It has been reported that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed met the Chairman of the Myanmese State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), Gen Than Shwe, in Jakarta yesterday and that Mahathir had expressed concern over the situation in Myanmar.
In response, Than Shwe said that the situation in Myanmar was “under control” and that further steps to improve the situation would be implemented.
The issue in Burma is not whether SLORC is “in control” of Yangon, but whether SLORC is prepared to embark on national reconciliation and democratic reforms with all political and ethnic groups in the country to regain legitimacy of its rule.
Burma is a test case for ASEAN to show that it could achieve what the Western powers could not do - that its constructive engagement policy could bring about democratisation and greater respect for human rights in Burma.
However, if ASEAN’s constructive engagement policy has nothing to show, with no perceptible progress in democratisation, and what is worse, whatever available evidence points to further draconian measures and repression of the human rights of the people of Burma, the admission of Myanmar into ASEAN would bring disrepute to the regional organisation.
SLORC has refused to recognise the results of the 1990 general elections which was conducted by the military junta and which gave Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy overwhelming popular mandate to form the government of Burma.
For the sake of national reconciliation and democratisation, SLORC must concede that Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD have the support and mandate of the Burmese people and should enter into meaningful dialogue with the NLD to pave the way for democratic reforms in the country.
(30/11/96)