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Published on October 5, 2007

The time has come for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to show its moral courage and reprimand its rogue member. Since its admission in 1997, Burma has been the regional grouping's main problem. Asean foreign ministers have issued a strong statement expressing "revulsion" over Burma's violent suppression of peaceful protesters. It was the first statement of its kind; the first to target a fellow member of the organisation. Now, Asean must prove that it is willing to go beyond words. Tangible action must be taken against the military junta in Rangoon.

The United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, has just completed a mission inside Burma to discuss ways to end the conflict and accelerate the national reconciliation process. Asean should not fall back on its passivity. This is the best time to rein in Burma, otherwise the effectiveness of the rules-based organisation will be jeopardised.

The UN and Asean have to work together to bring about positive change in Burma. It is ironic that recently in New York the Asean foreign ministers were scheduled to discuss, and wrap up, the draft of the Asean Charter. Instead they had to discuss the Burmese crisis because of growing international pressure.

Asean responds well to international pressure but the grouping often falls short of action when that pressure subsides. This has been the case for the past decade. Therefore, the international community, especially Western countries, must keep the pressure on.

Asean has protected Burma all along, arguing that the member countries do not have influence over the Burmese junta. Citing the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of members, Asean remains indifferent to the crackdown inside Burma. In the early 1990s, before Burma joined Asean, the group fiercely defended Burma's repressive actions. Later on, the grouping's core members became fed up with Burma's recalcitrance and complacency, and became more critical. But Asean has not gone beyond its verbal attacks.

This lack of moral authority is being exposed as the whole world expresses outrage over the atrocities committed by the military in Burma. Asean has to come to grips with the reality in Burma, and with its moral obligation to ensure the wellbeing and protection of human rights of the Burmese people.

The main objective of Asean by 2015 is to promote the quality of life of all of its citizens. The gross violations of the past week pose a huge challenge to the grouping's plan to set up a human rights body. The terms of reference have yet to be written and agreed upon. It would be a travesty if the Asean human rights body turns out to have no teeth to conduct investigations and punish perpetrators of crimes against humanity.

Pending the outcome of Gambari's mission, Asean should build on its progress, or lack thereof. It is imperative that the UN and Asean join hands to make a positive impact. After all, they have worked together in other peace-making operations in Cambodia and East Timor.

The most important thing to demand of the junta in Burma is the release of all political prisoners, especially Aung San Suu Kyi. Recently, when protestors, including Buddhist monks, stopped by her house, where she has been incarcerated for most of the past 19 years, it was clear that she continues to be the symbol of their democratic aspirations. Asean has to acknowledge her status and relevance in the political scheme of things there.

Some Burma apologists think that it would be better to work with the military regime to bring about progress, but Aung San Suu Kyi is the best person to make an appeal for national reconciliation. The Burmese people are willing to listen to her rather than the junta, which has consistently lied to them and failed to deliver on promises of democratic reforms for almost two decades.

Asean must seize this opportunity to ensure that the situation in Burma does not leave a permanent scar on its future. If the Burmese junta continues to have its way, as it has for nearly half a century, the grouping's Charter will make a mockery of the effort to build a true Asean community.

The Nation