It has long been acknowledged that the 10-members group ASEAN (Alliance of Southeast Asian Nations) is a vital player in bringing about change in Burma. To date, despite consistent evidence of human rights abuses in Burma, the organisation has been reluctant to comment in the internal affairs of member states. However, there are early signs of change.
The DVB reports that members of the Southeast Asian regional bloc are meeting in Indonesia to debate whether to call on Burma to release imprisoned opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Burma has become the thorn in the side of the 10-member association, and its presence in the bloc has been increasingly controversial since the trial and detention of Suu Kyi. Although ASEAN generally follows a principle of non-interference in internal affairs of member states, has become increasingly uneasy over Burma’s membership. Soon after the start of the trial, Thailand, which currently holds the ASEAN chair, voiced concern that Burma was tarnishing the bloc’s image.
Senior ASEAN officials will discuss whether to send a letter to the ruling generals in Burma to pressure for the release of Suu Kyi.
The length of Suu Kyi’s sentence will mean she remains in detention beyond the 2010 elections, scheduled for March next year.
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