will be considered. I have confidence the ministers will have this in mind. What’s important is the compliance with the Asean’s roadmap to democracy and we’re hopeful there is such compliance,” he said.
In today’s retreat, the ministers are expected to initially discuss the agenda in the East Asia Summit in December, as well as the possible inclusion of New Zealand, Australia and India as dialogue partners.
They may also discuss key points to be included in the Asean Charter, the Asean Development Fund and disaster preparedness strategies. LCR
(April 11, 2005 issue)
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