Isolating Burma won't help: Singapore PM

Finding a way forward will require the continued engagement and coordinated efforts of all the major interested powers, with the United Nations playing a leading role, Lee said in an interview with The Straits Times.

Lee, in Singapore's capacity as chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), met Wednesday with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari after his trip to Myanmar following the brutal suppression of anti-government demonstrations by monks and other protesters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon updated Lee on the outcome of Gambari's visit and "the next steps forward" in a phone call on Friday, the prime minister's office said.

He said that the UN Security Council would be meeting to discuss Myanmar, and that Singapore would be invited to attend and make a statement.

Lee "assured the secretary-general of Singapore and Asean's continued commitment to the UN's efforts," the statement said. As Asean alone would not have enough leverage, Lee "stressed the need for the other powers to weigh in and give their full backing to Gambari and the UN." 

Lee has written to the leaders of China, India and Japan conveying these views.

"We have to be mindful of the realities of the situation," said Lee in the interview, noting that sanctions against a regime that is ready to isolate itself "are more likely to be counterproductive than effective." 

"Secondly, the military, as a key institution in Myanmar (Burma), has to be part of the process of national reconciliation and of any lasting solution," he said.

A fresh approach is needed to restore normality and give hope to the people, Lee said.

"It will have to be based on reconciliation among all parties and a peaceful, progressive transition to a government enjoying greater legitimacy at home and recognition abroad," he said. "But it will take time."

   It is better for Burma to "remain inside the family" of Asean than outside, Lee said. The group will continue to engage Myanmar, he said, but there is a limit to what Singapore and Asean alone can do to resolve the present crisis.

Lee and Asean have departed from the longstanding principle of non-interference in members' internal affairs by issuing sharp criticism of the Myanmar regime.

Asean comprises Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Burma.

"China and India are critical to any international approach to Myanmar (Burma)," Lee said. Sharing borders with Burma, "they are therefore in a unique position to encourage Myanmar to work towards a political solution and national reconciliation." 

The European Union has broad sanctions in place against Myanmar's leaders and has agreed in principle to toughen them.

While the regime claims there were 10 deaths in the crackdown following last week's protests, dissident groups say up to 200 protesters were slain and 6,000 detained as the largest demonstrations in nearly two decades were crushed by government troops.//DPA